Southold, New York, officials said Monday they are investigating a “potential cyber incident” that has disrupted town computer servers, knocked out email and limited records processing but has not affected 911 or police phone lines.
In an alert posted Monday afternoon, the town said the incident is affecting its servers and “our ability to communicate with residents via email.” The town’s website appeared to remain available, but officials warned that “all town services will be limited” while the investigation continues. Residents can still access services by phone or in person.
A later Facebook update from the Southold Town Police Department said both 911 and the department’s administrative phone systems are functioning normally and are “not affected by this incident.” Email systems are offline, and the department said processing of records requests will be limited until systems are fully restored. Police said they remain “fully prepared to respond to all emergencies and calls for service.”
Town officials said they have contacted Suffolk County and New York state partners for assistance but have not disclosed what triggered the disruption, what caused it or whether it involves ransomware, data theft or another type of cyberattack. No timeline has been given for full restoration of email or other affected systems, and officials have not indicated whether any personal data has been accessed.
The disruption comes three years after Suffolk County government suffered a major ransomware attack in 2022 that shut down its main website for months, disrupted 911 operations and payment systems and exposed personal information tied to roughly 500,000 people. That incident led to a critical legislative report citing gaps in planning and cybersecurity practices across the county.
Across New York, Southold’s situation joins a growing list of recent cyber and IT incidents hitting public agencies and institutions. Earlier this year, Syracuse police limited network access after a January “security incident,” and Glens Falls officials reported a city cybersecurity incident that forced restoration efforts. Cyber issues have also struck beyond local government, including a campuswide IT outage at Columbia University, disruptions at Cayuga Medical Center and a ransomware attack on the New York Blood Center that worsened an already tight blood supply.
Education and local government systems have been frequent targets. Hartwick College and the Goshen Central School District both reported ransomware attacks in the past two years, while the Town of Ulster and Saratoga Springs City Hall each dealt with significant cyber incidents that took municipal systems offline.
For now, Southold officials say their priority is maintaining essential services while the technical investigation continues. Residents are being advised to contact town offices and the police department by phone or visit in person for urgent needs, and to monitor official town and police social media channels for updates as more is known about the scope and cause of the incident.
