2024 Birmingham network outage

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The 2024 Birmingham network outage was a disruption in the computer network used by the City of Birmingham to support its administrative payroll, permitting, licenses, tax collection, and other services.

The outage began on March 6, 2024 when city workers observed "unexpected activity that disrupted operations of some computer systems". The issue was first acknowledged officially in a statement from communications director Rick Journey a week later. Though no official statement has been made about the cause of the outage, multiple sources told AL.com that the city was the victim of a ransomware attack.

During the outage, city employees filled out paper timesheets and were paid by check. Some services initially affected by the outage, such as online payments for permits and 3-1-1 non-emergency telephone service were restored by April. Officials state that public works and emergency services were largely unaffected, but some capabilities, such as accessing criminal history databases and routing of dispatch calls were either unavailable or had to be accomplished manually.

Deangelo Hall, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Birmingham Lodge No. 1, sent a letter to Mayor Randall Woodfin complaining that many city employees were not being properly paid for their time, and that the city's failure to resolve the issue or communicate forthrightly were impacting morale.

In an April 3 memo to employees, the mayor's office state that it was working with "third-party specialists" to investigate the intrusion and restore and secure network functions. Woodfin led a 40-minute "town hall" with city workers on Wednesday, April 10 to address their concerns.

References

  • Ruppert, Tristan (March 11, 2024) "Birmingham’s network still down, IMS team working to “plot next steps”." WBRC.com
  • Robinson, Carol & Joseph D. Bryant (March 12, 2024) "Birmingham city operations hit by major ‘network disruption’: Officials release few details." AL.com
  • Bryant, Joseph D. (April 2, 2024) "As Birmingham computer outage continues, city using paper time sheets." AL.com
  • Bryant, Joseph D. (April 3, 2024) "Birmingham confirms city computers were attacked last month." AL.com
  • Robinson, Carol & Joseph D. Bryant (April 5, 2024) "Birmingham cyberattack leaves police unable to run warrants; some officers unpaid, union says." AL.com
  • Bryant, Joseph D. (April 10, 2024) "After ‘villains’ hack city computers, Birmingham leaders address pay issues, transparency, rumors." AL.com
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