- The Torrevieja City Council faces important cybersecurity challenges with a low maturity score of 52% in basic cybersecurity controls.
- Recent ransomware attacks have struck nearby municipalities, including Elche and La Vila, causing operational disruptions lasting days or weeks.
- The PSOE party in Torrevieja has submitted a motion calling for increased investment and improvements in cybersecurity systems.
- Current cybersecurity measures in Torrevieja are rated as “unacceptable risk” in several categories by the Valencian Community’s audit report.
- The PSOE proposes setting up a technical team to develop priority actions and strengthen protection against ransomware, phishing, and data breaches.
PSOE Calls for Enhanced Cybersecurity After Surge in Attacks on Local Governments
Local governments in Spain have increasingly become targets of cyberattacks,with ransomware attacks disrupting municipal services and jeopardizing sensitive data. Considering recent incidents in the Valencian Community-most notably, the ransomware attacks suffered by the Elche and La Vila city councils-the PSOE party in Torrevieja is urging immediate action to improve cybersecurity defenses.
The Growing Threat of Ransomware Attacks
ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts or blocks access to data and systems until victims pay a ransom. The severity of these attacks is clear from recent local government’s experience:
- Elche: Hit by ransomware that paralyzed around 1,500 computers and affected cloud systems,leaving the council non-operational for multiple days.
- La Vila: Suffered a similar attack on July 3, requiring over 20 days to fully restore all systems.
These examples underscore the vulnerability of public administrations, which manage critical services and sensitive citizen data.
PSOE’s Motion Targets Cybersecurity Investment in Torrevieja
In response, the PSOE group in Torrevieja has submitted a motion to the city council demanding stronger investment in cybersecurity. Bárbara Soler, spokeswoman of the PSOE municipal group, highlighted alarming figures from the latest audit by the Sindicatura de Cuentas de la Comunidad Valenciana:
| Municipality | Cybersecurity Maturity (%) | Minimum ENS Target (%) | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torrevieja | 52% | 80% | Unacceptable |
| elche | 68% | 80% | Moderate |
Torrevieja’s score is particularly worrisome, with three out of eight evaluated categories scoring below level 2 maturity under the Esquema Nacional de Seguridad (ENS) standards. The report labels this as an “unacceptable risk” to the municipality.
Understanding the Risks to Municipal Services
According to Soler, cybersecurity threats extend beyond ransomware to include:
- Spear phishing: attempts to trick employees into handing over access credentials.
- System vulnerabilities: Unpatched or outdated software that hackers can exploit.
- denial-of-service attacks: Blocking online services, disrupting citizen access.
- Data theft and leaks: Exposure of personal and administrative data.
“Cybercriminals frequently use data leaks to pressure municipalities, and Torrevieja currently lacks sufficient defenses to prevent these risks,” Soler warned.
Moving Forward: Proposed Actions and Collaboration
The PSOE stresses that enhancing cybersecurity is essential for protecting citizens’ data and ensuring uninterrupted public service. Prevention is far better than recovering from an attack, Soler affirmed.
for this purpose, PSOE proposes:
- Increased budget allocation to improve cybersecurity infrastructure.
- Establishment of a dedicated technical team to evaluate priority actions.
- Close collaboration with the mayor, Eduardo Dolón, to accelerate implementation of security recommendations.
- Regular audits and updates aligned with ENS cybersecurity maturity levels.
“No municipality is immune to cyber threats.We must act proactively to protect our systems and citizens,” Soler emphasized.
conclusion
The recent ransomware attacks on Elche and La Vila have served as a wake-up call for surrounding municipalities. The low preparedness of Torrevieja’s cybersecurity controls highlights an urgent need for investment and modernization to safeguard municipal operations and citizens’ data. With political determination and technical planning, the city council can significantly reduce the risks posed by cybercriminals.
For residents and public servants, these improvements are essential to building trust in digital services and ensuring city administration runs smoothly in a digital age.
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