Social media is an integral part of many local governments' communication strategies; there are posts on upcoming events, community consultation, and program announcements. Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and many others have become an important tool for LGIS members informing and engaging with different stakeholder segments.

Unfortunately there's also a dark side to having a social media presence – the information shared can be a treasure trove of information for potential cyber criminals.

Local governments should consider the risks and potential vulnerabilities created by social media when developing their online communication strategies.

LGIS cyber claims data from the past five years (2019 to 2023) shows a concerning trend with cyberattacks leading to increased financial losses to our members. In 2019 losses were smaller at $3,000; by last year the largest member loss was $1.2M.

Social media considerations

• Train your people. Make sure that your social media administrators are aware of your online communication policy and have received training on cyber-security and social media platforms.
• Be thoughtful about what you share. Take a moment before sharing to look carefully at the background of an image or video. Is there anything that should be removed?
• Be mindful of public disclosures of company information when engaging on social media platforms.

For more advice on cyber risk assessment and management strategies, please contact your account manager.