In late 2023, West Clermont Local School District in Ohio faced a significant financial setback when approximately $1.7 million was lost due to a cyberattack. The incident involved diverting Automated Clearing House payments to unauthorized bank accounts not associated with the district. Despite the attack, the district assured the community that no personal information or student records were compromised.
Upon discovering the breach, West Clermont promptly engaged law enforcement and filed a claim with their insurance provider to recover the funds. They emphasized their commitment to transparency, despite the ongoing nature of the investigation, which has necessitated careful coordination with authorities to protect case integrity.
In response to the cyber incident, the district’s IT team conducted thorough network scans, confirming no unauthorized access or malware presence. They have since bolstered security measures with enhanced authentication protocols and discontinued external vendor ACH payments. Despite the financial impact, the district affirmed its ability to maintain current programs and services without any anticipated cuts, ensuring operational stability moving forward.