The Communications Workers Union (CWU) is currently dealing with a significant cyberattack targeting parts of its IT systems, as revealed in a recent statement. Initially identified as an IT outage, subsequent investigations confirm the incident as a deliberate cyberattack, prompting the involvement of third-party cybersecurity experts since March 21. While specifics on the attack’s full scope are still being determined, CWU’s head of communications highlighted that the union has engaged specialist cybersecurity advisors to conduct a detailed digital forensic analysis. As a precautionary measure, some systems have been taken offline, with the cyber security team actively working on assessing the breach and implementing restoration efforts.
The incident has raised concerns over potential data breaches, considering that CWU houses member data within the compromised systems. Despite uncertainties regarding data compromise, the union has proactively informed the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and updated its members on the evolving situation. With cybersecurity experts engaged in forensic analysis, the focus remains on determining the attack’s specifics, assessing the impact on member data security, and establishing a timeline for system restoration. Notably, the importance of maintaining robust data backups to aid in recovery processes during cyber incidents is underscored, highlighting the significance of proactive cybersecurity measures and readiness in today’s digital landscape.
