For those in charge of public safety, protecting their communities has become increasingly complex over the years.

State and local agencies experienced one of the most historic — and chaotic — years in 2020.

2020 proved to be one of the most chaotic years in recent history for communities across the U.S.

The coronavirus pandemic. Severe storms. Higher rates of depression. Civil unrest. Communities across the U.S. experienced one of the most turbulent years in recent history. Emergency managers, public health and safety personnel, and local government officials had to combat a global pandemic. These key stakeholders also contended with severe weather and civil unrest, as well as increasing questions about interactions between first responders and residents. All the while informing and updating their communities about these events simultaneously.

In today's world, time is everything especially during an emergency. When a critical situation occurs, every second matters.

Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace, Workday, and other SaaS applications are integral parts of how employees work every day. SaaS apps are in practically every department -- finance, sales, marketing, human resources, and more. Employees and security professionals see a lot of benefits with SaaS, like increased productivity, accessibility, and flexibility.

Most employees continue to feel safe, but current communication methods might not reach everyone fast enough in an emergency. The second annual Workplace Safety and Preparedness research survey was conducted in late 2018. Over 540 surveys were completed by full-time employees in various industries across the United States.

Kicked in the face. Punched. Bitten. Screamed at. Stabbed with pens and knives. Groped. Propositioned. Almost strangled with IV tubing and stethoscopes. And even killed.

Protecting, mitigating, and responding to cyberattacks is never easy. The process is — by nature — complex. Now imagine doing so for the second-largest city in the United States: Los Angeles. With 42 departments like the Port of Los Angeles and Department of Water and Power (and their critical infrastructure), ensuring situational awareness is at the forefront of the city’s cybersecurity efforts.

Protecting against and mitigating threats to the attack surface involves lots of complexity. Knowing who has a role to play in the entire cybersecurity process is vital. To better understand who’s truly responsible for cybersecurity, what’s the role of CISOs in the process, and more, I sat down with Axonius CISO Lenny Zeltser. Snippets from our conversation are included below.