Backups of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar council serversare inaccessible after a cyberattack disrupted communications.
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Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has updated local residents on the results of an investigation following a suspected ransomware on Tuesday, November 7. The council confirmed that the investigation has found that data stored on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s operational and backup servers is inaccessible. The update states that the servers are accessible, but they have been unable to access backups.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar says it is continuing to work with specialist organisations to mitigate the impact of the incident, adding that there is no indication that any data has been extracted from the compromised server. The council has assured the public that it is focused on identifying any information that may have been extracted from the server and informing those affected, while reorganising operations and ensuring the continued provision of services to the community.
Malcolm Burr, chief executive of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said: “The Comhairle has been the victim of cybercrime which has caused significant damage and affected the delivery of many of our essential services.”
“Our priority is always the people of the Western Isles and we will continue to work to minimise the impact of this crime for everyone.“
“This incident demonstrates once again the vulnerable state of all public bodies to the growing threat of cyberattacks.“
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Security practices
Best practices for securing a backup system include implementing a strong authentication and access control system. This means that users should have unique passwords and use complex passwords that include letters, numbers, and special characters. There should also be limits on login attempts and automatic account lockout after multiple failed attempts.
Another important security measure is the encryption of backup data. This means that the data should be encrypted before being stored in the backup system and only decrypted when it needs to be retrieved. This adds an extra layer of protection to the data, as even if someone manages to gain access, they will not be able to read it unless they have the appropriate decryption key.
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Finally, updating and monitoring your backup system for vulnerabilities is important to maintain security. Software vendors often release updates and patches to address known security issues. It is important to apply these updates and monitor the latest security developments to ensure your backup system is effectively protected
Source: news.stv.tv
