South Lyon Schools Resume Classes After Cybersecurity Incident
SOUTH LYON, Mich. — Students within the South Lyon Community Schools are poised to return to their educational environments on Thursday, following a three-day hiatus sparked by what officials characterized as a network interruption raising security alarms.
Watch Tiarra Braddock’s video report:
South Lyon schools reopen after three days of closure due to cybersecurity issues.
Classes were suspended on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday as a precautionary measure.
“We were truly astounded, I suppose, as one cannot fully grasp the implications of a cyberattack,” remarked Nicole Bringedahl, a parent of two children in the district, aged 6 and 8.
Parents received a communication on Sunday notifying them of the network outage.
WXYZNicole Bringedahl
During a board meeting on Tuesday, Superintendent Steven Archibald elaborated on the situation, stating, “We are currently unable to make calls in or out of our facilities, which encompasses our E-911 notifications.”
The loss of telecommunication and surveillance functionalities prompted officials to close schools for safety considerations.
Watch our previous coverage regarding the closure below:
South Lyon Community Schools remain closed on Wednesday due to a network interruption.
“I trust that the schools are making the best decisions for all students, and it’s evident that safety was the paramount reason for the closure,” Bringedahl added.
Archibald reassured parents that there is no evidence indicating that student or faculty data has been compromised during the incident.
“Mr. Archibald has taken commendable precautionary measures, and I’m confident that our children’s information remains safeguarded,” stated Jennifer Kremer, whose child is enrolled in kindergarten in the district.
WXYZ Jennifer Kremer
Scott Bailey, a cybersecurity expert affiliated with N1 Discovery, a cybersecurity firm based in metro Detroit, indicated that the incident was likely a random, opportunistic attack rather than a deliberate targeting. “In today’s landscape of hacking, attackers are indiscriminate.
It is quite improbable that South Lyon was specifically targeted; rather, it likely stemmed from an existing security vulnerability,” Bailey noted.
WXYZ Scott Bailey
The district is actively investigating the origins of the network disruption. Parents expressed relief that safety considerations were prioritized throughout the incident.
“Ultimately, safety remains the most crucial element,” Bringedahl concluded.
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