⚖️ Cybersecurity attack on Saint Paul

Saint Paul Cyberattack Triggers Emergency Response

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has activated the state's National Guard cyber unit in response to a severe cyberattack on Saint Paul, the state’s capital and second-largest city. The July 25 breach has significantly disrupted city operations, including public-facing services and internal infrastructure such as Wi-Fi networks. The exact nature of the cyberattack has not yet been disclosed, but officials say the "magnitude and complexity" of the incident exceeded the city’s ability to manage it internally, prompting a formal request for state assistance.

Growing Threats to Local Governments and Infrastructure

This attack reflects a broader and accelerating trend of ransomware and cyber threats targeting local governments, often under-resourced and ill-equipped to respond. Activating the National Guard for cyber incidents is still rare but increasingly necessary as public infrastructure and municipal systems become prime targets for disruption. The fact that Saint Paul had to take its systems offline underscores how unprepared even large cities can be. These events also raise concerns about employee data breaches and potential disruptions to emergency services, public utilities, and digital communications.

What Startups Should Know: Incident Response and Data Minimization Are Crucial

Startups, especially those working with municipal clients, infrastructure tech, or sensitive data, should treat this as a reminder that cybersecurity is no longer optional. Founders should review their incident response plans, make sure they have backups and offline failover protocols, and evaluate how much sensitive data they are collecting, especially on employees. Minimizing data storage where possible, encrypting it at rest and in transit, and investing early in good cyber hygiene (such as MFA, audits, and employee training) will not only help mitigate future risk but could also become a selling point in deals with governments and enterprises.

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