Funding Questioned As Suffolk IT Head Plans To Boost Staff, Equipment

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Suffolk’s Information Technology commissioner told lawmakers the department plans to hire more staff and security contractors and invest in hardware and software to prevent another cyberattack, but he couldn’t say how the county plans to pay for the new people and equipment, according to a report.

Commissioner Scott Mastellon told legislators in a committee meeting his department plans to buy software and hardware, and hire 19 new staffers, including a chief security officer, as well as outside personnel to improve cybersecurity next year, Newsday reported.

Anthony Piccirillo, a Republican legislator from Holtsville, told Mastellon he was “wholly disrespectful” to the committee because he did not come to the meeting prepared to answer questions about finances, the outlet reported.

“We’re not asking questions that can’t be answered on the record. We’re asking simple budgetary questions,” Piccirillo said.

To read more in Newsday, click here.

Suffolk’s web-based applications were attacked Sept. 8, forcing officials to take down some of its services, including web pages and email, while they undertook an investigation. The attack has since been deemed a ransomware attack.

A cybercriminal gang named “BlackCat” has alleged responsibility, according to posts on the dark web.

County officials have previously said that the hackers responsible for the cyberattack had either accessed or acquired residents’ personal information and they advised vigilant credit monitoring.

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