# Local Government Cybersecurity Landscape: A Systematic Review and Conceptual Framework
## 4 Analysis and Results
### Cybersecurity Tools  
Cybersecurity tools are software and hardware designed to safeguard electronic records, networks, and systems from cyberthreats. After recognizing the paramount importance of cyber-security for local governments, an array of tools can be used to fortify their digital infrastructure. This study identified 20 such tools mentioned throughout the selected literature. Table 5 presents these tools along with a description. Fundamental tools such as antivirus software are crucial in protecting against various malware, viruses, worms, and Trojans [14, 64]. Their effectiveness relies on regular updates to combat evolving cyberthreats. Anti-phishing tools detect and neutralize phishing attempts, particularly in emails, by scrutinizing incoming communications for signs of phishing [13]. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) establish secure and encrypted connections over potentially insecure networks, ensuring data security in transit [65, 77]. Multifactor authentication (MFA) and biometric authentication methods add layers of verification to prevent unauthorized access [25, 50]. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c} \hline \hline
**Cybersecurity Tools** & **Description** & **Reference** \\ \hline Antivirus Software & \begin{tabular}{c} Prevents, detects, and removes malicious software to \\ maintain the integrity of system data. \\ \end{tabular} & [14, 49, 64] \\ \hline Anti-Phishing Tools & \begin{tabular}{c} Cybersecurity applications that detect and prevent \\ phishing attacks by scanning emails, websites, and \\ online communications for signs of fraudulent attempts. \\ \end{tabular} & [13] \\ \hline VPNs & Secure private communication over a public network. & [77, 78] \\ \hline MFA/biometric authentication & \begin{tabular}{c} MFA is a security method that requires users to provide \\ two or more distinct identification factors. \\ \end{tabular} & [8, 25, 50] \\ \hline Web Gateways & \begin{tabular}{c} Filter malicious content or links from reaching the \\ end-user, thus ensuring that content remains unaltered \\ and legitimate. \\ \end{tabular} & [63, 66, 81] \\ \hline Email Security Solutions & \begin{tabular}{c} Safeguard email accounts from phishing, spam, and \\ malware by utilizing filters, scanning tools, and \\ encryption to block malicious emails and safeguard \\ sensitive data. \\ \end{tabular} & [15] \\ \hline Web/Network Vulnerability & Tools that scan web/network for vulnerabilities that \\ Scanning Tools & \begin{tabular}{c} hackers could exploit. \\ \end{tabular} & [10, 77] \\ \hline SSL Certificates & \begin{tabular}{c} Digital certificates that guarantee secure, encrypted \\ communications between a website and an Internet \\ browser, facilitating data transfers, credit card \\ transactions, logging, and social media browsing. \\ \end{tabular} & [7, 25, 65] \\ \hline Network Firewalls & \begin{tabular}{c} A security device that regulates and controls network \\ traffic, acting as a barrier between secure internal \\ networks and potentially unsafe external networks. \\ \end{tabular} & [14, 19, 67, 74] \\ \hline Network Security Monitoring Tools & \begin{tabular}{c} Monitor network traffic to detect unusual or suspicious \\ activities, intrusions, and security policy violations. \\ \end{tabular} & [9, 10] \\ \hline Packet Sniffers & \
\begin{tabular}{c} Tools for network administrators, capturing and \\ analyzing network traffic to monitor issues, identify \\ vulnerabilities, and detect potential breaches, ensuring \\ network security and efficiency. \\ \end{tabular} & [67, 83] \\ \hline IDPS &
\begin{tabular}{c} Detect security breaches or policy violations and prevent \\ intrusion by actively blocking or preventing such \\ occurrences by monitoring network or system activities. \\ \end{tabular} & [78] \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 5: Cybersecurity tools for local governments. Web gateways control and monitor Internet traffic, providing a barrier against web-based threats [63; 81].