Taylor County switches email host following ransomware attack

TAYLOR COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Taylor County workplaces will likely be leaving its longtime email server host firm, Rackspace. The firm was hit by a ransomware attack final Friday, which shut down half of all Taylor County workers’ email accounts and misplaced any associated knowledge the emails contained.

Taylor County IT director Rebecca Eidson instructed KTAB/KRBC her division has been working to get service restored as quickly as potential. Of the 559 Taylor County email accounts hosted by Rackspace, solely 264 had been hit.

“About half of our emails are ‘hosted alternate,’ the opposite half are ‘internet mail,’” defined Eidson.

According to a Rackspace information launch, the attack was remoted to the hosted alternate accounts, a server separate from the online mail accounts. For that purpose, departments just like the Sheriff’s Office and Jail are principally up and operating, as they had been hosted within the internet mail realm.

“We will likely be working with Rackspace in attempting to get [affected] emails added to our internet mail so that individuals that have to proceed their communications by means of email can have a supply till we get to the brand new platform,” Eidson mentioned.

The determination to go away Rackspace was authorized by County Commissioners at Tuesday’s emergency assembly. Judge Downing Bolls mentioned the county was in full assist of Eidson’s procedures to raised safe Taylor County’s digital knowledge.

“I’ve 100% confidence in her, she is great,” boasted Judge Bolls. “Immediately when she discovered about it, she tell us we would have an issue right here.”

Eidson defined that the county will transfer to a Microsoft Azure-based cloud system. It’s a transfer that has the additional benefit of heightened safety, because the server will likely be hosted within the Government cloud.

“It’s within the authorities cloud, so we anticipate issues being much more safe,” Eidson mentioned with confidence.

The solely query, now, is whether or not or not the email data being held for ransom will likely be recovered. No private data had been put in peril, in accordance with Eidson, however in conditions like this, it’s potential the email knowledge may by no means return.

“We are going to be working with Rackspace to attempt to get any historic knowledge that we will,” Eidson assured. “If we will, nice. If we will’t, properly… Your email field simply obtained cleaned out.”

As the county works to revive service, many workplaces will likely be working off cellphone programs solely. Eidson mentioned the non permanent service could possibly be restored throughout the subsequent three weeks, and the brand new server ought to be up and operating by the top of the 12 months.

“We’re gonna be busy for some time. Thankfully, I’ve obtained an amazing workforce of men who by no means fail to step up,” praised Eidson.

While programs are down, Judge Bolls mentioned he’d advise anybody who fears necessary data could be delayed, to substantiate appointments by way of cellphone.

Tap here for the phone directory of Taylor County departments.

“If you could have a court docket date arising, or if in case you have one scheduled, I’d simply name forward of time to see if it’s nonetheless on,” Judge Bolls inspired. “Again, all of these programs are functioning. It’s simply primarily the emails the place you shuttle which can be down.”

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