Town of Dover, NJ

The Town of Dover, New Jersey functions as a municipal government responsible for delivering essential public services to its residents and businesses within Morris County. These services encompass law enforcement and fire protection provided by the local police and fire departments, maintenance of roadways, storm drainage, and sanitation operations, as well as the management of water and sewer utilities. Administrative functions include issuing permits, collecting taxes, maintaining vital records, and overseeing zoning and land‑use planning in accordance with state statutes. The town also supports community programs such as recreational facilities, senior services, and public library access, aiming to enhance quality of life for its populace. Its headquarters is situated in Dover, placing it within the United States and under the jurisdictional framework of the State of New Jersey.

In November 2019 the town’s information technology infrastructure was targeted by a Ryuk ransomware attack that disrupted network operations and email functionality, prompting an immediate response from its contracted IT consultants who successfully removed the malware without any ransom payment. The consultants confirmed that no data alteration or destruction occurred, and critical services such as emergency dispatch remained operational throughout the incident. Following the breach, Dover restored approximately half of the affected computers while implementing system updates designed to strengthen its cybersecurity posture. Although Union County experienced a separate email system compromise during the same period, Dover officials reported that no ransom demand was made despite the ransomware identification, and the ultimate attribution of the attack remained unclear. This episode highlighted the town’s reliance on external expertise for incident response and underscored its commitment to maintaining service continuity amid cyber threats.