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County IT installs cloud backup, completes multifactor rollout and plans password-protection tool, IT director says
Summary
IT director Kyle Webb told commissioners the county implemented a cloud backup solution, installed generator and battery backups for the server room, finished most multifactor authentication rollout, and is considering a credential-monitoring tool quoted at roughly $50,100 per year.
Kyle Webb of the Knox County IT department briefed the board on a range of cybersecurity and infrastructure actions at the Aug. 12 meeting.
Webb said the county has implemented a cloud backup solution for servers and data to add an off-site protection layer, which he described as additional defense against ransomware or other cyber incidents. He also reported that generator power and battery backups were installed for the server room on the second floor to improve power resiliency.
Webb told commissioners the county has largely completed a rollout of multifactor authentication for email and other accounts, with only one or two accounts outstanding. He also described the results of a recent LEADS (law enforcement data) audit by the state: auditors noted a few required policy edits and additional controls that the county should adopt before the next audit cycle; Webb said IT is preparing those policy and procedural updates now.
On credential security, Webb described a proposed password-change/credential-monitoring tool that would check employee passwords and passphrases against breached-credential databases and encourage the move from short passwords to longer passphrases (examples given: 12'character phrases). Webb said he received a vendor quote "around $50,100 dollars a year" to cover county employees and that IT will pilot the tool on a few systems before any broader rollout.
Webb also said firewall appliances will reach five-year lifecycles in 2026 and the department is evaluating replacement options; he reported work with the city on fiber and phone-system coordination for a city office move and described a Lifesize touch'screen/camera setup that could serve as a simpler video-arraignment system for the courthouse and jail.
Webb noted the department had added an IT support specialist, Tanner Burgess, and that completed computer replacements reduced the IT backlog. Commissioners thanked IT staff for the work. Webb stressed that many of the changes are proactive steps to meet evolving state audit requirements and improve county security.
Next steps: IT will pilot the credential-monitoring tool, complete required policy edits in response to the LEADS audit, plan firewall replacements for 2026, and continue coordination with the city and sheriff's office on fiber and video-arraignment options.
