Thought Leadership
Berlin’s Senate Chancellery has reported a cyberattack affecting parts of the city’s administration. A crisis response team has been established, but many questions remain unanswered.
Update – August 18, 1:50 p.m. CEST
Berlin Building Authority: No Remote Work After Cyberattack
A cyberattack on parts of Berlin’s Senate administration is creating challenges for employees. Which departments can still be reached?
Following a cyberattack on parts of Berlin’s administration, employees at the Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing are temporarily unable to work from home. Spokesperson Martin Pallgen confirmed this in response to an inquiry. The department has been disconnected from the state network as a security precaution. As a result, internet access and external email communications are currently unavailable.
Internal email communication remains possible, the spokesperson said. The department can also still be reached by phone. “We are operational,” Pallgen said. However, officials still need to determine how best to maintain communication with other government agencies.
The Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and the Environment was also affected by the attack, the Senate Chancellery said Monday. Both departments were disconnected from the state network on Friday as a security measure to prevent further damage.
(dpa/Translation: Editorial Team)
Initial Report – August 17, 4:58 p.m. CEST
Parts of Berlin Senate Administration Hit by Cyberattack
Parts of the Berlin Senate administration have been targeted in a cyberattack. The incident was discovered during forensic investigations, according to the Senate Chancellery. The affected agencies are the Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing and the Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and the Environment. Both agencies were isolated from the state network on Friday as a security precaution to prevent further damage.
The Berlin State Criminal Police Office (LKA), the Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office and the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) have been brought in, according to the Senate Chancellery. Prosecutors have launched an investigation in response to the incident, a spokesperson for the Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office told dpa.
The Senate Chancellery has also established an emergency crisis response team headed by Berlin’s State Commissioner for Information Security. “For investigative reasons, no further specific information on the scope or background of the incident can currently be provided,” the Senate Chancellery said.
It initially remained unclear whether the affected agencies are still fully operational or whether any data was exfiltrated.
(dpa/Translation: Editorial Team)
