Description

Cyberattacks have recently caused disruptions to government operations in both Georgia and North Carolina. In North Carolina's Thomasville, city officials verified that a cyberattack was aimed at their municipal systems, taking numerous services offline, although vital services are still available. The extent of the breach remains under evaluation, and it's not known whether sensitive information has been breached. The city is collaborating with a cybersecurity company to research and recover from the attack. In Georgia, meanwhile, four counties' Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office is experiencing major phone and internet disruptions as a result of a cyberattack launched on Tuesday. Multiple offices will be closed for five days while recovery is underway. The underlying causes of these interruptions are pointing to weaknesses in cybersecurity readiness. In Thomasville, authorities have yet to say how the systems were compromised. The incident is a follow-up to a similar attack earlier this year in neighboring Winston-Salem, and it points to a rising trend in targeted municipal cybercrime. In Georgia, authorities admitted that while they had been warned to install a backup system to guard against such threats, implementation was put on hold because of a lack of funds. The last administration only started implementing a backup solution late in 2024, leaving key systems exposed. To avoid future mishaps, local governments must invest in cybersecurity infrastructure as a priority. This involves timely installation of data backup facilities, vulnerability scanning at regular intervals, employee awareness training, and integration with state and federal cyber defense networks. The timely response of Georgia's new District Attorney, which involved early warning and minimal data loss, shows the value of proactive security practices in limiting damage during cyberattacks.