Is Your Municipality Protected? Cybersecurity risks and the Remote Workforce

Mark T. Koerner

On March 25, 2020 Governor Whitmer executed the state’s “stay-at-home” order to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Following the implementation of that order, municipalities had to immediately redefine continuity plans in order to keep employees working and to keep municipalities running.

On June 1, 2020, Governor Whitmer executed Executive Order 2020-110, effectively lifting the “stay-at-home” order and allowing some employees to physically return to work; however, Executive Order 2020-110 states that “[a]ny work that is capable of being performed remotely must be performed remotely.” Thus, having employees remotely working is here to stay, at least for the time being.

Having remote employees dramatically increases a municipality’s cyberattack surface, or all of the vulnerable points where a municipality is susceptible to cyberattack...

Mark T. Koerner

Transitioning Back – FOIA and OMA After COVID-19

Alexander J. Thibodeau

Many aspects of life have permanently changed due to COVID-19 while others have changed only temporarily until the virus is under control. Municipalities have adapted to the changes imposed by the virus in various ways and to different degrees, but nearly all local governments have been impacted by the inability to meet in person and the difficulties inherent to social distancing.

Although no permanent changes have been made to municipal procedures at the time of this writing, this article considers whether any of the temporary changes could survive COVID-19...

Alexander J. Thibodeau