County's Proactive Response to recent City of Pensacola Ransomware Attack

from staff....

“With permission from the City of Pensacola’s IT Department,   I wanted to make you aware that FDLE is assisting the City of Pensacola with a cyber-attack that occurred over the weekend. 

  Once we found out that the breach had happened, BCC-IT shut their connection to the BOC network by disabling their two connections into our network. We also performed the following over the weekend:

1.       Notified our Security Operation Center(SOC) of the event and requested they put our network on high alert. This increased our alert activity through the day and our Cyber team has been responding to the events.

2.       Notified CISA and gave the City of Pensacola their contact information.

3.       Notified DHS and talked with them over the weekend.

4.       Monitored Firewall and Antivirus logs

Today we met as a Leadership team and have performed the following:

1.       Elevated our Antivirus policy to be more aggressive

2.       Continued to monitor our Firewall and Antivirus logs

3.       Continued to receive events from (SOC).

4.       Shared information with City of Pensacola and the Sherriff’s office.

To provide greater protection to the County network we plan to implement the following changes:

1.       Provide alerts on all emails coming from an external source.                

2.       Turn off the ability for employees to access their Personal Email and Social Media Accounts.

3.       Upon login, users will have to click an OK to a Legal notice which will basically state they should have no expectation of privacy while using a county device.

4.       Once logged in, a machine will automatically lock after 15 minutes of inactivity.  We will have an exception group, but it will be limited to business-critical operations.

5.       Limit the use of USB devices 

6.       Limit Administrative rights

7.       Not allow users to write to their local C: Drive

8.       Require users home PC be up to date with Endpoint protection and the latest Windows Security patches before remoting into a county device

9.       Implement a county Phishing Email campaign and Security Awareness training" 

Escambia County Provides Mobile Command Center Support to NAS Pensacola Shooting Investigation

Escambia County's Mobile Incident Command Vehicle, THOR, deploys to NAS Pensacola Friday, December 6, 2019.

Escambia County EMR reports that our County's mobile command center, known as THOR, has been deployed to the incident scene aboard NAS Pensacola to provide a mobile command center platform to the various entities that are investigating Friday's NAS Pensacola shooting.  From Escambia County Information Officer Laura Coale:

"THOR is being used as the incident command post for NASPensacola, FBI, FDEM, NCIS, FDLE, ATF, HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) and US Marshal Service.

• Can be mobilized in 2-4 hours with a 1 or 2-person team depending on travel distance
• 1000sq feet of interior working space
• 35 kw generator with 72 hours of fuel on board
• Dual 5-ton A/C units
• Wireless Communications- Cellular, Satellite, VOIP Phones
• Radio Equipment- UHF, VHF, 700/800 P-25
• Security cameras with DVR
• 52’ Hilomast Pneumatic mast with antennas and high-resolution cameras
• Video Distribution System Matrix (Off Air, DirectTV & Computer Display)
• 4 position communications room
• Color printer/scanner and a stock of office supplies
• Minifridge, microwave and coffee maker"

 See pictures of the deployed THOR below:

Proud of Escambia County, Proud to be an American!

Governor Ron DeSantis and Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan answer press questions in the wake of a deadly shooting today outside of NAS Pensacola 12-6-2019.

As the community and the country mourn the killed and the injured in the shooting incident aboard NAS Pensacola today, I cannot help but think about the tremendous response to this tragedy that occurred and that I witnessed.

At 6:50 AM this morning as I was headed to work in the facilities management annex aboard NAS Pensacola-- the traffic on Navy Blvd suddenly came to a screeching halt.  Navy Blvd., the three lane artery leading to NAS Pensacola suddenly became a parking lot, backed up for miles.

Then, one by one, the emergency vehicles started screaming by the stopped traffic trying to get to work--the police cars and ambulances were heading south toward the base using the northbound lanes---sirens blaring and at a high rate of speed.  Obviously something incredibly serious had occurred.  I counted more than 80 Sheriff's Office Vehicles, Pensacola Police Department Vehicles, Fire Trucks, Ambulances, Swat vehicles, and EMS trucks.  I took a facebook video describing the chaos at the time.

I immediately thought about my co-workers and the employees I supervise.  Thankfully the three personnel that were already aboard the base were secure in our building which went into lock down.  And I was subsequently able to reach the rest of the personnel from our annex via the telephone-those  who had not yet made it to work.  All were safe and accounted for.

As I spoke to various national and local media outlets today including, MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, The New York Times, and Channel 3--I wanted to emphasize the one and only positive aspect of today:  The tremendous, incredible response to this event. 

I am so proud of all of the first responders today--the Navy Security Forces and also the first responders of Escambia County--the Sheriff's office, Pensacola Police Department and EMS and ECFR.  Seeing this event unfold from the front gate, and just how quickly a massive and overwhelming force of the "Good Guys" came to help--it made me proud.  It was AMAZING.

So while we are all keeping all victims of today in our prayers we can all take comfort in knowing that in this country and in this community--If a bad guy tries something like this--there will be an  overwhelming, massive response and the outcome for the bad guy will not be good--they will be killed or captured in short order.

Today I'm thankful this tragedy was not worse and that the threat was neutralized by Escambia County Sheriff's Office Deputies and that the wounded were attended to by the competent and professional men and women of Escambia County Public Safety.

We pray for the swift recovery of all of those who were injured, including two of our Deputy Sheriff's Officers.

And we pray for our community and our nation

as well.

Escambia County Response to the NAS Pensacola Shooting Tragedy...

Escambia County Issues Response to NAS Pensacola Shooting

Published Dec 06, 2019

Our thoughts and prayers are with Naval Air Station Pensacola today. Escambia County EMS, Fire Rescue and Emergency Management responded in support.

District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh: Today was a tragic and sad day and all of our prayers are with the victims of today. We should also be very, very proud of our local first responders who stepped up like the heroes they are and met the threat head on and neutralized it. And, I also want to give special appreciative thanks to our Escambia County EMS personnel for the swift an expert care of the wounded.

District 2 Commissioner Doug Underhill: Tragedies such as this are the tests that challenge how well we are prepared to respond to crisis. Our first responders, in collaboration with our Navy partners, performed exceptionally well when it mattered most. Today Escambia County and the Navy reaped the rewards of systematic collaboration and training, and almost certainly prevented what could have been a much greater loss of life. Every one of us should say a prayer for the victims and the first responders, and take a few minutes to consider our own resiliency and preparedness that we might perform as with honor if ever called upon.

District 3 Commissioner Lumon May: We are praying for the families, friends and loved ones whose lives have been changed forever by the tragic shooting at NAS Pensacola today. We ask God to bring comfort to those who are grieving and strength to those who are recovering. Our deepest condolences are with all who have been affected.

Commission Vice Chairman, District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender: NAS Pensacola is such an integral, important part of Escambia County and we are very supportive of our military and are keeping all of our thoughts and prayers with them. We continue to support them as Escambia County and as citizens in this time of grief.

Commissioner Chairman, District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry: We are heartbroken by the tragedy that occurred at NAS Pensacola this morning. We are sending our deepest sympathies to the wounded, the families of those who have been injured, and those who live and serve at NAS Pensacola.

County Administrator Janice Gilley: We want to thank Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, the U.S. Navy, Pensacola Police Department, Pensacola Fire Department, Escambia County EMS, Fire Rescue and all first responders for their dedication to protecting our community. We truly appreciate your strength and partnership. Escambia County is beyond grateful for our partner agencies who offered mutual aid to NAS Pensacola this morning.

Two Words: Press Charges

I was sickened when I watched a video of a student being sucker-punched, knocked to the ground, and then beaten with fists and kicks until he was unconscious.

Thankfully, I have spoken to my school board representative Kevin Adams and he reported to me that the student in the video is going to be okay.

And I know from my experience as a school board member that those that committed this battery on another student will face school discipline--which could potentially include reassignment or expulsion.

But after watching this and seeing it for myself----it is disturbing.  Really hard to watch.  I also believe the student (s) who filmed this from beginning to end, obviously knowing what was about to happen, these student (s) should be disciplined as well.  Will they be though?  We will never know but they should be.

Because the blows to a downed individual could have been lethal--this young man could have been killed in this attack.

That's why I have two words for the parents of the victim here--because that's what he was in this attack, a victim.   PRESS CHARGES.  I would strongly encourage the parents to press charges to get justice primarily, and to remove these violent students secondarily from the schools so that such attacks are not committed on other students.

I say this because I have seen, in my many years on the school board prior to joining the county commission, instances similar to this where  students that committed similar type assaults and or batteries come out of the school discipline process and return right back to the schools from which they were removed or are moved to different public schools once the often light school discipline (3-day, 5-day, or 10 Day suspension)-is concluded.  Sometimes this happens much too quickly--so far as I am concerned.  At least if charges are filed, a just penalty can be achieved for the families and the victim.

I tried hard to make discipline firm and meaningful when I was on the board, but the proclivity of the administration was always to defer to political correctness and discipline was watered down.  This was infuriating to parents, and frankly I do believe it is one of the reasons the population voted to finally move to the appointed superintendent model (which cannot happen soon enough!).  I also believe feckless, weak discipline is driving good parents and good families to flee the public schools--which is very sad to me as a staunch public school supporter.

Bring back firm discipline, remove and segregate the violent predatory monsters, protect the vulnerable, enforce board policy on bullying, and back up the teachers when they write referrals---and the school population will increase again.  I'm convinced of that.

(In case anyone is interested, here are some posts from the past on this topic, real incidents, real stories).

When the Head-Waiter Runs the Restaurant.........Part II: "From Retaliation to Vindication--The Closed Office Door and the Internal Report's Release"

"I am in charge!!" shrieks the Head Waiter at a posh restaurant.  In actuality, he is simply an employee of the restaurant.  As a practical reality, however, perhaps the head waiter does, indeed, run the restaurant.....

Note:  This series is based upon a fictional account of an antisocial, smug restaurant "head waiter" employee that has hijacked and paralyzed an entire fictional restaurant and its staff with his antics and histrionics-jeopardizing profitability, stigmatizing certain employees, and destroying morale among the waitstaff.  The below account is fictional, an account based largely upon the author's imagined scenarios and circumstances combined with his experience working in and owning restaurants; any resemblance or similarity with any person or other entity, living or dead, whatsoever, is purely and simply coincidental....................................................................................

Part II: "From Retaliation to Vindication--The Closed Office Door and the Internal Report's  Release"

This is a story about a series of unfortunate incidents at a well-regarded, very fine French Restaurant in Escambia County known as "Chez Pretentieuse."   As discussed in Part I, many patrons of this establishment had questioned who was actually in charge of the restaurant as morale at the long-established, well-regarded dinner house began to rapidly decline.  

A departing Area Manager brought in a new head waiter in 2018, and at first many of the staff members thought this was going to be a good thing.  One staffer in particular that was an early supporter stated "I thought the new head waiter would be a good thing, with a fresh perspective on service, and recipes, and overall operations."  He continued, "Slowly, though, I realized this was not the case.  It became obvious that the new head waiter came into the restaurant with a preconceived agenda and an axe to grind.  He was picking favorites that kowtowed to his every whim and anyone that disagreed on any aspect of the restaurant service protocols and procedures was immediately made into a pariah.  What amazed me the most--the head waiter's initial 'open door' policy attitude quickly devolved into a 'closed door' demeanor.  I mean, the office door was closed most of the days-- and it appeared that paranoia seemed to be setting in, that's the way I saw it."

Several members of the waitstaff loudly complained to the area manager and the site general manager.  "We're no longer having training sessions, and we are not getting good guidance anymore!"  Others complained of the gossip being spread..."We were asked questions by the head waiter that seemed inappropriate--we were asked our opinions about our fellow waiters and other restaurant employees--including management-- by the new head waiter---It just didn't seem right--so we reported it to the Site General Manager" said one waiter, who continued, "We love working here, serving the public, and doing our jobs--we don't want the unnecessary DRAMA!'

Soon, the restaurant devolved into factions.  Customer service and operational efficiency were the real casualties of this turn of events.   Those employees that supported the new head waiter, and those that did not, became divided.   Soon, multiple employees filed complaints against the new head waiter.  Instead of waiting for the results or answering the complaints, the new head waiter filed counter complaints AND state

Great Discussions with Citizens at our 29th Coffee With a Commissioner Event this Morning

We had a great discussion on a variety of topics at this morning's 29th Coffee with a Commissioner event.  I appreciate the citizens that attended, and more importantly I appreciate their questions, comments, and input on a host of issues.

Some of the significant discussions this morning centered on Public Beach Access on Perdido Key (Beach Access #4), the vacation of Cameron Lane in Warrington, the new elementary school off of Sorrento Road, the new Library in Bellview, the OLF 8 Master Plan, the NW District 1 Master plan/Overlay District, Modernization of the Beulah Fire Station, Beach Traffic/Roundabouts, Cashless toll booths at the beach, the Civic Center Recapitalization, and  other topics as well, including economic development and controlling growth/managing growth intelligently.

For those that wish to watch-the facebook live video can be accessed here.  (note:  we had a minor technical glitch when one of the microphone transmitters failed.  I did re-state the questions as they were presented so the answers given describe the questions that are difficult to hear)

We will have our 30th Coffee with the Commissioner on the last Wednesday in January--I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!