That’s the question we’re all wondering as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has activated the National Guard to respond to a serious cyberattack. This attack has paralyzed public services in Saint Paul, the state’s capital, which is home to more than 300,000 residents. The breach occurred on July 25. In the meantime, city officials are understandably terrified, and for good reason, taking drastic steps to try and keep it from spreading while they deal with the long-term ramifications of the attack.
Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter reported during a press conference that the city’s government systems were taken offline to block the intruders. This action cut off citywide Wi-Fi service, too, vastly increasing the challenges of obtaining offline services and exacerbating the digital divide measurement access to critical services.
Upon the request of the city of Saint Paul for assistance, Governor Walz authorized the deployment of the National Guard’s cyber forces. He also acknowledged that the “magnitude and complexity” of the cyberattack was beyond the city’s ability to handle the attack on their own. The activation aims to “ensure continuity of vital services and the safety and security of Saint Paul residents,” according to Governor Walz.
City officials are still fully assessing the damage caused by last week’s cyberattack. They have not yet disclosed what the attack specifically comprised of. As Mayor Carter pointed out, this really doesn’t make sense. He explained that while the city doesn’t have detailed information on all its residents, there is still a potential problem if city employee data is breached.
The July 25 breach has persisted in disrupting city operations and essential public services, further heightening concerns about data security and operational continuity. Saint Paul becomes the latest example in a troubling trend of large cities victimized by hackers and ransomware attacks over just the past few years.