Minnesota Deploys National Guard Following St. Paul Cyberattack
▼ Summary
– Minnesota Governor Tim Walz activated the National Guard after a cyberattack disrupted St. Paul’s digital services and critical systems.
– Emergency services remain unaffected, but online payments and some library/recreation center services are temporarily unavailable.
– The attack’s scale exceeded St. Paul’s response capacity, prompting collaboration with state, federal, and cybersecurity partners.
– The National Guard will assist in restoring services and ensuring continuity for residents amid ongoing disruptions.
– Governor Walz emphasized the Guard’s role in resolving the attack and mitigating long-term impacts alongside city and federal officials.
Minnesota has mobilized National Guard cyber units after a sophisticated cyberattack disrupted critical systems in St. Paul, the state capital. Governor Tim Walz authorized the deployment following requests from city officials struggling to contain the widespread technical outages that began last Friday.
Emergency services remain operational, but residents face delays with online payments and limited access to library and recreation center functions. City administrators confirmed they’re working with cybersecurity experts and federal agencies to restore full operations, though the attack’s complexity has prolonged recovery efforts.
In a statement, St. Paul officials acknowledged the severity of the breach: “While core services are functioning, some systems remain offline as we prioritize security and stability. We thank the community for their cooperation during this challenging time.” The attack persisted through the weekend, prompting the governor’s office to escalate the response.
An emergency order revealed that local IT teams and private cybersecurity contractors were overwhelmed by the attack’s scale, necessitating military-grade support. The Minnesota National Guard’s specialized cyber teams will now assist in safeguarding municipal networks and accelerating repairs.
Governor Walz emphasized the urgency of the collaboration: “Our priority is ensuring public safety and minimizing disruption. The National Guard’s expertise will be critical in neutralizing this threat and preventing further damage.”
St. Paul, home to more than 311,000 residents, ranks as Minnesota’s second-largest city. The incident highlights growing vulnerabilities in local government infrastructure, with cyberattacks increasingly targeting essential services nationwide. Officials have not disclosed whether ransomware or specific threat actors are involved, but investigations remain active with support from state and federal partners.
As recovery continues, the city advises residents to monitor official channels for updates on service restoration and potential security precautions.
(Source: BLEEPING COMPUTER)
