WORCESTER, Mass. — The MassCyberCenter, a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech), convened local leaders and statewide officials at the 2026 Massachusetts Municipal Cybersecurity Summit to champion cyber resiliency across the state.
At the summit, held Wednesday, attendees examined new findings from “Examining the Impact of Data Breaches in Massachusetts,” a joint report by the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) and the MassCyberCenter. The report provides an analysis of 2,164 data breaches reported in 2024 and offers municipal leaders, local governments and small businesses a practical road map for reducing their cyber risk.
"Cyber threats are a real and growing risk to Massachusetts communities, businesses and residents,” said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley. “The report reflects the Healey-Driscoll Administration's dedication to raising cybersecurity awareness and investing in a more cyber-secure future.”
“The report proves that we do not always need cutting-edge technology to prevent breaches,” said MassCyberCenter Director John Petrozzelli. “Changing your password consistently and implementing multifactor authentication (MFA) can ward off many cyber threats. The MassCyberCenter works with partners at the state and local level to spread the word about best practices and provide training, education and funding necessary to stay safe.”
"Our office is committed to educating businesses and consumers about data breaches and the subsequent identity theft and fraud that can occur as a result," said OCABR Undersecretary Layla R. D'Emilia. "The Data Breach Report provides insight on this growing threat and practical steps anyone can take to prevent future attacks."
The report finds that organizations across several industries including healthcare, banking, education and local government face significant cybersecurity vulnerabilities. To close cybersecurity gaps, the report recommends steps including prioritizing cybersecurity training, implementing MFA, replacing legacy IT, using stronger passwords and improving threat monitoring. Municipalities will be able to strengthen their cybersecurity posture and better defend against bad actors with these solutions.
The MassCyberCenter is helping cities and towns implement the protective measures outlined in the report through statewide grant programs focused on cyber resiliency. In May 2024, the MassCyberCenter launched the Cyber Resilient Massachusetts Grant program. This $2-million program provides municipalities, small businesses and nonprofits with access to Security Operation Center (SOC) services, which continuously monitor an organization’s networks and can quickly respond to cyber threats. The SOC services provided through CyberTrust Massachusetts are currently supporting 25 organizations and protecting 12,000 computers, servers and laptops across the state.
About the MassCyberCenter
The MassCyberCenter promotes the Massachusetts cybersecurity ecosystem by working to build a strong cyber talent pipeline and to strengthen the defense of local communities. The MassCyberCenter works with cities, towns, universities and the private sector to build cyber awareness, institute best practices, grow future workforce talent, and create a more powerful cyber defense force to guard against future threats. Learn more at masscybercenter.org.
###