You don't hear this on a daily basis: Minnesota has just activated the National Guard because of a cyberattack. No earthquake, no riot, just an enormous hack on St. Paul's city system, and it slammed with a ferocity that caught everyone by surprise.
Sounds crazy, right? Let's break down what is really happening.
City workers couldn't log in anymore out of the blue. A handful of emergency systems slowed down or went dark. It wasn't a glitch — it was a real threat to how the city functions on a day-to-day basis.
Minnesota has a special cyber team inside the National Guard, and they’re trained to handle exactly this kind of attack. Once things started falling apart, Governor Tim Walz stepped in and brought the Guard in to help fix it.
In seriousness, that choice probably prevented days — or even weeks — of damage control.
And no, they are not bored teenagers. They are highly efficient groups, many of whom are from abroad, looking for weaknesses.
Ever wonder what would happen if your city's police, water, or garbage departments just stopped functioning at all? That is what cities are preparing for today.
The National Guard rode in to stem the bleeding this time, but it's a wake-up call for all of us: good cybersecurity is no longer a nicety but a necessity.
So, keep it real — when was the last time you changed your passwords or verified your backups?
Sounds crazy, right? Let's break down what is really happening.
How Bad Was the Cyberattack?
Not good at all. City officials reported the attack brought down some of the city's infrastructure, which had the potential to affect public safety, internal email, and data systems.City workers couldn't log in anymore out of the blue. A handful of emergency systems slowed down or went dark. It wasn't a glitch — it was a real threat to how the city functions on a day-to-day basis.
Why Did the National Guard Get Involved?
You’d think this kind of problem would just go to IT, right? But this wasn’t a “turn it off and on again” situation.Minnesota has a special cyber team inside the National Guard, and they’re trained to handle exactly this kind of attack. Once things started falling apart, Governor Tim Walz stepped in and brought the Guard in to help fix it.
In seriousness, that choice probably prevented days — or even weeks — of damage control.
What's the Guard Doing Now?
The cyber unit is working with federal and state experts to:- Scan how deep the hackers made it
- Block subsequent attacks
- Clean infected systems
- Figure out how it happened
Is This a One-Time Thing?
Not even in the same ballpark. Ransomware and cyberattacks are more common in cities all over the U.S. than you can even possibly conceive.And no, they are not bored teenagers. They are highly efficient groups, many of whom are from abroad, looking for weaknesses.
Ever wonder what would happen if your city's police, water, or garbage departments just stopped functioning at all? That is what cities are preparing for today.
Final Thoughts: This Is the New Reality
Let's face it — cyberattacks are no longer the exception. They're the new standard, and St. Paul is finding out the hard way.The National Guard rode in to stem the bleeding this time, but it's a wake-up call for all of us: good cybersecurity is no longer a nicety but a necessity.
So, keep it real — when was the last time you changed your passwords or verified your backups?