Tewkesbury Borough Council’s recent cyber incident, initially feared to be a hostile attack, has ultimately proven to be a “blessing in disguise” amid revelations of the costs and lessons learned. On September 4, the council shut down all online services after detecting anomalies in their IT systems, declaring a major incident to protect sensitive data and vulnerable residents.
Council officials first suspected a malicious cyber attack and swiftly redeployed staff to outreach vulnerable communities across the borough. However, cybersecurity experts later confirmed it was a false alarm—caused by the council’s own systems inadvertently testing their security protocols—and confirmed no data was compromised.
Despite the incident being a false alarm, its financial impact was significant. Total costs climbed to £289,625.28, covering new laptops, cybersecurity equipment (£30,000), cyber contractors (£89,632), planning contractors (£84,825), environmental health backlogs, overtime, and other expenses related to rescheduling training and postage.
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At a council meeting on February 24, Councillor Mike Sztymiak praised the swift and effective response, highlighting national recognition for the council’s transparent communication and collaborative leadership during the crisis. He emphasized how staff adapted quickly, going “out of their comfort zones” to maintain critical services and implement improvements that enhance future resilience.
Councillor Cate Cody echoed this sentiment, suggesting the experience and improved practices gained could save the council substantial resources in the long term. Councillor David Gray urged vigilance, warning the council not to grow complacent. He likened the incident to a “wargaming” exercise—stress testing systems to ensure readiness for the inevitable next challenge.
In reflecting on the incident, council leaders agree that while the disruption was costly, the experience strengthened their defenses and preparedness, turning what could have been a disaster into an opportunity for growth and improvement.