Cybercrime: A Growing Threat for Public Bodies
Local authorities are increasingly being targeted by cybercriminals. A particularly serious case occurred at the end of October 2023, when Südwestfalen-IT (SIT), a municipal IT service provider for over 70 cities and municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia, fell victim to a ransomware attack.
The effects were far-reaching:
- Over 100 municipalities were affected, including all towns and municipalities in five districts as well as other municipalities in the Ruhr region and southern Münsterland.
- Numerous municipal services were unavailable, from vehicle registration to registry office services.
- Even the Nora app for emergency calls was temporarily unavailable.
- It took months to restore the systems and data, with considerable consequences for the administrations’ ability to work.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. According to BSI situation report (2023), at least 27 German municipalities were affected in the reporting period, including city and district administrations, local transport companies, energy suppliers, and more. Millions of citizens experienced sometimes drastic cuts.
This highlights the need for robust IT security measures and effective crisis communication in the public sector. It also shows how important it is to have alternative communication channels such as Teamwire available to remain capable of acting in an emergency.
How Can Your Authority Improve Its Cybersecurity?
Review Existing Security Policies
To increase data security and be prepared for emergencies, you should first review your existing security guidelines. Consider how these can be improved, formulated more clearly, or implemented comprehensively. Regularly check the current status to be able to react to new threats and tactics.