Cyber Incident Victim: Pembina Trails School Division
Date:
Dec 2024
Location:
Canada
Summary
A cybersecurity incident involving Pembina Trails School Division was detected following unusual network activity, prompting immediate engagement with external cybersecurity professionals to investigate. The division prioritized minimizing educational disruptions and safeguarding student and staff information, maintaining school operations through staff adaptability while restoration efforts continued. Initial findings indicated no confirmed exposure of personal data in affected databases, with a commitment to notify individuals if investigations revealed otherwise; financial information systems remained unaffected as they operated separately from the compromised network. The investigation was expected to extend over an extended period as IT teams worked to fully assess the incident's scope and impact.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 0 motives | 0 techniques |
| Threat Actors | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0 actors | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
On the morning of December 2, 2024, Pembina Trails School Division's information technology team detected unusual activity within the division’s network system. The division immediately engaged cybersecurity professionals to investigate the incident. By December 9, 2024, the investigation remained ongoing with priorities focused on minimizing disruptions to learning and safeguarding student and staff information. The division acknowledged receiving numerous questions from concerned parents and guardians, committing to provide responses on their webpage as more information became available from the investigative team. They specifically clarified that financial information was not stored on the affected student information system, noting international student financial data resided on a separate uncompromised system. Staff and teachers maintained school operations through adaptable methods despite system outages, with the division praising their resilience and ingenuity. IT teams worked continuously since the incident's discovery to investigate its scope and restore functionality.
The division reiterated on December 10, 2024, that there was no indication personal information of students or staff had been exposed in the incident. They stated affected individuals would be contacted directly if subsequent investigation revealed any data compromise, with actions taken to help secure their information. Restoration efforts and investigative work continued concurrently, emphasizing the goal of maintaining uninterrupted learning environments. The division acknowledged the investigation could extend for weeks or months as they worked to fully understand the incident's causes and impacts. Community support and patience were repeatedly noted as critical factors during the response period. Regular updates were provided through the division’s official webpage as new information was confirmed by the investigative team.