Cybersecurity Services

If you believe your city has already experienced a data breach or other cyber/privacy liability, contact LMCIT claims staff immediately at (800) 925-1122.

The League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) offers a variety of services and resources to help your city plan for and manage cyber risks.

Access free cybersecurity consulting services

Cybersecurity Loss Control Field Consultant Christian Torkelson offers free consulting for LMCIT members. He can help your city make informed decisions and demystify emerging cybersecurity and technology concerns like:

• Risk analysis.
• Incident response planning.
• Wire fraud and financial scams prevention.
• Security solutions and security awareness training.
• Ransomware, malware, phishing, and other cyber attacks.
• IT procurement, evaluating technology solutions/services, and assistance developing RFPs and interpreting vendor proposals.
• Development of a citywide strategy that identifies city priorities and goals for technology.

Get templates to help plan for a cyber incident

For help using these incident planning templates, contact Christian Torkelson at [email protected].

NEW: Plan for a cyber incident. We created incident planning templates to help you plan for and manage cyber incidents using similar methods used in emergency preparedness planning. These templates will help you to take inventory of the technology tools your city needs to function and then develop business continuity, disaster recovery, and incident response plans to help your city recover from an incident.

Need help using these templates? Email Christian Torkelson at [email protected] for assistance.

• City IT Inventory Template (xlsx). Maintain a clear picture of your city technology environment by using this template to track important information about city services, technology systems, and data.
• IT Business Continuity Template (doc). Keep critical city services running when facing cybersecurity or information technology incidents. This template helps document and construct alternative approaches for doing business when key technology systems can fail.
• IT Disaster Recovery Plan Template (doc). Get your city back up and running after an information technology or cybersecurity incident. This template defines technical approaches for backing up and recovering critical systems and data.

Train your staff (or yourself).

• Cybersecurity for Cities online learning is an eight-part series of free MemberLearn courses that provide valuable insights and practical guidance to help you fortify your city’s cybersecurity defenses.
• NEOGOV online training provides several low-cost, web-based options for LMCIT members on training employees on cyber risks and a variety of other safety courses.

Adopt best practices and policies 

• Learn about computer and network loss control. Understand the risks in storing and sharing city data and get best practices for protecting your city against security risks.
  • Use this Computer Use model policy (doc) to educate city staff about appropriate and safe use of the city’s technology resources.
• Learn how to prevent losses from electronic theft and fraud. Understand how training can help city staff spot electronic funds transfer (EFT) fraud attempts, and get tips to avoid EFT fraud.
  • Use this Safe Electronic Transfers and Payments model policy (doc) to establish procedures to prevent fraudulent payments or transfers to employees, vendors, and contractors.

Understand your city’s coverage for cyber and computer-related risks

• LMCIT’s coverage for cyber and computer-related risks is built into the Trust’s standard liability, property, crime, bond, and auto coverages.
  • NetDiligence e-Risk Hub. Included in LMCIT’s coverage, this online portal provides resources to help prevent network, cyber, and privacy losses, and provides support for reporting and recovery of losses if an incident occurs.

Connect with an expert

Christian Torkelson is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional with over a decade of experience in the information security and IT arena, with specific expertise in risk analysis, IT procurement, security solutions, and security awareness training.

If you have questions about cybersecurity or technology challenges in your city, contact:
Christian Torkelson – Cybersecurity Loss Control Consultant
(651) 281-1296
[email protected]

Consulting services are free for LMCIT members.