Hendry County IT director outlines cybersecurity push, multi-factor authentication and data goals

Don Burkhart, Hendry County IT director, briefed the board April 8 on the department’s responsibilities and goals, emphasizing cybersecurity, multi-factor authentication (MFA) and staff training.

Burkhart said IT manages network infrastructure, data storage and backups, vendor coordination and internal technical support. He told commissioners the county has recently seen an uptick in attempts to access employee email accounts but that MFA and other controls prevented successful intrusions.

“We actually, as of last Monday, found that we had an, uptick in, trying to get into people's email accounts,” Burkhart said. He added that the county has instituted quarterly phishing and security training and that the state Cybersecurity Act is driving some new requirements.

Burkhart also described plans for better data management and “digital transformation” to allow faster reporting and analytics for departments such as code enforcement. He said IT has engaged third‑party assessors to probe systems and that the county addressed issues the reviews surfaced.

Why it matters: Commissioners expressed concern about staff exposure to phishing and requested continued reminders and training. Burkhart framed the work as a mix of technology, policy and employee behavior to reduce risk.

Follow-up: Burkhart said IT will continue quarterly training, maintain MFA, and coordinate with county departments on data access and reporting. No board action or new funding was taken at the meeting.