Südwestfalen-IT

Südwestfalen-IT, also known as sit.nrw, is an information technology service provider headquartered in Germany.
The organisation delivers IT infrastructure and support services to public sector entities, primarily municipalities in the South Westphalia region.
Its offerings include managing specialised applications that enable citizen services, email, and phone communications for its members.
Südwestfalen-IT operates as a shared services entity, allowing member municipalities to pool resources for efficient technology delivery.
The organisation’s role is to ensure the reliability and security of the digital systems that underpin local administration.

In October 2023, Südwestfalen-IT experienced a cyberattack that forced an immediate shutdown of all its systems.
The incident disrupted critical services across 72 member municipalities in South Westphalia and affected external clients using the organisation’s specialised applications.
A crisis team, comprising internal staff and external IT forensics experts, was convened to analyse the attack and coordinate with law enforcement.
While restoring unaffected systems, the organisation prioritised security over speed, implementing stricter protocols and developing temporary solutions to maintain essential functions.
Südwestfalen-IT has stated its ongoing collaboration with authorities and member municipalities to resolve the crisis and strengthen its security posture.