Winona County officials recently discovered a ransomware attack that compromised their computer network, prompting the Board Chair to sign a formal declaration of local emergency. While the specific timeline of the breach remains undisclosed, authorities confirmed that essential public safety systems, including 911 and fire department services, continue to function without interruption.
Winona County recently identified and responded to a ransomware attack targeting its internal computer systems. While the official announcement described the event as a recent occurrence, it did not provide a specific date or time for when the initial breach was detected. In response to the security threat, the Winona County Board Chair signed a declaration of local emergency to streamline the government's ability to manage the crisis.
To address the technical and legal complexities of the breach, the county is collaborating with a specialized team of third-party cybersecurity and data forensics experts. This investigation is being conducted alongside local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to determine the scope of the attack and identify those responsible. Officials are focused on isolating the affected areas of the network while gathering evidence to prevent further unauthorized access.
Despite the disruption to administrative systems, the county has emphasized that critical public safety infrastructure remains stable. Emergency services, specifically 911 dispatch and fire department responses, are fully operational and continue to serve the community. This ensures that the immediate physical safety of residents is not compromised while the IT department works to restore secondary digital services.
This incident follows a troubling trend of cyberattacks targeting local governments throughout the region. Just last summer, the City of St. Paul suffered a massive cyberattack that resulted in months of service delays and technical difficulties. Several other cities and counties have reported similar security breaches over the past year, highlighting a growing vulnerability in municipal digital infrastructure.
Winona County representatives stated they will provide further updates to the public as the forensic investigation yields more information. For now, the primary focus remains on the recovery of internal data and the gradual restoration of impacted network functions. The emergency declaration will stay in effect as long as necessary to facilitate the county's comprehensive response to the cyberattack.
Solid coverage of whats becoming a really bad pattern. The connection to St.Paul's months-long outage is critical context most people miss. Local govs are soft targets becuase they have legacy systems but limited security budgets. The emergency decleration is smart for resource mobilization but the real fix needs sustained investment in baseline infra before the next hit.