City and County of Denver, CO
04/02/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/02/2026 07:32
Zoo improves protections against potential cybersecurity attacks
Zoo improves protections against potential cybersecurity attacks
Published on April 02, 2026
DENVER - The Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance continues minimizing the potential for cybersecurity attacks at the zoo by successfully managing its outdated IT infrastructure, according to a follow-up report from Denver Auditor Timothy M. O'Brien, CPA. The zoo implemented both our recommendations to mitigate outdated infrastructure risks.
"The zoo's IT team was already well positioned to ward off cybersecurity attacks. Their new measures are finetuning some remaining improvement areas," Auditor O'Brien said. "They are setting a gold standard with their continuous commitment to keeping zoo technology safe."
Outdated infrastructure in IT equipment and software can pose risks like weak security, loss of innovation, and wasted productivity. Replacing outdated infrastructure or implementing compensating controls can reduce risks.
Since our original audit, all the zoo's active devices are now centrally managed and tracked through the management software or were removed from service. This action minimizes a bad actor's access to a zoo device lacking updated security protection.
The zoo also updated its policy, documenting definitions of outdated infrastructure and outlining how to accept and document risk for outdated infrastructure. This improves consistency in the zoo's process for reviewing an asset's risk and prevents knowledge loss in the event of staff turnover.
"The zoo IT team's commitment to cybersecurity is reassuring. They remain models for other city IT teams by taking information technology protections seriously and by acting on our recommendations to improve systems swiftly," said Auditor O'Brien. "It is worth celebrating when agencies like the zoo work in partnership with our auditors and achieve success."
AUDITOR TIMOTHY O'BRIEN, CPA
Denver Auditor
Denver Auditor's Office
201 W. Colfax Ave. #705 Denver, CO 80202
Email: [email protected]
Call: 720-913-5000
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City and County of Denver, CO published this content on April 02, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 02, 2026 at 13:32 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]