In response to a ransomware attack, two Michigan school districts have shuttered.
Kevin Oxley, the superintendent of the Jackson County Intermediate School District, announced that until Wednesday school would remain closed.
In order to look into the incident and get support in re-establishing their systems in a secure manner, the schools alerted law enforcement and hired external cybersecurity advisors.
According to Det. Lt. Mike Teachout of the Michigan Cyber Command Center, the district got in touch with the organization. This organization is in charge of coordinating the joint efforts of the emergency response to cyber occurrences in Michigan.
The schools encouraged everyone to abstain from using any school-issued gadgets as a precaution.
According to Kevin Oxley, "This intrusion occurred because we were victims of a ransomware attack that was spotted over the weekend. Credits to overnight work by our tech staff and cybersecurity professionals. We actively shut down networks as soon as we noticed suspicious behavior in order to contain the situation."
While restoration efforts are ongoing, Oxley stated that getting students back in class on Thursday was the first priority. "We prioritized bringing vital systems back up to allow us to safely restart operations and reopen school buildings across Jackson and Hillsdale counties," Oxley said.
Over 24,000 pupils are enrolled in the district. According to officials, Hillsdale Community District Schools, whose technology services are provided by a county consortium, were also impacted by the incident.
A wide range of facility operations, including but not limited to heating, telephones, and classroom equipment, were affected by the cyberattack that transpired over the weekend of November 12–13, forcing schools in Jackson and Hillsdale counties to cancel classes for the whole week. As of yet, no cybercrime organization has been held responsible for the attack.
The Los Angeles Unified School District, one of the largest school systems in the US, was the victim of a ransomware attack in September. School districts that are a prime target for ransomware gangs now must exercise caution.
