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School District Still Recovering Months After Cyberattack

Posted: February 18, 2020 to Cybersecurity.

Tags: Data Breach, Malware, Cloud Security

The Columbus County school system, which was taken offline after a cybersecurity attack last October, is STILL feeling the effects today, even though progress is being made. Last night, school officials updated the county commissioners at a meeting on their current situation.  The National Guard has been helping and while some of their equipment has been recovered, the school district is still in need of over 1,500 devices.  According to the Superintendent, Dr. Deanne Meadows, they have gotten most everything up and running at this point, but unfortunately, not everyone has access yet. She also explained to the commissioners that the total cost to be made whole again is around $900,000, including $100,000 in overtime costs for staff.  Additionally, they are without basic security equipment, such as security cameras and iPads. The commissioners have approved $100,000 in reimbursement, which is barely 1/10 of the cost.  At this point,  it appears that they will be asking the state for the remaining $800,000. It is important to let this occurrence serve as a warning for not only school districts, but businesses, as well.  Having your cybersecurity up-to-snuff may seem like a large cost, but the cost of being breached is definitely exponentially higher.  If you aren't sure whether your business would survive a hack, feel free to schedule a free consultation, or call us at 919-422-2607.

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About the Author

Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

CMMC-RP NC Licensed DFE MIT Certified CompTIA Security+ Expert Witness 15+ Books
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