The new online security force follows ransomware attacks on at least four local governments and agencies in Ohio during 2019.

These were just a few of the topics discussed as common threads throughout the conference panels.

Oklahoma joins the ranks of state and local governments struck by hackers, fueling concerns about the escalating risk of such attacks on municipalities.

Rick Kolman and Rachel Washburn of Academy Securities talk with Chip Barnett about the firm's robust geopolitical intelligence capabilities. They discuss today's hot topics such as China-U.S. relations and Hong Kong, North Korea, Iran, Turkey and Venezuela. And they look at the importance that cybersecurity has for municipal bond issuers.

Texas officials say the attacks appear to be coming from a single source.

Data from so-called smart devices can trigger catastrophe for muni issuers if mishandled.

Veteran-owned Academy Securities has hired Chicago-based public finance banker James Carter

Security risks are escalating, a reality that's changing the market's views on credit risk and disclosure. Join us for a conversation with S&P Global's Geoff Buswick and The Cybersecurity Company's Jon Savage, as they explore how the municipal industry is addressing rapidly escalating security risks.

Baltimore is locked out of many of its computer systems by online hijackers demanding more than $100,000 worth of bitcoins to restore them to the city.

The port's initiative is a credit-positive approach to the risk of online attacks, according to Moody's Investors Service.

In the first part of a two-part podcast, Emilie Mazzacurati, CEO of Four Twenty Seven, discusses the challenges financial firms and state and local governments face when it comes to climate change, adaptation and resilience. And in a second part, The Bond Buyer's Northeast Regional Editor Paul Burton chats about green bonds, climate change and resilience, and cybersecurity. Chip Barnett hosts.

Simone Brody, executive director of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ What Works Cities initiative, discusses how the project has helped city governments tackle pressing issues including cybersecurity, climate change and transportation. Andrew Coen and John Hallacy host.

Richard Li, a public debt specialist for the city of Milwaukee, said too much cybersecurity disclosure can become a road map for hackers.

A report on cyber-related risks released Wednesday by S&P Global warned that “a successful attack on an entity with limited resources could have a credit impact.”

The Atlanta City Council on Monday is expected to pass a $2.1 billion budget for fiscal 2019.

Credit analysts, bond attorneys and issuers are among those reacting to the increasing risk computer crime poses to governments.

Public entities are especially susceptible to email scams because open records and open meetings laws and transparent operations make it easy for criminals to conduct reconnaissance on employees and transactions.

The breach occurred in 2016, but was not publicly addressed by the SEC until Sept. 20.