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Meck County approves $2.3M to beef up computer defense systems

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mecklenburg County leaders voted unanimously to use $2.3 million to boost cyber-security, but some commissioners are upset that the idea was never run by the IT committee.

The county manager said the requests typically aren't run by that committee and county leaders said it is vital that things move quickly because of the possibility of another cyber attack.

“If we have an advisory committee, we better use it,” County Commissioner Trevor Fuller said.

Fuller raised his voice in disagreement with County Manager Dena Diorio.

“You’re telling me you’re asking us to spend $2.3 million without at least getting advice from the group we have appointed?” Fuller asked.

Despite objections to the process, Fuller joined the other commissioners in unanimously voting to beef up the county's computer defense systems.

The decision to spend so much comes after two major controversies.

The first incident happened in March 2017, when the county inadvertently gave Channel 9 the private medical information of hundreds of health department patients.

The second happened late last year when hackers held the county's servers hostage and demanded a two bitcoin ransom.

Included in the $2.3 million is $600,000 for real-time analysis of security alerts, $500,000 for new backup devices, $456,000 for public information request software and $60,000 for a text message archive system.

Commissioner Dumont Clarke said he understands why the IT committee wasn't briefed because time is of the essence.

“Mainly, I am just concerned about creating another hurdle to be jumped,” Clarke said.

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