Two Massachusetts communities are being impacted by cybersecurity incidents, but it is not clear if they are related in any way.
The public school district in Springfield said schools would be closed Tuesday after a “cyber incident” interrupted services.
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Springfield Public Schools announced the breach on Monday, saying that it impacted “some systems necessary for essential school operations.” Classes and after-school activities are canceled Tuesday.
The district did not say what was targeted or if the data of school community members was compromised, adding that the size and scope are under investigation.
“We understand that an unexpected closure creates significant challenges and we appreciate the patience, flexibility and understanding of the entire Springfield Public Schools community as we work to address this incident and restore systems,” Superintendent Sonia Dinnall said in a statement shared by the district.
Staff members and students with school-issued laptops are being told to stay off of district network systems.
“The decision to close schools is not made lightly,” Dinnall said. “The most important consideration will always be the health and safety of those inside our school buildings. We simply are not willing to risk any lapse in that.”
The central office remains open, but services, including phone lines, might be affected by the breach, the district said.
Officials in Everett said City Hall will be closed on Tuesday as the city responds to “a cybersecurity incident that has impacted its internal network and technology systems.”
City officials said they discovered the cybersecurity incident around 6:30 p.m. Sunday and immediately began working with its IT team and cybersecurity professionals to investigate the incident and restore impacted systems.
They said police, fire, public works, the schools and libraries will continue to operate as normal. Third-party systems used by the city for online bill payments and other online transactions also remain operational and can continue to be accessed online.
“Our priority is to ensure the security of our systems and infrastructure while also investigating the full scope of the incident,” Mayor Robert J. Van Campen said in a statement. “Our IT department and the Everett Police Department are working diligently to restore full City operations for residents as quickly as possible.”
No decision has been made yet on whether City Hall will reopen on Wednesday.
“We know a City Hall closure creates an inconvenience for our residents, and we appreciate their patience while our team works through this,” Van Campen said. “We will continue to be transparent with the community as we learn more and will take the necessary steps to make sure our systems are stronger and more secure moving forward.”
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