‘Cyber incident’ disrupts computer services at Rainbow Schools

The Rainbow District School Board that covers Greater Sudbury and area is confirming a system-wide network disruption is due to a “cyber incident.”

Rainbow District School Board (RDSB) confirms its system-wide network disruption is due to “a cyber incident.”

“When technical issues emerged earlier today (Friday,) measures were quickly implemented to protect the board’s computer network,” said RDSB spokesperson Nicole Charette in an email to CTV News.

“In an abundance of caution, all computer systems and applications will be turned off at approximately 10 a.m.,” the board said in a notice posted to their website Friday morning.

“There will be no access to email, voice mail, Google drive, social media or any other applications that our schools use on a day-to-day basis.”

The outage is affecting the board’s Centre for Education and all schools in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin Island. However, staff state the board’s website is not affected by the disruption.

All schools remained opened on Friday and all classes and programs continued – teachers were required to adjust their lesson plans given the incident.

The board said its information services staff are working with cyber security experts to determine the impact of the cyber incident as well as the cause and its origin.

“At this time, there is no indication that any personal information has been compromised,” the board said in a statement.

“Should that situation change, we will inform the community.”

CTV News has learned that staff was notified of the shutdown at about 9:40 a.m. by email and parents and guardians were also contacted by principals by email shortly before the shutdown was set to begin.

“Should you need to reach your child, you are asked to visit the school or contact your child on their cell phone,” the board said in its notice and emails to parents.

“Students will be allowed to check their phones periodically.”

This is counter to the province-wide cellphone ban implemented by the provincial government last year.

In a brief telephone interview, Charette told CTVNorthernOntario.ca that the board is currently “assessing the situation” and they will release more when they know more.

“Please visit rainbowschools.ca for updates,” said board officials said in their official statement online.

“More information will be shared on our website as it becomes available.”