One Municipality, Many Locations

A municipality isn’t one office. It’s town hall, the public works garage, the police station, and the fire and EMS buildings, each with different people, devices, and hours. We bring every location under one security standard, one monitoring view, and one support team.

Managed IT Built for Municipalities

Keeping Every Office Running, Every Day

Staff, officers, and residents rely on your systems 24/7. Our managed IT program covers the full picture:

• Proactive monitoring and maintenance – we spot and fix problems before they interrupt resident services or public safety operations
• Responsive support – one help desk for every department, with on-site help when you need it
• Protecting privacy, data, and backups – encrypted, off-site backups that are tested regularly, so you know they’ll work when you need them
• Updating old equipment – a replacement plan that fits your budget cycle, so upgrades are planned capital items, not emergencies
• The servers in the closet – we find, document, and secure the old servers every municipality seems to have, then retire or replace them on a clear plan
• Moving to the cloud – we move email, files, and applications to secure cloud platforms when it makes sense, reducing reliance on aging hardware

Layered Security That Stops Attacks Early

Even if a password is stolen, layered controls keep attackers out:

• Multi-factor authentication on email, remote access, and sensitive systems
• Endpoint detection and response (EDR) watching every computer, laptop, and server for suspicious activity
• Email filtering to block phishing and malicious attachments before they reach staff
• Role-based permissions – finance, public works, and police staff see only what their job requires
• Location and device controls – access only from approved places and township-managed devices

A Partner Who Understands Your Compliance

CJIS Compliance for Your Police Department

Police departments must follow the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Policy, which sets strict rules for protecting criminal justice data. The policy’s latest version, 6.0, was issued in December 2024 and requires multi-factor authentication, encryption, and detailed audit logging, with full compliance due by October 1, 2027 (GovTech). We help your department:

• Assess its current environment against CJIS requirements
• Close the gaps, from multi-factor authentication to audit logging and incident response
• Document the controls in place and support your Local Agency Security Officer (LASO) during audits

Independently Audited, Built on NIST

Black Bottle IT holds a SOC 2 attestation and aligns its security practices with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework. Because the CJIS Security Policy is built on NIST security controls, our existing practices map directly to the requirements your police department must meet. You gain a partner whose own operations are independently audited and already aligned with the standards that govern your most sensitive data.

We also help you meet cyber insurance requirements and keep records protected and available for public records requests and retention schedules.

What’s at Stake: Beyond Data Protection

Resident Privacy: Protecting Social Security numbers, tax and utility records, and payment information that residents trust you to keep safe.

Public Safety & Operational Continuity: Preventing ransomware from shutting down police records, emergency communications, permits, and payroll for days or weeks.

Financial Protection: Avoiding the average $2.83 million cost to recover from a ransomware attack, plus overtime, legal costs, and higher insurance premiums.

Community Trust: Keeping residents’ confidence in local government and avoiding the headlines that follow a public breach.

Reducing Human Error & Insider Threats

Access controls and training don’t just stop outside attackers. They also protect against:

• Accidental data exposure by staff answering resident requests
• Phishing emails that target elected officials, finance staff, and department heads
• Former employee access after someone leaves or changes roles
• Vendor and contractor risks from software providers with remote access to your systems

We provide security awareness training for staff and officers so your people become a line of defense, not an entry point.

How We Work With a Township

From Walkthrough to Plan

When a Pennsylvania township asked for help, we started where we always do: on site. After walking through the administrative offices and the police department, we built a managed services and security program around three goals:

1. Keep operations running through proactive monitoring, maintenance, and responsive support, so staff and officers can rely on their systems every day.
2. Reduce cyber risk with layered protections, including endpoint security, email filtering, multi-factor authentication, and tested backups.
3. Support compliance by aligning the police department’s environment with CJIS requirements and documenting the controls in place.

Every plan starts with your buildings, your people, and your budget, not a one-size-fits-all package.

A Local Partner Who Earns Your Community’s Trust

We understand the unique challenges local governments face:

• Public budgets and board approvals – clear, predictable pricing and plans you can present to council or supervisors
• Multiple sites and 24/7 operations – support for every department, including public safety that never closes
• Compliance you can document – SOC 2 attested and NIST aligned, with CJIS expertise for your police department
• Plain-language reporting – regular updates your managers and elected officials can understand and share
• A partner in the community – we show up in person, get to know your staff, and stay accountable to the residents you serve

Ready to protect your residents, staff, and first responders?

Sources

• Sophos: The State of Ransomware in State and Local Government 2024 – 34% attack rate, $2.83M mean recovery cost, 99% backup compromise attempts
• KnowBe4 report via SecurityInfoWatch – over 80% with fewer than five cybersecurity staff
• GovTech: Police Agencies Move Ahead on CJIS Compliance – CJIS 6.0 requirements and October 2027 deadline