Delaware County Provides Update on Network Disruption

All network systems are now fully operational

Media, PA — Delaware County today provided further information on the recent network disruption.

“On June 26th, Delaware County identified unauthorized intrusion attempts into the County’s network systems and took the proactive but necessary steps of shutting down our networks to protect sensitive information and critical systems.

The intrusion attempts were part of a sophisticated cybercriminal attack on the County’s systems. The attackers were able to gain limited access to the County’s network and to access data maintained within the network. We are still investigating with assistance from cybersecurity specialists to confirm the full scope of the recent attack, including the risk to County data. We will determine any next steps in response to the attack based on the investigation results.

At this time, through the tireless work of Delaware County’s Information Technology team, all the County’s internal network systems are in full operation. The County is also working hard to re-establish service to all external systems that serve residents and expects to have that work completed in the coming days. We appreciate the efforts of our County staff to find alternate ways to continue to deliver services to residents during this outage. It is unfortunate that this attack has impacted services to residents, and we appreciate their patience and understanding. We must ensure the safety of our network and data before full restoration of services.

Since 2020, the County’s IT team has put in place substantial protections and followed industry recommendations about how best to secure network assets. Those protections proved valuable in this instance, as numerous attempts to establish a larger intrusion into County systems were repeatedly blocked, greatly limiting the extent of the interference.

Through this process, Delaware County has enlisted the help of numerous partners, including cybersecurity counsel, cybersecurity forensic specialists, and other parties. As the County moves forward, it will continue to gather information about the path to this limited intrusion, any risk to data, and any additional steps needed to further secure its network assets. The County will fulfill any legal requirements, including any notifications, based on applicable governing law.

Delaware County would also like to thank our departments for their creative work to continue to serve residents through difficult circumstances, our external partners for their assistance, and most importantly, our residents for their patience and understanding. The unfortunate reality is that government entities everywhere are subject to continued and repeated attacks and intrusion attempts. The County will continue to work to improve protections for critical systems and to find ways to better serve every resident who calls Delaware County home.”