“From where we were with our server in the old courthouse to what we have now – it’s amazing how we transitioned from not knowing anything to knowing a lot. And it was all thanks to Golden West’s planning and their ability to explain things to us.”
– Diane Remmers, Hutchinson County Auditor
The deputy auditor for Hutchinson County saw it first.
It was the first Tuesday in May 2019, and she was changing the data tapes for the server as she had done numerous times before. But this time a troubling message appeared on the screen, so she reached out to the IT person.
“He had to sit down, because he was like, ‘Oh my God, no,’” recalls Hutchinson County Auditor Diane Remmers. “So I’m thinking, ‘Are you kidding me? What are we going to do?’”
Hutchinson County had fallen victim to a ransomware attack that disrupted critical public services. The county seat of Olivet, S.D., is about a 50-mile drive southeast of Mitchell.
Technologies sends expert to Olivet
Thankfully, the county had already been talking with Golden West Technologies. Remmers made a quick call, and Golden West provided an expert to assist them through the process on site.
“That was a scary time,” Remmers says. “Thank God we had Golden West here to help.”
Golden West Technologies first partnered with Hutchinson County administration by installing a phone system five years before. In 2018, the company consulted with the county as it planned for a new courthouse. During this process, Golden West identified several IT deficiencies and recommended measures to protect the county from cyber threats.
But the attack occurred before the county implemented the recommendations.
“Before the ransomware attack, we didn’t spend much on technology,” Remmers says. “The county wants to be responsible with taxpayer money. We are learning, though, that if you keep up, you don’t have those incidents, which are expensive and stressful.”
Being proactive with Managed IT Services
For the past five years Hutchinson County has worked closely with Golden West Technologies on technology solutions and cybersecurity. The proactive approach has proven positive.
Through Golden West’s Managed IT Services program, Hutchinson County gets help with planning and budgeting for technology needs, as well as assistance explaining things to county employees and county commissioners. They also have quick, convenient access to Golden West support for the many different programs used by all the different departments and programs within the courthouse.
“Golden West has done so much for us since we started working with them in 2019,” says Remmers. “From where we were with our server in the old courthouse to what we have now – it’s amazing how we transitioned from not knowing anything to knowing a lot. And it was all thanks to Golden West’s planning and their ability to explain things to us.”
Solutions for building security, education
The managed security system is one of Remmers’s favorite solutions provided by Golden West. With it she monitors courthouse access using an app on her mobile phone.
“It is simple and exactly what we need,” she says. “I can make sure the doors are shut and locked from anywhere. And I know if I have trouble with it, I can call, and they’ll take care of it for me.”
Even with the best technology and procedures in place, human error can still lead to vulnerabilities. To address that, one component of Managed IT Services educates employees about cybersecurity threats.
“Our employees are enjoying taking the micro trainings,” Remmers says. “They love to see who can get the better score and get on top. Plus, they are learning things that apply to their cell phones and home computers.”
Auditor feels safer from cyber threats
The county’s outdated server may have left them more susceptible to the attack, but it also made it more challenging for the attacker to get much data. And thanks to the county’s advancements and help from Golden West, today Remmers feels protected from cyber threats.
“We have invested in a level of security that includes firewalls and backup systems and everything,” she says. “I know we can still get attacked again, but I feel our data is safe.”
To learn more about Golden West Technology’s Managed IT Services and how it could help you and your business, visit goldenwest.com/services/managed-it-services. You can also request a no-obligation Calendly meeting for a quick personal conversation.