The cyber attack with ransomware on the district of Bitterfeld three years ago shows the inconvenient truth: it took years to rebuild the IT, some data and emails are lost forever, citizens had to accept long service losses and the debacle cost around 2,5 million euros.
Three years ago, the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld victim of a massive hacker attack that paralyzed the administration for several weeks. The attackers used ransomware to encrypt the systems and demanded a ransom. The county did not pay, and the systems had to be painstakingly restored. An MDR report shows the whole debacle again and explains the current state of the political debate on cybersecurity in the federal states.
Attack caused costs of 2,5 million euros
Since the attack, the district has significantly strengthened its IT security measures, including regular security updates, training for employees, and the implementation of an emergency plan. Nevertheless, the threat of cyberattacks remains high and there is still a need for constant vigilance and improvement of the IT infrastructure.
The Anhalt-Bitterfeld case shows how vulnerable public administrations are to cyber attacks and how important it is to take preventive measures and stay up to date with the latest technology.
Even if the BSI tries to act as a mediator and sets guidelines for the states in terms of cybersecurity, this does not mean that the states are in agreement. According to MDR, the state governments of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg are resisting changes to the law that would make the BSI the central authority - they have their own IT security authorities.
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