Baton Rouge Community College

Baton Rouge Community College is an educational institution based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that provides higher education programs leading to associate degrees and certificates. The college serves students from the local community and region, offering courses in various academic and vocational fields. It handles student enrollment, maintains academic records, and organizes annual commencement ceremonies to celebrate graduates. Administrative and instructional operations rely on network systems for communication and data management. The institution's scale is indicated by its ability to conduct large-scale events like commencement and manage ongoing enrollment processes. As a community college, it plays a vital role in accessible education and workforce preparation within its service area, operating under the broader United States community college system.

In December 2019, Baton Rouge Community College experienced a ransomware attack that disrupted its primary network systems and compromised some computers. The incident forced temporary workarounds for email access and required manual processing of student grades and enrollment adjustments. Despite the disruption, the college did not pay the ransom and reported no confirmed data loss. Oversight authorities confirmed that personal data remained secure because it was stored in a separate, unaffected system, highlighting the institution's data segregation practices. The college proceeded with scheduled commencement ceremonies, demonstrating resilience and a commitment to student milestones. Recovery efforts involved collaboration with technology support teams to restore network functionality. The event underscored the college's ability to sustain core educational functions during cyber emergencies through offline procedures and structured response protocols. Its handling of the attack reflected a cautious approach to ransom demands and a focus on protecting sensitive information while maintaining essential operations.