Strengthening Cyber Resilience: A Recap of the Metro Atlanta Cyber Security Summit
Overview
The Metro Atlanta Cyber Security Summit brought together city and county leaders for two days of focused collaboration on protecting local government systems and the communities they serve. Hosted at the Loudermilk Center on October 10–11, 2024, and powered by Fulton County and the Atlanta Regional Commission, the event centered on urgent risks, real-world lessons, and regional coordination. Organized by The Wynning Experience under planner Bradford Wynn, the summit prioritized practical outcomes and shared playbooks.
Why It Matters
Local governments face sustained pressure from ransomware, phishing, and supply-chain threats. The summit’s goal was to translate awareness into action, aligning leaders on what to do before, during, and after an incident to reduce disruption to critical services.
Highlights from the Summit
Expert-Led Briefings
Industry practitioners and security leaders outlined current attack patterns and discussed pragmatic defenses that fit public-sector realities, from modern identity safeguards to recovery planning that minimizes downtime.
Federal–State–Local Collaboration
Agency representatives detailed how municipalities can partner with state and federal programs for threat intelligence, funding, and incident support—clarifying where to turn and how to engage quickly when minutes matter.
Peer Case Studies
City and county leaders shared candid incident narratives, including what failed, what worked, and the exact steps used to restore operations and harden environments afterward.
Interactive Workshops
Hands-on sessions let participants assess readiness, practice decision-making, and walk away with templates for asset inventories, access controls, incident communications, and post-event reviews.
What Leaders Can Do Next
Assess and Prioritize
Inventory critical systems, map dependencies, and identify top business risks so limited resources go where impact is highest.
Strengthen the Human Layer
Pair policy with practice: phishing simulations, tabletop exercises, and role-based access reviews that become routine, not rare.
Build Response Muscle Memory
Document who declares an incident, who communicates to stakeholders, and how to escalate with state and federal partners. Rehearse the plan until it is second nature.
Invest in Resilience
Emphasize backups, segmentation, and rapid recovery procedures that keep essential services available even under attack.
Regional Impact
Beyond technical guidance, the summit deepened public-sector relationships so jurisdictions can coordinate faster, share lessons sooner, and present a stronger united front against threats across the metro area.
Event Credits
Presented by: Fulton County & Atlanta Regional Commission
Dates & Venue: October 10–11, 2024 • Loudermilk Center
Produced by: The Wynning Experience • Lead Planner: Bradford Wynn