Town of Collierville attacked by ransomware cutting off 550 government employees

Exploit: Ransomware
The Town of Collierville: Town in Shelby County, Tennessee

Risk to Small Business: 1.777 = Severe Risk: In an extensive attack that cut-off computer access for more than 550 government employees, attackers infected the Town of Collierville’s computer network with Ryuk ransomware. The malware made some computer systems unusable and encrypted other files, restricting the government’s access to the information. Consequently, government employees are unable to complete many tasks, including permit requests, public record requisitions, and business services. Fortunately, the town’s emergency services were not impacted by the attack. The city is enacting its response plan, but they have a long road to fully restoring operations.

Individual Risk: No personal information was compromised in the breach.

Customers Impacted: Unknown
How it Could Affect Your Customers’ Business: Ransomware attacks are a top cybersecurity threat for local governments, making a holistic response plan a must-have element to any government’s IT strategy. Fortunately, the Town of Collierville prepared for this scenario, which allowed them to avoid paying the ransom. Regardless, full recovery is still an arduous process, which means that any measures that can help prevent a ransomware attack should be a top priority for local governments looking to avoid being the next victim of a ransomware attack.

Risk Levels:

1 - 1.5 = Extreme Risk
1.51 - 2.49 = Severe Risk
2.5 - 3 = Moderate Risk

*The risk score is calculated using a formula that considers a wide range of factors related to the assessed breach.