Buffalo Public Schools cancels classes after cyberattack
Buffalo, New York Public Schools have canceled both online and in-person instruction due to a cyberattack that occurred the morning of March 12, 2021.
According to a letter sent from the Office of the Superintendent, Buffalo Public Schools is actively working with cybersecurity experts, as well as local, state and federal law enforcement to fully investigate the criminal attack. Though the investigation is ongoing, Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash said the investigative team has identified key findings related to the root cause of the attack as well as the overall impact to BPS systems. At this point, however, consultants and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have not determined that there has been an exposure of personally identifiable information (PII).
Currently, the district is making headway in restoring critical systems that support the primary function of teaching and learning. Dr. Cash said they have prioritized the recovery of any affected business operation systems. Going forward, Dr. Cash said, the district will implement a longer term comprehensive initiative to enhance IT security and infrastructure.
In an update, the Superintendent noted the district was able to restore the functionality of equipment, systems, and applications in the majority of BPS buildings over the weekend, and 54 of 67 locations report no disruption to internet and wireless systems.
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