Ponoka provides update regarding 2024 cyber-attack

PONOKA -- Nearly a year after a cyber-attack on the Town of Ponoka's internal network, the Township has issued an update.

The Town says that following a lengthy investigation, they've determined that no personal data was compromised following the incident in March of 2024. They say they first noticed the issue when an unauthorized third party was able to gain access to a portion of their network.

They note that a number of sensitive files may have been accessed by the unauthorized party, including property owner information, direct banking information for utility customers and direct deposit information for business suppliers. Despite this, the Town says any information acquired in the cyber-attack would be insufficient for fraud or identity theft. 

According to the Town of Ponoka, measures were already in place to protect their IT system before the breach, though cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving. They add that they've since implemented enhanced security measures, including 24/7 advanced endpoint detection and response monitoring, to better prevent an incident of this nature from reoccurring in the future.

Furthermore, they've reported the incident to law enforcement as well as to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta.

If you have questions regarding this incident or this letter, you're asked to contact Dawn Sauvé at dawn.sauve@ponoka.ca. More information about this incident can also be found on the Town's website.