The cybersecurity association for state and local governments has swelled as the Center for Internet Security, the nonprofit that runs it, marks 20 years.

The director of the information-sharing organization for election officials said preparations for Election Day are unfolding just as planned.

Ransomware attacks against state, local, tribal and territorial government entities are on the rise, requiring comprehensive cyberdefense programs that won’t break the bank.

But election officials have "vastly improved" their cyberdefenses with IT investments since 2016, the head of the Center for Information Security said.

When ransomware attacks do strike, every minute counts to notify your organization and investigate quickly, say experts.

Ransomware attacks are a favorite tactic among cybercriminals; the payouts can be big and fast. Two cities in Florida, for example, paid almost $1 million this past summer after their computer systems were paralyzed.

Some states are now using a software-based version of the Albert sensor, a device election officials use to detect malicious network activity.

The group, which analyzes state and local governments' network activity, said new technology was needed when it began collecting petabytes of data.

Ben Spear, executive director of the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center, shares how the organization's first seven months have prepared the nation for Election Day.