GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. – The Glynn County School District was the target of a cyberattack Wednesday, which prompted school officials to immediately cut access to the internet.
“The biggest thing I think we have to deal with is we need more information from the school system of what really has happened,” Adam Casgar, father to a high school student in Glynn County, said.
Casgar expressed concerns about what a cyberattack like this could mean for the school and of course, the students.
“Being in IT, I knew once that happens something bad was really happening because you just don’t pull the plug for everything,” Casgar said.
The district’s Assistant Superintendent of Operations said by Thursday afternoon internet access was restored and schools were on normal operations.
He also said cutting the access to the internet helped minimize any damage to computer systems.
Casgar said he thinks parents should monitor their child’s personal information closely through a company that deals with identity theft, just to be on the safe side.
This wasn’t the first time a school district in Georgia has been hit by a cyberattack.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Henry County Schools was attacked last year, and two months after their attack, schools in that county still had internet issues.
“Our technology department in coordination with cyber security experts will continue to analyze the attack and monitor our system to ensure that there are no lingering effects.”
Assistant Superintendent of Operations for Glynn County Schools
And though Casgar said he wishes parents were told more information about the attack sooner, he did commend the school for pulling the internet once they found out.
“I believe that was a good defensive measure for sure to start,” Casgar said.
News4JAX also asked school district officials if the internet being out affected any testing or anything big at schools this week and they said: “Most of our state-mandated testing starts next week. There were no significant disruptions this week from that standpoint.”