Ransomware attack, all systems taken down

Synopsis

In December 2019 just before Christmas, the university was the subject of a ransomware attack which affected 267 of its 1647 servers. The attack appeared to focus on encrypting Windows data and it also affected back-ups of some systems. The university reportedly paid the attackers a ransom which had been demanded in bitcoin.

The attack prompted a network-wide shutdown and put valuable research and commercial operations data at risk as staff and students were unable to use their emails or the university's filing system.

Analyst

Courtenay Brammar

Experienced global enterprise risk and governance professional. Previously Vice President at Morgan Stanley, Deloitte Risk Advisory practitioner and PRMIA steering committee member in both London and New York.

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