Cyber Incident Victim: South East Technological University Waterford Campus
Date:
Nov 2024
Location:
Ireland
Summary
A cyberattack targeting South East Technological University's Waterford campuses disrupted campus operations, leading to canceled classes and widespread IT outages affecting internet access, internal emails, file-sharing systems, and on-campus ICT equipment. The institution's IT team responded swiftly, engaging external cybersecurity experts to contain the incident and safeguard systems, with no evidence of data compromise identified during initial assessments. While other campuses remained unaffected, Waterford staff were advised to prepare offline teaching materials using personal devices amid expectations of prolonged connectivity issues. The university and associated unions continued monitoring the situation, acknowledging potential ongoing disruptions to academic activities while investigations proceeded.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 1 motive | 1 technique |
| Threat Actors | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0 actors | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
A significant cyberattack targeting South East Technological University's Waterford campuses was detected on or around November 1, 2024, prompting immediate operational disruptions. The university identified the cybersecurity incident at its earliest detectable stage, with its internal IT team swiftly implementing safeguards to protect IT systems. By November 1, all internet connectivity, internal email systems, file-sharing platforms, and on-campus access to Moodle (the learning management system) became unavailable across Waterford campuses. This infrastructure collapse forced the cancellation of Monday classes in Waterford to allow staff to reorganize teaching methods without digital resources. University Vice-President for Student Experience David Denieffe confirmed ongoing investigations through staff communications, noting collaboration between SETU's IT team and external cybersecurity experts to resolve the incident and mitigate potential impacts. Initial assessments indicated no evidence of compromised data or information breaches at this preliminary stage.
The incident exclusively disrupted Waterford campuses, with other SETU locations and Waterford-based apprenticeship classes continuing normal operations. The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) informed members via email that the full extent of system damage remained unknown and might require until the end of the following week for comprehensive evaluation. SETU anticipated possible week-long internet outages, advising academic staff to prepare offline teaching materials using personal home computers for printing. Critical operational limitations included no access to wit.ie email accounts, campus ICT equipment, or networked file storage. The TUI confirmed inquiring about potential data breaches but received assurances from SETU that none had been detected during initial investigations. University communications emphasized continuous monitoring of the situation while acknowledging unavoidable disruptions for Waterford-based staff and students throughout the recovery period.