City of Florence

The City of Florence, also referred to as Florence, Alabama, is a municipal corporation located in the United States of America. Its headquarters resides within the city limits of Florence, in the state of Alabama. As a local government entity, it operates under the authority of state and federal laws governing municipalities. The organisation provides governance and administrative functions for the resident population. It serves the community by delivering public services typical of a city government.

Core responsibilities include maintaining public safety through police and fire departments. The city oversees the upkeep of streets, bridges, and other municipal infrastructure. It manages water, sewer, and sanitation services for households and businesses. Recreational facilities, parks, and community programs fall under its purview. Additionally, the city handles licensing, permitting, and zoning regulations for local development.

On May 6, 2020, the City of Florence experienced a ransomware attack that disrupted its operations. The intrusion began when attackers compromised the information systems manager’s account. The malicious software deployed was identified as DoppelPaymer ransomware. Following the attack, city officials unanimously decided to pay a $300,000 ransom using insurance funds to prevent potential data leaks and restore services. Officials noted uncertainty about whether critical data had been exfiltrated but proceeded based on the gang’s reputation for deleting data after payment and sought proof of deletion as part of the resolution.