DECEMBER 20258GOV BUSINESS REVIEWIN MY OPINIONCREATING RESILIENT SECURITY ECOSYSTEMS FOR SMART CITIESChristopher Harper, Security Manager, City of RenoFrom Experience to Execution: Creating a Sustainable Security EcosystemMy experience across healthcare and government agencies taught me that technology must serve a purpose beyond modernization. It should enhance organizational security strategies, ensure safety, support essential services and increase operational efficiency.At Reno, I've worked to merge cybersecurity and physical security to build an integrated security ecosystem. This involves applying data analytics for threat detection, deploying advanced access control measures and using intelligence platforms to identify and mitigate risks early.For me, innovation is about scalable, sustainable solutions--such as centralized dashboards for incident management, robust identity systems and intelligent surveillance. Collaboration is also critical; successful implementation requires active involvement from IT teams, emergency responders and leadership. Ultimately, the aim is to keep Reno progressive while safeguarding community trust and security.Cyber Challenges in Cities: Solved Through Integration and AwarenessOne major challenge is integrating cybersecurity seamlessly with physical security across all lifecycle stages--procurement, operation and decommissioning. Municipal environments often include legacy systems, budget limitations and varying levels of technological maturity across departments. This creates gaps in standardizing cybersecurity practices.Another challenge lies in user awareness and compliance, particularly in departments where security is not a primary function. In addition, cities must balance transparency with security, especially in systems interfacing with the public.To overcome these challenges, the City employs several strategies:·Risk-Based Prioritization: Conducting assessments to identify high-value assets and directing cybersecurity investments toward areas with the greatest potential impact.·Lifecycle Integration: Building cybersecurity controls into procurement and design phases instead of retrofitting later.·Cross-Department Collaboration: Partnering with IT, facilities, legal teams and leadership to establish unified security policies and response protocols.·Training and Culture: Providing targeted training and tabletop exercises to reinforce cyber hygiene and emphasize shared responsibility.·Technology Alignment: Selecting platforms that deliver unified visibility across both physical and digital environments.These measures enable Reno to progressively build cyber resilience while navigating the complexities of municipal infrastructure.With extensive experience in municipal security operations, my approach to integrating technology and innovation at the City of Reno is grounded in practicality, risk management and operational efficiency. My background in healthcare and government sectors has reinforced an essential principle: technology should never be adopted for its own sake. Instead, every solution must directly strengthen organizational security, support service delivery and streamline operations.At Reno, I've partnered with the IT Department to align cybersecurity and physical security practices to create a unified, resilient environment. This includes leveraging data analytics, advanced access control systems and threat intelligence platforms to make informed decisions on resource deployment and risk mitigation citywide.Innovation, to me, means implementing tools that are both scalable and sustainable--such as centralized dashboards for incident tracking, improved identity and access management and integrated smart surveillance systems. Equally important is fostering collaboration between IT, emergency services and city leadership to ensure smooth implementation. My ultimate goal is to position Reno as a forward-thinking city while maintaining public trust, privacy and security.Christopher HarperBy
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