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Mayor says system breach detected over Christmas; city systems restored within days
Summary
Mayor Dorinda Borer told the council a cyber intrusion was detected during the holiday period; officials shut down email and phone systems, used a recent backup to rebuild, and brought in forensic investigators. The city said restoration occurred quickly but the forensic review continues.
Mayor Dorinda Borer told the City Council on Monday that the city detected a breach of IT systems during the Christmas period and took immediate containment steps, shutting down email, phones and other systems while forensic investigators assessed the event.
"On Christmas, literally, during Christmas dinner, I got a call that there was a detection and alert that, there was a breach happening," Mayor Borer said. "We chose to shut the phones down, the emails, the everything. The software, just close it all down." She said staff rebuilt systems from backups and had core systems back online within days.
Borer said the city's prior investment in an off-site backup system allowed staff to restore operations; she credited IT staff and outside consultants for round-the-clock work during the holidays. She also said the city engaged a forensic team that is still completing its work and that federal authorities treat cyber intrusions as crimes.
The mayor described the event as unsettling but said the city restored services rapidly and is following guidance from national experts and law-enforcement partners. She asked for patience from staff and the public while the investigation continues and said more information would be released as permitted by the forensic team and authorities.
No claim of ransom payment or data theft was made publicly at the meeting; the mayor said she could only provide details allowed by investigators. Council members thanked staff and the mayor for rapid action and for the early recovery.
The city said it will conduct further security awareness training for employees and that some procedural and physical security steps are being implemented, including ID badges and key-fob access for municipal buildings.
