By SHEILA G. KELLEY

News editor

Knowing cyber security basics and putting them in practice will help protect Hillsboro and Marion city offices and reduce the risk of a cyber attack.

Hillsboro city administrator Larry Paine and Marion city administrator Roger Holter and electrical supervisor Clayton Garnica are participating in a five-week cyber security course.

Fifteen of the 24 towns in the Kansas Power Pool participated in the program.

“KPP is involving all the members in the cyber security program,” Paine said. “As an organization, we know all our communities are not able to keep up on the changes in the cyber world.

“KPP is bringing that knowledge to our members in a way we can address issues from a practical perspective. None of us has the time to sit and work out a cyber strategy for our respective communities. This class gives us the way to identify and address vulnerabilities,” he said.

The training will continue weekly until the end of March.

“The course has been extremely enlightening and has provided an actionable path to enhance the security within all municipal operations anchored in technology based operations,” Holter said. “One of the outcomes to this point is a guide for small business from the Federal Trade commission we have ordered to distribute free of charge to local businesses.

“We expect them into the office in about three weeks and will be available through Randy Collett’s office,” Holter said. Collett is director of economic development for Marion.