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Kensington and Chelsea is one of London’s most vibrant and recognisable boroughs. It has many unique buildings, famous museums and beautiful parks. Although the borough is geographically one of the smallest in London, at just over 4.7 square miles, it is one of the most densely populated and diverse areas in Europe. It is home to the world-famous Notting Hill Carnival. Kensington and Chelsea Council (also known as RBKC) aims to provide high quality services to improve the lives of its residents and to make the borough greener, safer and fairer. The Council has five directorates, sharing Children’s Services and Adult Social Care and Public Health with Westminster Council. Other directorates include Chief Executive, Environment and Neighbourhoods, Housing and Social Investment (including Grenfell recovery), and Resources. Children's Services and Adult Social Care: This directorate covers children's services, education, family services, safeguarding, adult social care and public health. These services are consistently rated as being of a very high standard. Environment and Neighbourhoods: Transport, leisure, planning, resident services, libraries and environmental health, all of which are supported by a safer, cleaner and greener streets agenda. This team also work to preserve the unique character of the borough. Housing and Social Investment: In response to London’s affordable homes crisis, the Council is committed to building more social housing to help people on lower incomes to live, work, and raise their families in the borough. Housing also covers landlord services and estate management, planning, refurbishment, advice and support to help maintain healthy and safe homes, and build stronger communities. Resources: This directorate includes Customer Services, Human Resources, IT, Finance. These services help the Council to run effectively and in turn benefit the wider community. CEO manages strategy, Grenfell inquiry, governance and communications.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea A.I CyberSecurity Scoring

RBKC

Company Details

Linkedin ID:

royal-borough-of-kensington-and-chelsea

Employees number:

1,983

Number of followers:

21,962

NAICS:

92

Industry Type:

Government Administration

Homepage:

rbkc.gov.uk

IP Addresses:

0

Company ID:

ROY_1014435

Scan Status:

In-progress

AI scoreRBKC Risk Score (AI oriented)

Between 0 and 549

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RBKC Government Administration
Updated:
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globalscoreRBKC Global Score (TPRM)

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RBKC Government Administration
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RBKC Company CyberSecurity News & History

Past Incidents
13
Attack Types
2
EntityTypeSeverityImpactSeenBlog DetailsIncident DetailsView
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)Cyber Attack60211/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack limited on finance or reputation

Description: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), along with Westminster City Council, suffered a cyber attack on **24 November**, disrupting multiple IT systems shared between the two authorities. Emergency measures were activated, including business continuity plans, to maintain critical services—particularly for vulnerable residents—while diverting additional resources to monitor communications and system recovery. The councils collaborated with the **National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)** to assess the breach’s scope and mitigate risks. An investigation is underway to determine if sensitive data was compromised, with the **Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)** notified as a precaution. The incident also raised concerns for the **London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham**, which shares IT infrastructure with the affected councils. While no immediate evidence of data theft was confirmed, the attack forced operational disruptions, heightened security protocols, and potential reputational damage due to public exposure via media (e.g., Sky News).

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)Cyber Attack60211/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack limited on finance or reputation

Description: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), along with Westminster City Council and Hammersmith and Fulham, experienced a **cyber attack** targeting their shared IT systems since Monday morning. The incident disrupted critical services, including phone lines, and prompted an ongoing investigation with support from the **National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)** and specialist cyber incident experts. While it remains unclear whether **residents’ data was compromised**, the councils have implemented mitigations and notified the **Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)**. The attack has caused delays in public services, with authorities working to restore systems and minimize disruptions. The NCSC is assessing the potential impact, but no further details on the attackers or the extent of data exposure have been confirmed. Residents have been advised to expect delays in responses and service availability as recovery efforts continue.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster City CouncilCyber Attack6035/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Description: At least two London councils—**Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and Westminster City Council**—faced a **cyber-attack** that disrupted critical IT infrastructure shared between them. The incident, detected on a Monday, forced the shutdown of multiple computerized systems, including phone lines, as a precautionary measure to contain potential damage. Engineers worked overnight to mitigate the breach, but the extent of data compromise remains under investigation. The councils serve **360,000 residents**, and the attack’s disruption to public services (e.g., administrative, communication, and digital systems) raises concerns over operational continuity, reputational harm, and potential exposure of sensitive resident or employee data. While no confirmed data theft has been reported, the proactive shutdown suggests a **high-risk scenario** where attackers may have gained unauthorized access to municipal networks, risking leaks of personal, financial, or governance-related information.

Kensington and Chelsea CouncilCyber Attack10066/2020
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: Kensington and Chelsea Council, along with Westminster and other London boroughs, was struck by a cyber attack on Monday, disrupting shared IT systems and phone lines. The council activated emergency and business continuity plans to maintain critical services, particularly for vulnerable residents. While the source and full scale of the attack remain unclear, initial mitigations were deployed, including collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). The incident caused a multi-hour outage of essential services, such as call centers, with full system restoration not expected before the end of the week. The attack originated from Kensington and Chelsea’s network, which shares infrastructure with neighboring authorities. Staff were warned about phishing risks, and the Information Commissioner’s Office was notified. The disruption echoes a 2020 Hackney Council breach, where 440,000 files were encrypted, highlighting persistent vulnerabilities in local government cybersecurity. No confirmed data compromise has been reported yet, but investigations are ongoing.

Royal Borough of Kensington and ChelseaCyber Attack100611/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, alongside three other London councils (Hackney, Westminster, and Hammersmith & Fulham), fell victim to a coordinated cyber attack disrupting critical public services. The incident led to IT system failures, including outages in phone line services, directly impacting residents’ ability to access essential council operations. While the council collaborated with the **National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)** to mitigate the attack and restore systems, the full extent of data compromise remains unclear as investigations continue. The **Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)** was notified per regulatory protocols. Staff were placed on high alert to safeguard resident data, and Westminster City Council acknowledged difficulties in public communication. The attack’s broader implications include potential reputational damage, operational disruptions in governance, and risks to sensitive citizen data—though no confirmed breaches of personal or financial information have been disclosed yet. The BBC’s coverage amplified public awareness, adding pressure on the council’s crisis response.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and Westminster City Council (WCC)Cyber Attack100611/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: A coordinated cyber incident disrupted multiple IT systems and phone lines across the **Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and Westminster City Council (WCC)**, which share critical infrastructure. The attack also affected the **London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham** due to interconnected IT services. While investigations are ongoing, the councils confirmed no immediate evidence of data compromise but acknowledged potential risks to resident and operational data. The incident prompted **Hackney Council** to elevate its cybersecurity threat level to *critical* as a precaution.Authorities collaborated with the **National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)** and external experts to contain the breach, restore services, and mitigate further damage. The attack exposed vulnerabilities in **shared public-sector IT frameworks**, where a single breach can cascade across dependent organizations, disrupting essential services for hundreds of thousands. Experts emphasized the urgent need for **segmented, resilient networks** and modernized legacy systems to counter evolving AI-driven cyber threats. The financial and reputational fallout remains unclear, but service outages and public concern over data security persist as the investigation continues.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)Cyber Attack100611/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) experienced a cyber incident that disrupted critical systems for multiple days, starting on Monday. Emergency protocols were activated to maintain essential service delivery, but the outage persisted, affecting operations and forcing neighboring councils like Hammersmith & Fulham and Westminster to isolate their networks as a precaution. RBKC’s systems remained offline for 2–3 days, with no immediate clarity on whether data was compromised, though the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) was notified. Staff were warned against interacting with emails or links from RBKC and Westminster colleagues, suggesting a potential phishing or malware vector.The incident caused cross-council connectivity issues, delaying resolution until RBKC could secure its networks. The Met Police’s Cyber Crime Unit launched an early-stage investigation following an Action Fraud referral, with no arrests made. The disruption impacted public-facing services, requiring apologies to residents for prolonged inconvenience. The interconnected nature of the attack—affecting multiple local authorities—hints at a coordinated or widespread breach, though RBKC stopped short of confirming data theft or the attack’s precise method. Recovery efforts prioritized safety over speed, indicating significant operational and reputational strain.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)Cyber Attack100611/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: The **Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)** in west London suffered a **cyber attack** that forced staff to work remotely, disrupted critical systems (including phone lines and online services), and triggered emergency response protocols. The incident, investigated by the **National Crime Agency (NCA) and GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)**, also impacted **Westminster City Council and Hammersmith & Fulham Council** due to shared IT infrastructure. While the exact scale of data compromise remains unclear, cybersecurity experts warned of potential **personal data exposure**, urging residents to exercise caution against follow-up phishing attempts. The council’s internal networks were partially shut down as a precaution, with no immediate timeline for full restoration. Services like online forms and website functionality were intermittently unavailable, and alternative contact methods were provided. The attack’s severity was underscored by the council’s **£12M annual IT security budget**, the involvement of national cyber agencies, and comparisons to high-profile breaches (e.g., **The Co-op’s 6.5M-record data theft**). Experts noted the incident’s potential to exploit **interconnected digital dependencies**, risking a broader local authority crisis. The council confirmed the attack’s cause was identified but withheld details pending investigation.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)Cyber Attack10066/2020
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), along with Westminster City Council (with shared IT infrastructure), suffered a cyber-attack that disrupted critical systems, including phone lines and online services like council tax and parking fine payments. Emergency response plans were activated, and the National Crime Agency (NCA) and National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) were involved in the investigation. While the cause was identified, the extent of data compromise remains unclear, though the attack forced system shutdowns to mitigate further damage. Over **500,000 London residents** were potentially affected due to the councils' service disruptions. The incident drew parallels to the 2020 Hackney Council ransomware attack, which encrypted **440,000 files** and led to an ICO reprimand. RBKC emphasized ongoing efforts to restore systems and protect vulnerable residents, though delays in public services persisted. The attack’s broader implications include heightened alerts across other London councils, signaling a coordinated targeting of municipal infrastructure.

Kensington and Chelsea Council (and Westminster, Hammersmith & Fulham Councils - shared IT systems)Cyber Attack100611/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: A cyberattack paralyzed critical IT networks across at least three London boroughs—Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, and Hammersmith & Fulham—disrupting phone lines, online portals, and back-office operations. Emergency procedures were activated, forcing manual processes for housing enquiries, council tax/benefits queries, and appointment bookings. While waste collection continued, casework and payments slowed due to offline workarounds. The attack’s scope remains under forensic investigation, with uncertainty over whether personal data (e.g., social care, electoral, or financial records) was exfiltrated. Authorities isolated systems to contain the breach but have not confirmed attribution, though ransomware (a common threat in UK public-sector incidents) is suspected. Recovery efforts prioritize restoring essential services first, with long-term costs expected to include infrastructure rebuilds, data integrity checks, and cybersecurity hardening. Previous UK council attacks (e.g., Hackney, Redcar) incurred multi-million-pound losses and months of disruption, underscoring the severe operational and financial risks. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in shared IT ecosystems and legacy systems, compounded by tight budgets and supply-chain exposures.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) & Westminster City Council (WCC)Cyber Attack100611/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: A cybersecurity incident disrupted shared IT services between **Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)**, **Westminster City Council (WCC)**, and **Hammersmith & Fulham**, forcing emergency business continuity measures. Critical services—including phone lines, online reporting, and resident support systems—were severely impacted, with RBKC’s website experiencing intermittent outages. The **National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)** intervened to isolate systems, restore operations, and investigate potential data compromise, though no confirmation of stolen data was made public. The attack strained vulnerable resident services (e.g., social care, housing support) and triggered precautionary network lockdowns. Experts like **Graeme Stewart (Check Point)** and **Kevin Beaumont** speculated the intrusion involved **lateral movement across shared infrastructure**, possibly linked to a **ransomware attack on a third-party provider**. The Metropolitan Police’s Cyber Crime Unit launched an investigation, but no arrests were made. Delays in service recovery persisted, with authorities apologizing for prolonged disruptions while prioritizing system remediation.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)Cyber Attack10066/2020
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: The **Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)** experienced a **serious cybersecurity incident** involving **Account Takeover Fraud**, disrupting critical public services and shared IT systems across multiple London councils, including **Westminster City Council (WCC)**. The attack, detected on **November 24**, forced RBKC and WCC to **shut down computer networks**, notify the **UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)**, and collaborate with the **National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)** for mitigation. Online portals, phone lines, and essential services were severely disrupted, requiring activation of **business continuity plans** to support vulnerable residents. While investigations remain ongoing, authorities have not yet confirmed whether **personal data was compromised**, but the incident triggered a **Critical threat level** across other London boroughs, including **Hackney Council**, which had previously suffered a major cyberattack in 2020. The **Metropolitan Police Cyber Crime Unit** is involved, though no arrests have been made. The attack’s **scale and coordination** suggest a **targeted, high-impact breach** affecting governance, public trust, and operational stability, with potential long-term repercussions for **municipal cybersecurity resilience** in the region.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)Ransomware100611/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), along with Westminster City Council (WCC) and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF), suffered a **cyberattack** leading to widespread service disruptions. The attack targeted shared IT infrastructure, crippling phone lines, online services, and contact centers, forcing the councils to activate emergency protocols. RBKC, serving 360,000 residents, confirmed the incident as a **cybersecurity issue** starting on Monday, with investigations ongoing to determine data compromise. Westminster City Council, a critical local authority overseeing landmarks like the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace, also faced operational halts. A third council, LBHF (180,000 residents), preemptively isolated its networks, causing further business interruptions. The attack disrupted essential public services, including resident communications and administrative functions. While no ransomware group has claimed responsibility, security expert Kevin Beaumont identified it as a **ransomware attack** on a shared service provider. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and external cyber incident experts are assisting in recovery, but the full extent of data exposure remains unclear. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has been notified per regulatory requirements.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)
Cyber Attack
Severity: 60
Impact: 2
Seen: 11/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack limited on finance or reputation

Description: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), along with Westminster City Council, suffered a cyber attack on **24 November**, disrupting multiple IT systems shared between the two authorities. Emergency measures were activated, including business continuity plans, to maintain critical services—particularly for vulnerable residents—while diverting additional resources to monitor communications and system recovery. The councils collaborated with the **National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)** to assess the breach’s scope and mitigate risks. An investigation is underway to determine if sensitive data was compromised, with the **Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)** notified as a precaution. The incident also raised concerns for the **London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham**, which shares IT infrastructure with the affected councils. While no immediate evidence of data theft was confirmed, the attack forced operational disruptions, heightened security protocols, and potential reputational damage due to public exposure via media (e.g., Sky News).

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)
Cyber Attack
Severity: 60
Impact: 2
Seen: 11/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack limited on finance or reputation

Description: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), along with Westminster City Council and Hammersmith and Fulham, experienced a **cyber attack** targeting their shared IT systems since Monday morning. The incident disrupted critical services, including phone lines, and prompted an ongoing investigation with support from the **National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)** and specialist cyber incident experts. While it remains unclear whether **residents’ data was compromised**, the councils have implemented mitigations and notified the **Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)**. The attack has caused delays in public services, with authorities working to restore systems and minimize disruptions. The NCSC is assessing the potential impact, but no further details on the attackers or the extent of data exposure have been confirmed. Residents have been advised to expect delays in responses and service availability as recovery efforts continue.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster City Council
Cyber Attack
Severity: 60
Impact: 3
Seen: 5/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Description: At least two London councils—**Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and Westminster City Council**—faced a **cyber-attack** that disrupted critical IT infrastructure shared between them. The incident, detected on a Monday, forced the shutdown of multiple computerized systems, including phone lines, as a precautionary measure to contain potential damage. Engineers worked overnight to mitigate the breach, but the extent of data compromise remains under investigation. The councils serve **360,000 residents**, and the attack’s disruption to public services (e.g., administrative, communication, and digital systems) raises concerns over operational continuity, reputational harm, and potential exposure of sensitive resident or employee data. While no confirmed data theft has been reported, the proactive shutdown suggests a **high-risk scenario** where attackers may have gained unauthorized access to municipal networks, risking leaks of personal, financial, or governance-related information.

Kensington and Chelsea Council
Cyber Attack
Severity: 100
Impact: 6
Seen: 6/2020
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: Kensington and Chelsea Council, along with Westminster and other London boroughs, was struck by a cyber attack on Monday, disrupting shared IT systems and phone lines. The council activated emergency and business continuity plans to maintain critical services, particularly for vulnerable residents. While the source and full scale of the attack remain unclear, initial mitigations were deployed, including collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). The incident caused a multi-hour outage of essential services, such as call centers, with full system restoration not expected before the end of the week. The attack originated from Kensington and Chelsea’s network, which shares infrastructure with neighboring authorities. Staff were warned about phishing risks, and the Information Commissioner’s Office was notified. The disruption echoes a 2020 Hackney Council breach, where 440,000 files were encrypted, highlighting persistent vulnerabilities in local government cybersecurity. No confirmed data compromise has been reported yet, but investigations are ongoing.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Cyber Attack
Severity: 100
Impact: 6
Seen: 11/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, alongside three other London councils (Hackney, Westminster, and Hammersmith & Fulham), fell victim to a coordinated cyber attack disrupting critical public services. The incident led to IT system failures, including outages in phone line services, directly impacting residents’ ability to access essential council operations. While the council collaborated with the **National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)** to mitigate the attack and restore systems, the full extent of data compromise remains unclear as investigations continue. The **Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)** was notified per regulatory protocols. Staff were placed on high alert to safeguard resident data, and Westminster City Council acknowledged difficulties in public communication. The attack’s broader implications include potential reputational damage, operational disruptions in governance, and risks to sensitive citizen data—though no confirmed breaches of personal or financial information have been disclosed yet. The BBC’s coverage amplified public awareness, adding pressure on the council’s crisis response.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and Westminster City Council (WCC)
Cyber Attack
Severity: 100
Impact: 6
Seen: 11/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: A coordinated cyber incident disrupted multiple IT systems and phone lines across the **Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and Westminster City Council (WCC)**, which share critical infrastructure. The attack also affected the **London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham** due to interconnected IT services. While investigations are ongoing, the councils confirmed no immediate evidence of data compromise but acknowledged potential risks to resident and operational data. The incident prompted **Hackney Council** to elevate its cybersecurity threat level to *critical* as a precaution.Authorities collaborated with the **National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)** and external experts to contain the breach, restore services, and mitigate further damage. The attack exposed vulnerabilities in **shared public-sector IT frameworks**, where a single breach can cascade across dependent organizations, disrupting essential services for hundreds of thousands. Experts emphasized the urgent need for **segmented, resilient networks** and modernized legacy systems to counter evolving AI-driven cyber threats. The financial and reputational fallout remains unclear, but service outages and public concern over data security persist as the investigation continues.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)
Cyber Attack
Severity: 100
Impact: 6
Seen: 11/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) experienced a cyber incident that disrupted critical systems for multiple days, starting on Monday. Emergency protocols were activated to maintain essential service delivery, but the outage persisted, affecting operations and forcing neighboring councils like Hammersmith & Fulham and Westminster to isolate their networks as a precaution. RBKC’s systems remained offline for 2–3 days, with no immediate clarity on whether data was compromised, though the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) was notified. Staff were warned against interacting with emails or links from RBKC and Westminster colleagues, suggesting a potential phishing or malware vector.The incident caused cross-council connectivity issues, delaying resolution until RBKC could secure its networks. The Met Police’s Cyber Crime Unit launched an early-stage investigation following an Action Fraud referral, with no arrests made. The disruption impacted public-facing services, requiring apologies to residents for prolonged inconvenience. The interconnected nature of the attack—affecting multiple local authorities—hints at a coordinated or widespread breach, though RBKC stopped short of confirming data theft or the attack’s precise method. Recovery efforts prioritized safety over speed, indicating significant operational and reputational strain.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)
Cyber Attack
Severity: 100
Impact: 6
Seen: 11/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: The **Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)** in west London suffered a **cyber attack** that forced staff to work remotely, disrupted critical systems (including phone lines and online services), and triggered emergency response protocols. The incident, investigated by the **National Crime Agency (NCA) and GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)**, also impacted **Westminster City Council and Hammersmith & Fulham Council** due to shared IT infrastructure. While the exact scale of data compromise remains unclear, cybersecurity experts warned of potential **personal data exposure**, urging residents to exercise caution against follow-up phishing attempts. The council’s internal networks were partially shut down as a precaution, with no immediate timeline for full restoration. Services like online forms and website functionality were intermittently unavailable, and alternative contact methods were provided. The attack’s severity was underscored by the council’s **£12M annual IT security budget**, the involvement of national cyber agencies, and comparisons to high-profile breaches (e.g., **The Co-op’s 6.5M-record data theft**). Experts noted the incident’s potential to exploit **interconnected digital dependencies**, risking a broader local authority crisis. The council confirmed the attack’s cause was identified but withheld details pending investigation.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)
Cyber Attack
Severity: 100
Impact: 6
Seen: 6/2020
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), along with Westminster City Council (with shared IT infrastructure), suffered a cyber-attack that disrupted critical systems, including phone lines and online services like council tax and parking fine payments. Emergency response plans were activated, and the National Crime Agency (NCA) and National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) were involved in the investigation. While the cause was identified, the extent of data compromise remains unclear, though the attack forced system shutdowns to mitigate further damage. Over **500,000 London residents** were potentially affected due to the councils' service disruptions. The incident drew parallels to the 2020 Hackney Council ransomware attack, which encrypted **440,000 files** and led to an ICO reprimand. RBKC emphasized ongoing efforts to restore systems and protect vulnerable residents, though delays in public services persisted. The attack’s broader implications include heightened alerts across other London councils, signaling a coordinated targeting of municipal infrastructure.

Kensington and Chelsea Council (and Westminster, Hammersmith & Fulham Councils - shared IT systems)
Cyber Attack
Severity: 100
Impact: 6
Seen: 11/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: A cyberattack paralyzed critical IT networks across at least three London boroughs—Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, and Hammersmith & Fulham—disrupting phone lines, online portals, and back-office operations. Emergency procedures were activated, forcing manual processes for housing enquiries, council tax/benefits queries, and appointment bookings. While waste collection continued, casework and payments slowed due to offline workarounds. The attack’s scope remains under forensic investigation, with uncertainty over whether personal data (e.g., social care, electoral, or financial records) was exfiltrated. Authorities isolated systems to contain the breach but have not confirmed attribution, though ransomware (a common threat in UK public-sector incidents) is suspected. Recovery efforts prioritize restoring essential services first, with long-term costs expected to include infrastructure rebuilds, data integrity checks, and cybersecurity hardening. Previous UK council attacks (e.g., Hackney, Redcar) incurred multi-million-pound losses and months of disruption, underscoring the severe operational and financial risks. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in shared IT ecosystems and legacy systems, compounded by tight budgets and supply-chain exposures.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) & Westminster City Council (WCC)
Cyber Attack
Severity: 100
Impact: 6
Seen: 11/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: A cybersecurity incident disrupted shared IT services between **Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)**, **Westminster City Council (WCC)**, and **Hammersmith & Fulham**, forcing emergency business continuity measures. Critical services—including phone lines, online reporting, and resident support systems—were severely impacted, with RBKC’s website experiencing intermittent outages. The **National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)** intervened to isolate systems, restore operations, and investigate potential data compromise, though no confirmation of stolen data was made public. The attack strained vulnerable resident services (e.g., social care, housing support) and triggered precautionary network lockdowns. Experts like **Graeme Stewart (Check Point)** and **Kevin Beaumont** speculated the intrusion involved **lateral movement across shared infrastructure**, possibly linked to a **ransomware attack on a third-party provider**. The Metropolitan Police’s Cyber Crime Unit launched an investigation, but no arrests were made. Delays in service recovery persisted, with authorities apologizing for prolonged disruptions while prioritizing system remediation.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)
Cyber Attack
Severity: 100
Impact: 6
Seen: 6/2020
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: The **Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)** experienced a **serious cybersecurity incident** involving **Account Takeover Fraud**, disrupting critical public services and shared IT systems across multiple London councils, including **Westminster City Council (WCC)**. The attack, detected on **November 24**, forced RBKC and WCC to **shut down computer networks**, notify the **UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)**, and collaborate with the **National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)** for mitigation. Online portals, phone lines, and essential services were severely disrupted, requiring activation of **business continuity plans** to support vulnerable residents. While investigations remain ongoing, authorities have not yet confirmed whether **personal data was compromised**, but the incident triggered a **Critical threat level** across other London boroughs, including **Hackney Council**, which had previously suffered a major cyberattack in 2020. The **Metropolitan Police Cyber Crime Unit** is involved, though no arrests have been made. The attack’s **scale and coordination** suggest a **targeted, high-impact breach** affecting governance, public trust, and operational stability, with potential long-term repercussions for **municipal cybersecurity resilience** in the region.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)
Ransomware
Severity: 100
Impact: 6
Seen: 11/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack threatening the economy of geographical region

Description: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), along with Westminster City Council (WCC) and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF), suffered a **cyberattack** leading to widespread service disruptions. The attack targeted shared IT infrastructure, crippling phone lines, online services, and contact centers, forcing the councils to activate emergency protocols. RBKC, serving 360,000 residents, confirmed the incident as a **cybersecurity issue** starting on Monday, with investigations ongoing to determine data compromise. Westminster City Council, a critical local authority overseeing landmarks like the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace, also faced operational halts. A third council, LBHF (180,000 residents), preemptively isolated its networks, causing further business interruptions. The attack disrupted essential public services, including resident communications and administrative functions. While no ransomware group has claimed responsibility, security expert Kevin Beaumont identified it as a **ransomware attack** on a shared service provider. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and external cyber incident experts are assisting in recovery, but the full extent of data exposure remains unclear. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has been notified per regulatory requirements.

Ailogo

RBKC Company Scoring based on AI Models

Cyber Incidents Likelihood 3 - 6 - 9 months

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Incident Predictions locked
Access Monitoring Plan

A.I Risk Score Likelihood 3 - 6 - 9 months

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A.I. Risk Score Predictions locked
Access Monitoring Plan
statics

Underwriter Stats for RBKC

Incidents vs Government Administration Industry Average (This Year)

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has 1438.46% more incidents than the average of same-industry companies with at least one recorded incident.

Incidents vs All-Companies Average (This Year)

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has 1462.5% more incidents than the average of all companies with at least one recorded incident.

Incident Types RBKC vs Government Administration Industry Avg (This Year)

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea reported 10 incidents this year: 9 cyber attacks, 1 ransomware, 0 vulnerabilities, 0 data breaches, compared to industry peers with at least 1 incident.

Incident History — RBKC (X = Date, Y = Severity)

RBKC cyber incidents detection timeline including parent company and subsidiaries

RBKC Company Subsidiaries

SubsidiaryImage

Kensington and Chelsea is one of London’s most vibrant and recognisable boroughs. It has many unique buildings, famous museums and beautiful parks. Although the borough is geographically one of the smallest in London, at just over 4.7 square miles, it is one of the most densely populated and diverse areas in Europe. It is home to the world-famous Notting Hill Carnival. Kensington and Chelsea Council (also known as RBKC) aims to provide high quality services to improve the lives of its residents and to make the borough greener, safer and fairer. The Council has five directorates, sharing Children’s Services and Adult Social Care and Public Health with Westminster Council. Other directorates include Chief Executive, Environment and Neighbourhoods, Housing and Social Investment (including Grenfell recovery), and Resources. Children's Services and Adult Social Care: This directorate covers children's services, education, family services, safeguarding, adult social care and public health. These services are consistently rated as being of a very high standard. Environment and Neighbourhoods: Transport, leisure, planning, resident services, libraries and environmental health, all of which are supported by a safer, cleaner and greener streets agenda. This team also work to preserve the unique character of the borough. Housing and Social Investment: In response to London’s affordable homes crisis, the Council is committed to building more social housing to help people on lower incomes to live, work, and raise their families in the borough. Housing also covers landlord services and estate management, planning, refurbishment, advice and support to help maintain healthy and safe homes, and build stronger communities. Resources: This directorate includes Customer Services, Human Resources, IT, Finance. These services help the Council to run effectively and in turn benefit the wider community. CEO manages strategy, Grenfell inquiry, governance and communications.

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RBKC CyberSecurity News

November 25, 2025 10:21 PM
Residents issued warning after councils suffer ‘cyber attack’

Several London councils, including Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Westminster City, have been hit by a cyber attack...

November 25, 2025 10:01 PM
Multiple London councils hit by ‘cyber attack’ and initiate ‘emergency plans’

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea said it is 'too early' to determine whether any data has been compromised.

November 25, 2025 09:42 PM
London councils cyber attack live as Kensington and Chelsea Council confirms spy agency involved

Kensington and Chelsea Council has confirmed it is working with the National Cyber Security Centre, part of GCHQ, to protect the local...

November 25, 2025 09:07 PM
London councils hit by 'cyber attack' with data potentially compromised

In a statement, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea said they were trying to protect "systems and data", adding that it was too soon...

November 25, 2025 08:55 PM
Major London councils initiate ‘emergency’ plans after being hit by cyber attack

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (RBKC), and Westminster councils have all confirmed issues, with some warning residents that...

November 25, 2025 07:36 PM
'Too early to say if data stolen' after several London councils hit by cyber attacks

Several London councils have reportedly been hit by cyber attacks in the past 48 hours. Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea town halls...

November 25, 2025 06:53 PM
National Cyber Security Centre monitoring London attack as council says 'too early to say who did it'

Kensington and Chelsea Council confirmed it was hit by the cyber attack and said emergency plans have been enacted.

November 25, 2025 06:26 PM
Several London councils thought be affected by cyber-attacks

Several London councils are believed to have been targeted in cyber-attacks within the past 48 hours. The Royal Borough of Kensington...

November 25, 2025 05:07 PM
Westminster among London councils targeted in cyber attack as staff warned of 'significant' threat

Systems at one London council are not likely be up and running until the end of the week, a memo seen by the Local Democracy Reporting...

faq

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore insights on cybersecurity incidents, risk posture, and Rankiteo's assessments.

RBKC CyberSecurity History Information

Official Website of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

The official website of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is http://www.rbkc.gov.uk.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s AI-Generated Cybersecurity Score

According to Rankiteo, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s AI-generated cybersecurity score is 449, reflecting their Critical security posture.

How many security badges does Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’ have ?

According to Rankiteo, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea currently holds 0 security badges, indicating that no recognized compliance certifications are currently verified for the organization.

Does Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea have SOC 2 Type 1 certification ?

According to Rankiteo, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is not certified under SOC 2 Type 1.

Does Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea have SOC 2 Type 2 certification ?

According to Rankiteo, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea does not hold a SOC 2 Type 2 certification.

Does Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea comply with GDPR ?

According to Rankiteo, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is not listed as GDPR compliant.

Does Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea have PCI DSS certification ?

According to Rankiteo, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea does not currently maintain PCI DSS compliance.

Does Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea comply with HIPAA ?

According to Rankiteo, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is not compliant with HIPAA regulations.

Does Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea have ISO 27001 certification ?

According to Rankiteo,Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is not certified under ISO 27001, indicating the absence of a formally recognized information security management framework.

Industry Classification of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea operates primarily in the Government Administration industry.

Number of Employees at Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea employs approximately 1,983 people worldwide.

Subsidiaries Owned by Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea presently has no subsidiaries across any sectors.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s LinkedIn Followers

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s official LinkedIn profile has approximately 21,962 followers.

NAICS Classification of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is classified under the NAICS code 92, which corresponds to Public Administration.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s Presence on Crunchbase

No, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea does not have a profile on Crunchbase.

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s Presence on LinkedIn

Yes, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea maintains an official LinkedIn profile, which is actively utilized for branding and talent engagement, which can be accessed here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/royal-borough-of-kensington-and-chelsea.

Cybersecurity Incidents Involving Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

As of November 27, 2025, Rankiteo reports that Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has experienced 13 cybersecurity incidents.

Number of Peer and Competitor Companies

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has an estimated 11,098 peer or competitor companies worldwide.

What types of cybersecurity incidents have occurred at Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea ?

Incident Types: The types of cybersecurity incidents that have occurred include Ransomware and Cyber Attack.

How does Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea detect and respond to cybersecurity incidents ?

Detection and Response: The company detects and responds to cybersecurity incidents through an third party assistance with specialist cyber incident experts, third party assistance with national cyber security centre (ncsc), and containment measures with mitigations put in place (unspecified), and remediation measures with restoring systems with ncsc and cyber specialists, and recovery measures with ongoing efforts to restore all systems as quickly as possible, and communication strategy with public statements apologizing for inconvenience, communication strategy with updates to residents as information becomes available, communication strategy with notification to information commissioner’s office (ico), and and third party assistance with specialist cyber incident experts, third party assistance with national cyber security centre (ncsc), and remediation measures with protecting systems and data, remediation measures with restoring systems, and recovery measures with maintaining critical services, and communication strategy with joint public statements, communication strategy with updates to residents and partners in coming days, and and third party assistance with national cyber security centre (ncsc), third party assistance with cyber specialists, and law enforcement notified with information commissioner's office (ico), and containment measures with it teams worked overnight, containment measures with mitigations implemented, containment measures with network access restrictions (implied), and remediation measures with restoring systems safely, remediation measures with investigating data compromise, and recovery measures with business continuity plans, recovery measures with prioritizing critical services for vulnerable residents, and communication strategy with public statements issued, communication strategy with apologies to residents, communication strategy with updates promised as available, and enhanced monitoring with staff warned about phishing emails/links, and and third party assistance with national cyber security centre (ncsc), and recovery measures with restoring affected it systems, and communication strategy with public statement on rbkc website, communication strategy with media coverage (e.g., sky news), and enhanced monitoring with monitoring emails and phone lines, and and third party assistance with specialist cyber incident experts, third party assistance with national cyber security centre (ncsc), and containment measures with shut down of computerised systems, containment measures with isolation and safeguarding of networks (lbhf), and recovery measures with restoring systems, recovery measures with maintaining critical services, and communication strategy with public statements, communication strategy with website banners with alternative contact numbers, communication strategy with updates to residents and partners, and enhanced monitoring with enhanced measures to isolate and safeguard networks (lbhf), and and third party assistance with specialist cyber-incident experts, third party assistance with national cyber security centre (ncsc), and law enforcement notified with national crime agency (nca), law enforcement notified with information commissioner’s office (ico), and containment measures with shut down several computerised systems, containment measures with business continuity/emergency plans invoked, and remediation measures with security fixes applied (e.g., website fluctuations during updates), remediation measures with collaboration with ncsc for system restoration, and recovery measures with engineers worked overnight (2024-03-11 to 2024-03-12), recovery measures with focus on restoring critical services, and communication strategy with public statements acknowledging the incident (rbkc, westminster), communication strategy with commitment to updates for residents/partners, communication strategy with apology for service delays (westminster), and and third party assistance with national cyber security centre (ncsc), and containment measures with mitigations implemented by it teams, and remediation measures with systems restoration and protection of data, and recovery measures with maintaining critical services to the public, and communication strategy with public statements issued; information commissioner’s office (ico) notified, and and third party assistance with national cyber security centre (ncsc), third party assistance with specialist cyber incident responders, and law enforcement notified with uk information commissioner’s office (ico), law enforcement notified with metropolitan police cyber crime unit (via action fraud referral), and containment measures with temporary shutdown of computer networks, containment measures with increased monitoring, containment measures with mitigation measures applied overnight, and recovery measures with restoration of essential services, recovery measures with business continuity plans, recovery measures with additional staff assigned to monitor communications, and communication strategy with public statements via x (formerly twitter) and council websites, communication strategy with emergency contact numbers provided, communication strategy with regular updates promised to residents, and and and third party assistance with national cyber security centre (ncsc), third party assistance with cyber specialists (unspecified), and and containment measures with isolation of networks, containment measures with protective measures for data, containment measures with mitigations implemented overnight, and remediation measures with system restoration, remediation measures with collaboration with ncsc, and recovery measures with business continuity plans, recovery measures with emergency resource allocation, and communication strategy with public statements (joint and individual), communication strategy with social media updates, communication strategy with apologies for disruptions, communication strategy with regular updates promised, and enhanced monitoring with vigilance for further incidents, and incident response plan activated with yes (emergency plans invoked), and containment measures with shut down of computerised systems to limit damage, and remediation measures with engineers worked through the night to address the incident, and and third party assistance with partner agencies, third party assistance with external incident-response experts (likely), and and containment measures with isolating affected systems, containment measures with shifting to manual processes, containment measures with mutual-aid arrangements with other councils, and recovery measures with phased restoration of applications (essential services first), recovery measures with forensic review to determine breach scope, recovery measures with potential infrastructure rebuild and network hardening, and communication strategy with public statements prioritizing containment over speculation, communication strategy with advisories for residents/businesses on phishing risks, communication strategy with updates as investigation progresses, and network segmentation with likely under review post-incident, and enhanced monitoring with likely implemented post-incident, and and third party assistance with national crime agency (nca), third party assistance with gchq's national cyber security centre (ncsc), and and containment measures with network segments closed as precaution, containment measures with systems disconnected from internet, and remediation measures with it teams working overnight, remediation measures with emergency plans activated, and recovery measures with alternative contact numbers provided, recovery measures with website maintenance for stability, and communication strategy with public statements, communication strategy with internal memos to staff, communication strategy with ico notification, communication strategy with media updates, and and and and containment measures with network isolation, containment measures with precautionary system reviews, and recovery measures with restoring systems safely, recovery measures with investigating data compromise, and communication strategy with public statements, communication strategy with apologies for disruption, communication strategy with warnings to staff about phishing risks..

Incident Details

Can you provide details on each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack (potential data breach)

Title: Cyber Attack on Multiple London Councils Potentially Compromising Residents' Data

Description: Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Westminster City councils in London have been responding to a cyber security incident since Monday morning. The councils, which share IT systems, are working with specialist cyber incident experts and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to protect systems, restore services, and maintain critical public services. The incident has disrupted phone lines and other systems, with investigations ongoing to determine if data was compromised. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has been notified.

Date Detected: 2024-XX-XXT00:00:00Z (Monday morning, exact date unspecified)

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2024-XX-XX (same day as detection, exact date unspecified)

Type: Cyber Attack (potential data breach)

Incident : cyberattack

Title: Cyber Incident Affecting Multiple London Councils

Description: Several London councils, including the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), Westminster City Council (WCC), and potentially the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, experienced a cyber incident impacting multiple systems, including phone lines. The incident was quickly identified on Monday morning, and investigations are ongoing to determine if any data was compromised. The councils are working with specialist cyber incident experts and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to protect systems, restore services, and maintain critical operations. Hackney Council, though not directly impacted, raised its cybersecurity threat level to 'critical' in response.

Date Detected: 2024-03-11T00:00:00Z

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2024-03-12T00:00:00Z

Type: cyberattack

Incident : Cyber Attack

Title: Cyber Attack on London Councils Activates Emergency Plans

Description: London councils, including Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham, were hit by a cyber attack on Monday (date unspecified). Shared IT systems and phone lines were disrupted, prompting activation of emergency and business continuity plans. The source and scale of the attack remain under investigation, with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and cyber specialists assisting. The Information Commissioner has been notified. Some systems may remain offline until the end of the week. The attack is suspected to have originated at Kensington and Chelsea Council, which shares IT infrastructure with neighboring authorities. Staff across London councils were advised to avoid suspicious emails, links, or unusual requests. The incident echoes a 2020 ransomware attack on Hackney Council, which had lasting impacts due to insufficient protective measures.

Date Detected: 2024-07-XX (Monday, exact date unspecified)

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2024-07-XX (same week as detection, exact date unspecified)

Type: Cyber Attack

Attack Vector: Phishing (suggested via staff warnings)Shared IT Systems (likely lateral movement)

Incident : Cyber Attack

Title: Cyber Attack on London Local Authorities Affects IT Systems

Description: At least two London local authorities, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and Westminster City Council, were hit by a cyber attack affecting several of their shared IT systems. The incident was identified on Monday, 24 November. The councils are working with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to protect data and restore systems. Emergency measures, including business continuity and emergency plans, have been activated to ensure critical services continue, particularly for vulnerable residents. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has been informed, and investigations are ongoing to determine if any data was compromised. The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, which shares some IT services with the affected councils, may also be impacted.

Date Detected: 2023-11-24

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2023-11-24

Type: Cyber Attack

Incident : Service Disruption

Title: Cybersecurity Incident Affecting Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster City Council, and London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

Description: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and Westminster City Council (WCC) announced service disruptions due to a cybersecurity incident. A third council, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF), also took precautionary measures, leading to business disruptions. The councils share IT infrastructure, and the attack impacted multiple systems, including phone lines. Investigations are ongoing, with no confirmed data compromise or ransomware group claim yet. The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has been notified.

Date Detected: 2024-02-12T00:00:00Z

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2024-02-13T00:00:00Z

Type: Service Disruption

Incident : Cyber-Attack (Suspected Ransomware or Disruptive Attack)

Title: Cyber-Attack on Three London Councils (RBKC, Westminster, and Hammersmith & Fulham)

Description: Three London councils (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster City Council, and Hammersmith & Fulham) reported a cyber-attack affecting shared IT infrastructure. Systems including phone lines were disrupted, and emergency plans were activated. The National Crime Agency (NCA) and National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) are investigating potential data compromise. Services like council tax and parking fines were impacted, with ongoing restoration efforts.

Date Detected: 2024-03-11T00:00:00Z

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2024-03-13T00:00:00Z

Type: Cyber-Attack (Suspected Ransomware or Disruptive Attack)

Incident : Cyber Attack

Title: Cyber Attacks on Four London Councils

Description: Four London councils—Kensington and Chelsea, Hackney, Westminster, and Hammersmith and Fulham—have experienced IT system disruptions due to cyber attacks. Some public services, including phone lines, have been affected. The councils are working with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to mitigate the issue, restore systems, and maintain critical services. Investigations are ongoing to determine if any data was compromised.

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2023-11-24

Type: Cyber Attack

Incident : Cyberattack

Title: Cybersecurity Incident Affecting London Borough Councils (RBKC, WCC, and Hammersmith & Fulham)

Description: Two London councils (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster City Council) declared a cybersecurity incident on Monday, affecting shared IT services also used by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The incident disrupted online and phone services, with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) assisting in remediation. The Metropolitan Police are investigating a suspected cyberattack referred by Action Fraud. Experts suggest the attack may involve credential theft, lateral movement, and potential ransomware targeting shared infrastructure.

Date Detected: 2023-11-24

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2023-11-24

Type: Cyberattack

Attack Vector: Shared IT Services ExploitationLateral MovementCredential Theft (Suspected)

Incident : Cyber Attack (Unspecified, likely ransomware or disruptive malware)

Title: Cyber-Attack on London Councils (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster City Council)

Description: At least two London councils (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster City Council) were hit by a cyber-attack, prompting the invocation of emergency plans. The councils, which share some IT infrastructure, reported that several systems—including phone lines—were affected. Services for 360,000 residents were disrupted, and computerised systems were shut down as a precaution to limit further damage. Engineers worked through the night to address the incident, which occurred on Monday and extended into Tuesday.

Date Detected: 2024-10-28T00:00:00Z

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2024-10-29T00:00:00Z

Type: Cyber Attack (Unspecified, likely ransomware or disruptive malware)

Incident : Cyberattack

Title: Cyberattack on London Local Authorities Disrupts Services

Description: At least three London local authorities (Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, and Hammersmith & Fulham) are struggling with a cyberattack that has paralysed networks, disrupted phone lines, and prompted emergency procedures. The councils are working to recover systems, with vital services continuing through business continuity plans. The incident is under investigation, with no public attribution yet. Personal data compromise is being assessed, which may require reporting to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Services impacted include public-facing phone lines, online portals, housing enquiries, council tax and benefits queries, and appointment booking. The attack’s nature (potentially ransomware) and financial/operational costs remain undisclosed, but historical precedents suggest significant recovery expenses (e.g., £10.4M for Redcar and Cleveland in 2020).

Type: Cyberattack

Incident : Cyber Attack

Title: Cyber attack forces council staff out of offices in Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, and Hammersmith & Fulham

Description: A cyber attack affected the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), Westminster City Council, and Hammersmith and Fulham Council as part of 'joint arrangements.' The incident led to staff being advised to work remotely, disruption of services (including phone lines and online forms), and precautionary closure of parts of the network. The National Crime Agency and GCHQ's Cyber Security Centre are investigating. Personal data may have been compromised, and residents were urged to remain vigilant against follow-up phishing attempts. The councils activated emergency plans, but full system recovery is expected to take days. The attack highlights risks from shared digital interdependencies among local authorities.

Date Detected: 2024-MM-DD (Monday of the current week, exact date not specified)

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2024-MM-DD (same day as detection, per BBC report timestamp: '14 minutes ago')

Type: Cyber Attack

Incident : Cyberattack

Title: Cyber Incident Affecting RBKC, Westminster, and Hammersmith & Fulham Councils

Description: A cyber incident was detected at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), causing system disruptions and potential data compromise. Emergency plans were activated to maintain critical services. The incident also affected Westminster and Hammersmith & Fulham Councils, with connectivity issues persisting. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and Met Police Cyber Crime Unit are investigating. Staff were warned against clicking links from affected councils' Outlook or Teams accounts.

Date Detected: 2023-11-06T00:00:00Z

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2023-11-06T00:00:00Z

Type: Cyberattack

What are the most common types of attacks the company has faced ?

Common Attack Types: The most common types of attacks the company has faced is Cyber Attack.

How does the company identify the attack vectors used in incidents ?

Identification of Attack Vectors: The company identifies the attack vectors used in incidents through Suspected phishing (via staff warnings)Kensington and Chelsea Council (shared IT systems) and Potentially via shared IT services or stolen credentials.

Impact of the Incidents

What was the impact of each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack (potential data breach) ROY2003320112625

Data Compromised: Potential compromise of residents' data (unconfirmed)

Systems Affected: Phone linesShared IT systems (unspecified)

Downtime: Ongoing (as of disclosure, delays in services expected for 'coming days')

Operational Impact: Delays in responses and public services

Brand Reputation Impact: Potential negative impact due to service disruptions

Identity Theft Risk: Potential (if data compromised)

Incident : cyberattack ROY3232632112625

Systems Affected: phone linesshared IT systems

Operational Impact: disruption of critical services for residents

Brand Reputation Impact: potential erosion of public trust in council services

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4633046112625

Data Compromised: Under investigation (standard practice to check)

Systems Affected: Shared IT systemsPhone linesCall center (Kensington and Chelsea)Critical services (temporarily disrupted)

Downtime: Several hours (call center) to potentially end of the week (some systems)

Operational Impact: Disruption to critical servicesBusiness continuity plans activatedFocus on supporting vulnerable residents

Brand Reputation Impact: Potential reputational damageApologies issued to residents

Legal Liabilities: Information Commissioner notifiedPotential scrutiny (referencing Hackney Council's 2020 incident)

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY1833318112625

Systems Affected: IT systems (shared between RBKC and Westminster City Council)Potential impact on London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

Operational Impact: Disruption to IT systemsActivation of business continuity and emergency plansIncreased resource allocation for incident management (emails, phone lines)Focus on delivering critical services to vulnerable residents

Incident : Service Disruption ROY5692156112625

Systems Affected: Phone linesOnline servicesContact centerComputerised systems (shut down as precaution)

Operational Impact: Service disruptionsActivation of emergency plansBusiness disruptions in LBHF due to isolation measures

Brand Reputation Impact: Potential reputational damage due to service disruptions

Incident : Cyber-Attack (Suspected Ransomware or Disruptive Attack) ROY2992429112625

Systems Affected: Phone linesCouncil tax billing systemsParking fine payment systemsWebsite (intermittent downtime)Shared IT infrastructure

Downtime: ['Ongoing as of 2024-03-13 (services limited)', 'Website fluctuations on 2024-03-13']

Operational Impact: Delayed responses to residentsDisruption to critical services (e.g., support for vulnerable residents)Activation of business continuity/emergency plans

Brand Reputation Impact: Potential reputational harm due to service disruptions and historical context (e.g., 2020 Hackney attack)

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4492644112625

Systems Affected: IT systemsPhone line services

Operational Impact: Disruption to public services, including phone lines

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4694046112625

Data Compromised: Under investigation (standard practice)

Systems Affected: Websites (patchy availability)Phone LinesOnline Reporting ServicesShared IT Infrastructure

Downtime: Ongoing (as of 2023-11-25, with delays in services)

Operational Impact: Business Continuity Plans InvokedEmergency Plans ActivatedDelays in Resident ServicesVulnerable Resident Support Prioritized

Customer Complaints: Expected due to service disruptions

Brand Reputation Impact: Potential reputational damage due to service outages and public apologies

Incident : Cyber Attack (Unspecified, likely ransomware or disruptive malware) ROY5694156112625

Systems Affected: Phone linesComputerised systems (shut down as precaution)

Downtime: Ongoing as of last report (at least 2 days: Monday to Tuesday)

Operational Impact: Disruption of services for 360,000 residents; emergency plans invoked

Brand Reputation Impact: Potential reputational damage due to service disruption

Incident : Cyberattack ROY3202332112725

Systems Affected: NetworksPhone linesOnline portalsHousing enquiry systemsCouncil tax and benefits query systemsAppointment booking systemsBack-office casework and payment systems

Operational Impact: Disrupted public-facing services (e.g., housing, tax, benefits)Shift to manual/paper-based processesSlowdown in back-office operationsEmergency-only contact routesPotential delays in waste collection (though street-level work may continue)

Brand Reputation Impact: Potential erosion of public trustMedia coverage of service disruptions

Legal Liabilities: Potential ICO reporting if personal data compromised

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY5362053112725

Data Compromised: Potential personal data (unspecified), Residents urged to be cautious

Systems Affected: Phone linesOnline formsInternal networks (partially closed)Website (intermittent outages)

Downtime: Several days (ongoing)

Operational Impact: Staff working remotelyDisrupted council servicesAlternative contact numbers provided

Brand Reputation Impact: Public advisory to residentsMedia coverage highlighting vulnerabilities

Legal Liabilities: Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) notified

Identity Theft Risk: ['Residents warned of potential follow-up phishing']

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4762647112725

Systems Affected: RBKC systemsWestminster Council systemsHammersmith & Fulham Council systems (partial connectivity issues)

Downtime: ['2–3 days (RBKC)', 'Ongoing (partial for Hammersmith & Fulham)']

Operational Impact: Disruption to critical servicesNetwork isolation measuresPrecautionary review of systems

Brand Reputation Impact: Public apologies issuedPotential loss of trust due to service disruptions

What types of data are most commonly compromised in incidents ?

Commonly Compromised Data Types: The types of data most commonly compromised in incidents are Potentially residents' data (unconfirmed, type unspecified), Under investigation, Under investigation, Potential Personal Data (Unspecified) and .

Which entities were affected by each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack (potential data breach) ROY2003320112625

Entity Name: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)

Entity Type: Local Government Council

Industry: Public Administration

Location: London, UK

Customers Affected: Residents (number unspecified)

Incident : Cyber Attack (potential data breach) ROY2003320112625

Entity Name: Westminster City Council (WCC)

Entity Type: Local Government Council

Industry: Public Administration

Location: London, UK

Customers Affected: Residents (number unspecified)

Incident : Cyber Attack (potential data breach) ROY2003320112625

Entity Name: Hammersmith and Fulham Council

Entity Type: Local Government Council

Industry: Public Administration

Location: London, UK

Customers Affected: Residents (number unspecified)

Incident : cyberattack ROY3232632112625

Entity Name: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)

Entity Type: local government

Industry: public sector

Location: London, UK

Customers Affected: residents (hundreds of thousands)

Incident : cyberattack ROY3232632112625

Entity Name: Westminster City Council (WCC)

Entity Type: local government

Industry: public sector

Location: London, UK

Customers Affected: residents (hundreds of thousands)

Incident : cyberattack ROY3232632112625

Entity Name: London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

Entity Type: local government

Industry: public sector

Location: London, UK

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4633046112625

Entity Name: Westminster City Council

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Customers Affected: Residents (critical services impacted)

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4633046112625

Entity Name: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Customers Affected: Residents (call center and critical services disrupted)

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4633046112625

Entity Name: London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY1833318112625

Entity Name: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)

Entity Type: Local Government Authority

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY1833318112625

Entity Name: Westminster City Council

Entity Type: Local Government Authority

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY1833318112625

Entity Name: London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

Entity Type: Local Government Authority

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Incident : Service Disruption ROY5692156112625

Entity Name: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Administration

Location: London, UK

Size: Small (wealthiest in UK by GDP per capita)

Customers Affected: 360,000 residents

Incident : Service Disruption ROY5692156112625

Entity Name: Westminster City Council (WCC)

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Administration

Location: London, UK

Size: Major local authority

Customers Affected: 360,000 residents (shared with RBKC)

Incident : Service Disruption ROY5692156112625

Entity Name: London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF)

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Administration

Location: London, UK

Size: Mid-sized

Customers Affected: 180,000 residents

Incident : Service Disruption ROY5692156112625

Entity Name: Unnamed Services Provider (shared IT infrastructure)

Entity Type: IT Service Provider

Industry: Technology

Incident : Cyber-Attack (Suspected Ransomware or Disruptive Attack) ROY2992429112625

Entity Name: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Customers Affected: Residents (exact number unspecified; part of >500,000 Londoners served by the three councils)

Incident : Cyber-Attack (Suspected Ransomware or Disruptive Attack) ROY2992429112625

Entity Name: Westminster City Council

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Customers Affected: Residents (exact number unspecified; part of >500,000 Londoners served by the three councils)

Incident : Cyber-Attack (Suspected Ransomware or Disruptive Attack) ROY2992429112625

Entity Name: London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Customers Affected: Residents (exact number unspecified; part of >500,000 Londoners served by the three councils)

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4492644112625

Entity Name: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4492644112625

Entity Name: Westminster City Council

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4492644112625

Entity Name: Hackney Council

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4492644112625

Entity Name: Hammersmith and Fulham Council

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4694046112625

Entity Name: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Customers Affected: Residents (exact number unspecified)

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4694046112625

Entity Name: Westminster City Council (WCC)

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Customers Affected: Residents (exact number unspecified)

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4694046112625

Entity Name: London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Customers Affected: Residents (exact number unspecified)

Incident : Cyber Attack (Unspecified, likely ransomware or disruptive malware) ROY5694156112625

Entity Name: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Customers Affected: 360,000 residents (shared with Westminster)

Incident : Cyber Attack (Unspecified, likely ransomware or disruptive malware) ROY5694156112625

Entity Name: Westminster City Council

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Customers Affected: 360,000 residents (shared with RBKC)

Incident : Cyberattack ROY3202332112725

Entity Name: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Entity Type: Local Authority

Industry: Government/Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Incident : Cyberattack ROY3202332112725

Entity Name: Westminster City Council

Entity Type: Local Authority

Industry: Government/Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Incident : Cyberattack ROY3202332112725

Entity Name: London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham

Entity Type: Local Authority

Industry: Government/Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY5362053112725

Entity Name: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: West London, UK

Customers Affected: Residents of RBKC (population ~158,000)

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY5362053112725

Entity Name: Westminster City Council

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: Westminster, London, UK

Customers Affected: Residents of Westminster (population ~219,000)

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY5362053112725

Entity Name: Hammersmith and Fulham Council

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: Hammersmith and Fulham, London, UK

Customers Affected: Residents of Hammersmith and Fulham (population ~186,000)

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4762647112725

Entity Name: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Customers Affected: Residents and staff

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4762647112725

Entity Name: Westminster City Council

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Customers Affected: Staff and potentially residents

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4762647112725

Entity Name: Hammersmith & Fulham Council

Entity Type: Local Government

Industry: Public Sector

Location: London, UK

Customers Affected: Staff and potentially residents

Response to the Incidents

What measures were taken in response to each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack (potential data breach) ROY2003320112625

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Third Party Assistance: Specialist Cyber Incident Experts, National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc).

Containment Measures: Mitigations put in place (unspecified)

Remediation Measures: Restoring systems with NCSC and cyber specialists

Recovery Measures: Ongoing efforts to restore all systems as quickly as possible

Communication Strategy: Public statements apologizing for inconvenienceUpdates to residents as information becomes availableNotification to Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

Incident : cyberattack ROY3232632112625

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Third Party Assistance: Specialist Cyber Incident Experts, National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc).

Remediation Measures: protecting systems and datarestoring systems

Recovery Measures: maintaining critical services

Communication Strategy: joint public statementsupdates to residents and partners in coming days

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4633046112625

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Third Party Assistance: National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc), Cyber Specialists.

Law Enforcement Notified: Information Commissioner's Office (ICO),

Containment Measures: IT teams worked overnightMitigations implementedNetwork access restrictions (implied)

Remediation Measures: Restoring systems safelyInvestigating data compromise

Recovery Measures: Business continuity plansPrioritizing critical services for vulnerable residents

Communication Strategy: Public statements issuedApologies to residentsUpdates promised as available

Enhanced Monitoring: Staff warned about phishing emails/links

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY1833318112625

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Third Party Assistance: National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc).

Recovery Measures: Restoring affected IT systems

Communication Strategy: Public statement on RBKC websiteMedia coverage (e.g., Sky News)

Enhanced Monitoring: Monitoring emails and phone lines

Incident : Service Disruption ROY5692156112625

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Third Party Assistance: Specialist Cyber Incident Experts, National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc).

Containment Measures: Shut down of computerised systemsIsolation and safeguarding of networks (LBHF)

Recovery Measures: Restoring systemsMaintaining critical services

Communication Strategy: Public statementsWebsite banners with alternative contact numbersUpdates to residents and partners

Enhanced Monitoring: Enhanced measures to isolate and safeguard networks (LBHF)

Incident : Cyber-Attack (Suspected Ransomware or Disruptive Attack) ROY2992429112625

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Third Party Assistance: Specialist Cyber-Incident Experts, National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc).

Law Enforcement Notified: National Crime Agency (NCA), Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO),

Containment Measures: Shut down several computerised systemsBusiness continuity/emergency plans invoked

Remediation Measures: Security fixes applied (e.g., website fluctuations during updates)Collaboration with NCSC for system restoration

Recovery Measures: Engineers worked overnight (2024-03-11 to 2024-03-12)Focus on restoring critical services

Communication Strategy: Public statements acknowledging the incident (RBKC, Westminster)Commitment to updates for residents/partnersApology for service delays (Westminster)

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4492644112625

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Third Party Assistance: National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc).

Containment Measures: Mitigations implemented by IT teams

Remediation Measures: Systems restoration and protection of data

Recovery Measures: Maintaining critical services to the public

Communication Strategy: Public statements issued; Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) notified

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4694046112625

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Third Party Assistance: National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc), Cyber Specialists (Unspecified).

Containment Measures: Isolation of NetworksProtective Measures for DataMitigations Implemented Overnight

Remediation Measures: System RestorationCollaboration with NCSC

Recovery Measures: Business Continuity PlansEmergency Resource Allocation

Communication Strategy: Public Statements (Joint and Individual)Social Media UpdatesApologies for DisruptionsRegular Updates Promised

Enhanced Monitoring: Vigilance for Further Incidents

Incident : Cyber Attack (Unspecified, likely ransomware or disruptive malware) ROY5694156112625

Incident Response Plan Activated: Yes (emergency plans invoked)

Containment Measures: Shut down of computerised systems to limit damage

Remediation Measures: Engineers worked through the night to address the incident

Incident : Cyberattack ROY3202332112725

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Third Party Assistance: Partner Agencies, External Incident-Response Experts (Likely).

Containment Measures: Isolating affected systemsShifting to manual processesMutual-aid arrangements with other councils

Recovery Measures: Phased restoration of applications (essential services first)Forensic review to determine breach scopePotential infrastructure rebuild and network hardening

Communication Strategy: Public statements prioritizing containment over speculationAdvisories for residents/businesses on phishing risksUpdates as investigation progresses

Network Segmentation: ['Likely under review post-incident']

Enhanced Monitoring: Likely implemented post-incident

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY5362053112725

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Third Party Assistance: National Crime Agency (Nca), Gchq'S National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc).

Containment Measures: Network segments closed as precautionSystems disconnected from internet

Remediation Measures: IT teams working overnightEmergency plans activated

Recovery Measures: Alternative contact numbers providedWebsite maintenance for stability

Communication Strategy: Public statementsInternal memos to staffICO notificationMedia updates

Network Segmentation: True

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4762647112725

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Containment Measures: Network isolationPrecautionary system reviews

Recovery Measures: Restoring systems safelyInvestigating data compromise

Communication Strategy: Public statementsApologies for disruptionWarnings to staff about phishing risks

What is the company's incident response plan?

Incident Response Plan: The company's incident response plan is described as Yes (emergency plans invoked), , , .

How does the company involve third-party assistance in incident response ?

Third-Party Assistance: The company involves third-party assistance in incident response through Specialist cyber incident experts, National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), , specialist cyber incident experts, National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), , National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Cyber specialists, , National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), , Specialist cyber incident experts, National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), , Specialist cyber-incident experts, National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), , National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), , National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Specialist cyber incident responders, , National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Cyber Specialists (unspecified), , Partner agencies, External incident-response experts (likely), , National Crime Agency (NCA), GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), .

Data Breach Information

What type of data was compromised in each breach ?

Incident : Cyber Attack (potential data breach) ROY2003320112625

Type of Data Compromised: Potentially residents' data (unconfirmed, type unspecified)

Personally Identifiable Information: Potential (unconfirmed)

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4633046112625

Type of Data Compromised: Under investigation

Incident : Cyber-Attack (Suspected Ransomware or Disruptive Attack) ROY2992429112625

Data Exfiltration: Under investigation (standard practice)

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4694046112625

Type of Data Compromised: Under investigation

Incident : Cyberattack ROY3202332112725

Sensitivity of Data: Potentially high (social care, housing, revenues, benefits, electoral services)

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY5362053112725

Type of Data Compromised: Potential personal data (unspecified)

Personally Identifiable Information: Possible (expert warning issued)

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4762647112725

Data Exfiltration: Under investigation

What measures does the company take to prevent data exfiltration ?

Prevention of Data Exfiltration: The company takes the following measures to prevent data exfiltration: Restoring systems with NCSC and cyber specialists, protecting systems and data, restoring systems, , Restoring systems safely, Investigating data compromise, , Security fixes applied (e.g., website fluctuations during updates), Collaboration with NCSC for system restoration, , Systems restoration and protection of data, System Restoration, Collaboration with NCSC, , Engineers worked through the night to address the incident, IT teams working overnight, Emergency plans activated, .

How does the company handle incidents involving personally identifiable information (PII) ?

Handling of PII Incidents: The company handles incidents involving personally identifiable information (PII) through by mitigations put in place (unspecified), it teams worked overnight, mitigations implemented, network access restrictions (implied), , shut down of computerised systems, isolation and safeguarding of networks (lbhf), , shut down several computerised systems, business continuity/emergency plans invoked, , mitigations implemented by it teams, temporary shutdown of computer networks, increased monitoring, mitigation measures applied overnight, , isolation of networks, protective measures for data, mitigations implemented overnight, , shut down of computerised systems to limit damage, isolating affected systems, shifting to manual processes, mutual-aid arrangements with other councils, , network segments closed as precaution, systems disconnected from internet, , network isolation, precautionary system reviews and .

Ransomware Information

Was ransomware involved in any of the incidents ?

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4633046112625

Data Encryption: ["Suspected (referencing Hackney Council's 2020 attack, but unconfirmed for this incident)"]

How does the company recover data encrypted by ransomware ?

Data Recovery from Ransomware: The company recovers data encrypted by ransomware through Ongoing efforts to restore all systems as quickly as possible, maintaining critical services, , Business continuity plans, Prioritizing critical services for vulnerable residents, , Restoring affected IT systems, , Restoring systems, Maintaining critical services, , Engineers worked overnight (2024-03-11 to 2024-03-12), Focus on restoring critical services, , Maintaining critical services to the public, Restoration of essential services, Business continuity plans, Additional staff assigned to monitor communications, , Business Continuity Plans, Emergency Resource Allocation, , Phased restoration of applications (essential services first), Forensic review to determine breach scope, Potential infrastructure rebuild and network hardening, , Alternative contact numbers provided, Website maintenance for stability, , Restoring systems safely, Investigating data compromise, .

Regulatory Compliance

Were there any regulatory violations and fines imposed for each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack (potential data breach) ROY2003320112625

Regulatory Notifications: Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) notified

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4633046112625

Regulatory Notifications: Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) notified

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY1833318112625

Regulatory Notifications: Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) notified

Incident : Service Disruption ROY5692156112625

Regulatory Notifications: UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) notified

Incident : Cyber-Attack (Suspected Ransomware or Disruptive Attack) ROY2992429112625

Regulatory Notifications: Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) notified

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4492644112625

Regulatory Notifications: Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4694046112625

Regulatory Notifications: Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) Contacted

Incident : Cyberattack ROY3202332112725

Regulations Violated: Potential GDPR/UK Data Protection Act if personal data compromised,

Regulatory Notifications: Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if data breach confirmed

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY5362053112725

Regulatory Notifications: Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4762647112725

Regulatory Notifications: Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) notified

Lessons Learned and Recommendations

What lessons were learned from each incident ?

Incident : cyberattack ROY3232632112625

Lessons Learned: Shared IT infrastructure among public services creates systemic vulnerabilities, where a breach in one entity can compromise partners., Cost-saving IT models must be balanced with investments in resilient, segmented networks to contain threats., Prevention-only cybersecurity strategies are insufficient; ongoing preparedness and resilience are critical., Modernization of aging technology is essential to counter rapidly evolving AI-driven cyber threats.

Incident : Cyberattack ROY3202332112725

Lessons Learned: Shared IT systems increase breach risk across multiple entities, Legacy platforms and tight budgets heighten vulnerability, Supply chain exposure (e.g., Capita 2023 breach) can ripple into public sector, Manual processes and mutual-aid arrangements are critical for continuity, Delayed recovery (months) is common due to infrastructure rebuild needs

What recommendations were made to prevent future incidents ?

Incident : cyberattack ROY3232632112625

Recommendations: Invest in resilient, segmented networks to isolate and contain cyber threats., Shift from prevention-only mindsets to strategies emphasizing preparedness, resilience, and rapid response., Modernize legacy IT systems to address vulnerabilities exploited by advanced cyber-criminal tools (e.g., AI)., Integrate digital transformation with cyber resilience initiatives to strengthen defenses against industrial-scale attacks., Enhance collaboration with cybersecurity experts and national agencies (e.g., NCSC) for incident response and recovery.Invest in resilient, segmented networks to isolate and contain cyber threats., Shift from prevention-only mindsets to strategies emphasizing preparedness, resilience, and rapid response., Modernize legacy IT systems to address vulnerabilities exploited by advanced cyber-criminal tools (e.g., AI)., Integrate digital transformation with cyber resilience initiatives to strengthen defenses against industrial-scale attacks., Enhance collaboration with cybersecurity experts and national agencies (e.g., NCSC) for incident response and recovery.Invest in resilient, segmented networks to isolate and contain cyber threats., Shift from prevention-only mindsets to strategies emphasizing preparedness, resilience, and rapid response., Modernize legacy IT systems to address vulnerabilities exploited by advanced cyber-criminal tools (e.g., AI)., Integrate digital transformation with cyber resilience initiatives to strengthen defenses against industrial-scale attacks., Enhance collaboration with cybersecurity experts and national agencies (e.g., NCSC) for incident response and recovery.Invest in resilient, segmented networks to isolate and contain cyber threats., Shift from prevention-only mindsets to strategies emphasizing preparedness, resilience, and rapid response., Modernize legacy IT systems to address vulnerabilities exploited by advanced cyber-criminal tools (e.g., AI)., Integrate digital transformation with cyber resilience initiatives to strengthen defenses against industrial-scale attacks., Enhance collaboration with cybersecurity experts and national agencies (e.g., NCSC) for incident response and recovery.Invest in resilient, segmented networks to isolate and contain cyber threats., Shift from prevention-only mindsets to strategies emphasizing preparedness, resilience, and rapid response., Modernize legacy IT systems to address vulnerabilities exploited by advanced cyber-criminal tools (e.g., AI)., Integrate digital transformation with cyber resilience initiatives to strengthen defenses against industrial-scale attacks., Enhance collaboration with cybersecurity experts and national agencies (e.g., NCSC) for incident response and recovery.

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4633046112625

Recommendations: Avoid opening suspicious emails, Do not click on unexpected links, Verify unusual requests, Implement robust protective measures (referencing Hackney Council's 2020 criticism)Avoid opening suspicious emails, Do not click on unexpected links, Verify unusual requests, Implement robust protective measures (referencing Hackney Council's 2020 criticism)Avoid opening suspicious emails, Do not click on unexpected links, Verify unusual requests, Implement robust protective measures (referencing Hackney Council's 2020 criticism)Avoid opening suspicious emails, Do not click on unexpected links, Verify unusual requests, Implement robust protective measures (referencing Hackney Council's 2020 criticism)

Incident : Cyberattack ROY3202332112725

Recommendations: Accelerate patching and network segmentation, Invest in offline recovery testing at scale, Enhance cyber hygiene and supplier risk management (per NCSC/LGA guidance), Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and review remote access policies, Prioritize security reviews before restoring lower-risk systemsAccelerate patching and network segmentation, Invest in offline recovery testing at scale, Enhance cyber hygiene and supplier risk management (per NCSC/LGA guidance), Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and review remote access policies, Prioritize security reviews before restoring lower-risk systemsAccelerate patching and network segmentation, Invest in offline recovery testing at scale, Enhance cyber hygiene and supplier risk management (per NCSC/LGA guidance), Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and review remote access policies, Prioritize security reviews before restoring lower-risk systemsAccelerate patching and network segmentation, Invest in offline recovery testing at scale, Enhance cyber hygiene and supplier risk management (per NCSC/LGA guidance), Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and review remote access policies, Prioritize security reviews before restoring lower-risk systemsAccelerate patching and network segmentation, Invest in offline recovery testing at scale, Enhance cyber hygiene and supplier risk management (per NCSC/LGA guidance), Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and review remote access policies, Prioritize security reviews before restoring lower-risk systems

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY5362053112725

Recommendations: Residents advised to treat incident-related correspondence with caution (phishing risk)., Experts emphasize need to identify shared system providers to mitigate supply-chain risks., Councils urged to review digital interdependencies to prevent cascading breaches.Residents advised to treat incident-related correspondence with caution (phishing risk)., Experts emphasize need to identify shared system providers to mitigate supply-chain risks., Councils urged to review digital interdependencies to prevent cascading breaches.Residents advised to treat incident-related correspondence with caution (phishing risk)., Experts emphasize need to identify shared system providers to mitigate supply-chain risks., Councils urged to review digital interdependencies to prevent cascading breaches.

What are the key lessons learned from past incidents ?

Key Lessons Learned: The key lessons learned from past incidents are Shared IT infrastructure among public services creates systemic vulnerabilities, where a breach in one entity can compromise partners.,Cost-saving IT models must be balanced with investments in resilient, segmented networks to contain threats.,Prevention-only cybersecurity strategies are insufficient; ongoing preparedness and resilience are critical.,Modernization of aging technology is essential to counter rapidly evolving AI-driven cyber threats.Shared IT systems increase breach risk across multiple entities,Legacy platforms and tight budgets heighten vulnerability,Supply chain exposure (e.g., Capita 2023 breach) can ripple into public sector,Manual processes and mutual-aid arrangements are critical for continuity,Delayed recovery (months) is common due to infrastructure rebuild needs.

References

Where can I find more information about each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack (potential data breach) ROY2003320112625

Source: Sky News

Incident : Cyber Attack (potential data breach) ROY2003320112625

Source: Statement from Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)

Incident : cyberattack ROY3232632112625

Source: Joint statement by RBKC and WCC

Date Accessed: 2024-03-12

Incident : cyberattack ROY3232632112625

Source: Huntress (Dray Agha, Senior Director of Security Operations)

Date Accessed: 2024-03-12

Incident : cyberattack ROY3232632112625

Source: Public Digital (Dai Vaughan, Chief Technology Officer)

Date Accessed: 2024-03-12

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4633046112625

Source: News Article (unspecified publisher)

Date Accessed: 2024-07-XX

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4633046112625

Source: Hackney Council 2020 Cyber Attack Reference

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY1833318112625

Source: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) website

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY1833318112625

Source: Sky News

Incident : Service Disruption ROY5692156112625

Source: BleepingComputer

Incident : Service Disruption ROY5692156112625

Source: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) Statement

Incident : Service Disruption ROY5692156112625

Source: Westminster City Council (WCC) Statement

Incident : Service Disruption ROY5692156112625

Source: London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF) Statement

Incident : Service Disruption ROY5692156112625

Source: Security Expert Kevin Beaumont

Incident : Cyber-Attack (Suspected Ransomware or Disruptive Attack) ROY2992429112625

Source: The Guardian

URL: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/mar/13/three-london-councils-hit-by-cyber-attack

Date Accessed: 2024-03-13

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4492644112625

Source: BBC

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4492644112625

Source: Statements from Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster City Council

Date Accessed: 2023-11-24

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4694046112625

Source: The Register

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4694046112625

Source: Joint Statement by RBKC and WCC (2023-11-24)

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4694046112625

Source: Hammersmith and Fulham Update (2023-11-25)

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4694046112625

Source: Metropolitan Police Statement

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4694046112625

Source: National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Statement

Incident : Cyber Attack (Unspecified, likely ransomware or disruptive malware) ROY5694156112625

Source: The Guardian

Date Accessed: 2024-10-29

Incident : Cyberattack ROY3202332112725

Source: Article on London councils cyberattack

Incident : Cyberattack ROY3202332112725

Source: National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) guidance for councils

Incident : Cyberattack ROY3202332112725

Source: Historical precedents (Redcar & Cleveland, Hackney, Gloucester councils)

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY5362053112725

Source: BBC News

URL: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-XXXXXXXXX

Date Accessed: 2024-MM-DD

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY5362053112725

Source: Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS)

Date Accessed: 2024-MM-DD

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4762647112725

Source: RBKC Official Statement

Date Accessed: 2023-11-06

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4762647112725

Source: Hammersmith & Fulham Council Memo

Date Accessed: 2023-11-06

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4762647112725

Source: Met Police Statement

Date Accessed: 2023-11-06

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4762647112725

Source: Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS)

Date Accessed: 2023-11-06

Where can stakeholders find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices ?

Additional Resources: Stakeholders can find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices at and Source: Sky News, and Source: Statement from Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), and Source: Joint statement by RBKC and WCCDate Accessed: 2024-03-12, and Source: Huntress (Dray Agha, Senior Director of Security Operations)Date Accessed: 2024-03-12, and Source: Public Digital (Dai Vaughan, Chief Technology Officer)Date Accessed: 2024-03-12, and Source: News Article (unspecified publisher)Date Accessed: 2024-07-XX, and Source: Hackney Council 2020 Cyber Attack Reference, and Source: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) website, and Source: Sky News, and Source: BleepingComputer, and Source: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) Statement, and Source: Westminster City Council (WCC) Statement, and Source: London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF) Statement, and Source: Security Expert Kevin Beaumont, and Source: The GuardianUrl: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/mar/13/three-london-councils-hit-by-cyber-attackDate Accessed: 2024-03-13, and Source: BBC, and Source: Statements from Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster City CouncilDate Accessed: 2023-11-24, and Source: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) Official StatementDate Accessed: 2024-11-25, and Source: Westminster City Council (WCC) Website UpdateDate Accessed: 2024-11-25, and Source: Hammersmith and Fulham Council AnnouncementDate Accessed: 2024-11-25, and Source: National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) StatementDate Accessed: 2024-11-25, and Source: Metropolitan Police Cyber Crime Unit StatementDate Accessed: 2024-11-25, and Source: The Register, and Source: Joint Statement by RBKC and WCC (2023-11-24), and Source: Hammersmith and Fulham Update (2023-11-25), and Source: Metropolitan Police Statement, and Source: National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Statement, and Source: The GuardianDate Accessed: 2024-10-29, and Source: Article on London councils cyberattack, and Source: National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) guidance for councils, and Source: Historical precedents (Redcar & Cleveland, Hackney, Gloucester councils), and Source: BBC NewsUrl: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-XXXXXXXXXDate Accessed: 2024-MM-DD, and Source: Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS)Date Accessed: 2024-MM-DD, and Source: RBKC Official StatementDate Accessed: 2023-11-06, and Source: Hammersmith & Fulham Council MemoDate Accessed: 2023-11-06, and Source: Met Police StatementDate Accessed: 2023-11-06, and Source: Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS)Date Accessed: 2023-11-06.

Investigation Status

What is the current status of the investigation for each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack (potential data breach) ROY2003320112625

Investigation Status: Ongoing (too early to determine if data compromised or attribution)

Incident : cyberattack ROY3232632112625

Investigation Status: ongoing

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4633046112625

Investigation Status: Ongoing (cause and data compromise under investigation)

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY1833318112625

Investigation Status: Ongoing (investigating whether data was compromised)

Incident : Service Disruption ROY5692156112625

Investigation Status: Ongoing (perpetrators and motives under investigation; no confirmation of data compromise)

Incident : Cyber-Attack (Suspected Ransomware or Disruptive Attack) ROY2992429112625

Investigation Status: Ongoing (NCA and NCSC involved; cause identified but not disclosed)

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4492644112625

Investigation Status: Ongoing; too early to determine threat actor or motivation

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4694046112625

Investigation Status: Ongoing (Early Stages)

Incident : Cyber Attack (Unspecified, likely ransomware or disruptive malware) ROY5694156112625

Investigation Status: Ongoing (as of last report)

Incident : Cyberattack ROY3202332112725

Investigation Status: Ongoing (forensic review to determine breach scope, attribution, and data compromise)

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY5362053112725

Investigation Status: Ongoing (led by NCA and NCSC)

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4762647112725

Investigation Status: Ongoing (early stages)

How does the company communicate the status of incident investigations to stakeholders ?

Communication of Investigation Status: The company communicates the status of incident investigations to stakeholders through Public Statements Apologizing For Inconvenience, Updates To Residents As Information Becomes Available, Notification To Information Commissioner’S Office (Ico), Joint Public Statements, Updates To Residents And Partners In Coming Days, Public Statements Issued, Apologies To Residents, Updates Promised As Available, Public Statement On Rbkc Website, Media Coverage (E.G., Sky News), Public Statements, Website Banners With Alternative Contact Numbers, Updates To Residents And Partners, Public Statements Acknowledging The Incident (Rbkc, Westminster), Commitment To Updates For Residents/Partners, Apology For Service Delays (Westminster), Public statements issued; Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) notified, Public Statements Via X (Formerly Twitter) And Council Websites, Emergency Contact Numbers Provided, Regular Updates Promised To Residents, Public Statements (Joint And Individual), Social Media Updates, Apologies For Disruptions, Regular Updates Promised, Public Statements Prioritizing Containment Over Speculation, Advisories For Residents/Businesses On Phishing Risks, Updates As Investigation Progresses, Public Statements, Internal Memos To Staff, Ico Notification, Media Updates, Public Statements, Apologies For Disruption and Warnings To Staff About Phishing Risks.

Stakeholder and Customer Advisories

Were there any advisories issued to stakeholders or customers for each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack (potential data breach) ROY2003320112625

Stakeholder Advisories: Apology to residents for inconvenience; updates to be provided as available

Customer Advisories: Residents warned of potential service delays; advised to be flexible and understanding

Incident : cyberattack ROY3232632112625

Stakeholder Advisories: Updates To Residents And Partners In Coming Days.

Customer Advisories: joint public statements acknowledging concerns and outlining response efforts

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4633046112625

Stakeholder Advisories: Staff Warned About Phishing Risks.

Customer Advisories: Public apologies issuedUpdates to be provided as available

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY1833318112625

Customer Advisories: Public statement acknowledging the incident and assuring continuity of critical services

Incident : Service Disruption ROY5692156112625

Stakeholder Advisories: Updates To Residents And Partners Planned In Coming Days.

Customer Advisories: Alternative phone numbers provided via website banners

Incident : Cyber-Attack (Suspected Ransomware or Disruptive Attack) ROY2992429112625

Stakeholder Advisories: Residents Advised Of Potential Service Delays (Rbkc, Westminster), Updates Promised As Investigation Progresses.

Customer Advisories: Council tax and parking fine services limited (RBKC)Website instability expected (RBKC)

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4492644112625

Customer Advisories: Hackney Council raised cyber security threat level to 'critical' and urged staff to protect residents’ data; Westminster City Council acknowledged public difficulties in contacting the council.

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4694046112625

Stakeholder Advisories: Residents Advised Of Service Delays, Vulnerable Residents Prioritized For Support.

Customer Advisories: Apologies issuedUpdates promised as information becomes available

Incident : Cyberattack ROY3202332112725

Stakeholder Advisories: Residents: Use Emergency Contacts Only; Beware Of Phishing; Document Urgent Requests For Later Submission., Businesses/Suppliers: Check Log-Ins, Change Passwords, Enable Mfa, Monitor For Suspicious Activity..

Customer Advisories: Avoid non-emergency contacts until temporary channels are restored.Do not share full bank details/passwords in response to unsolicited messages.Expect phased service restoration with essential services prioritized.

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY5362053112725

Stakeholder Advisories: Residents Urged To Remain Vigilant, Staff Instructed To Work Remotely.

Customer Advisories: Alternative contact numbers publishedWebsite maintenance alerts

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4762647112725

Stakeholder Advisories: Staff Warned Not To Click Links From Rbkc/Westminster Colleagues In Outlook/Teams.

Customer Advisories: Public apologies issued for service disruptions

What advisories does the company provide to stakeholders and customers following an incident ?

Advisories Provided: The company provides the following advisories to stakeholders and customers following an incident: were Apology to residents for inconvenience; updates to be provided as available, Residents warned of potential service delays; advised to be flexible and understanding, Updates To Residents And Partners In Coming Days, Joint Public Statements Acknowledging Concerns And Outlining Response Efforts, , Staff Warned About Phishing Risks, Public Apologies Issued, Updates To Be Provided As Available, , Public Statement Acknowledging The Incident And Assuring Continuity Of Critical Services, , Updates To Residents And Partners Planned In Coming Days, Alternative Phone Numbers Provided Via Website Banners, , Residents Advised Of Potential Service Delays (Rbkc, Westminster), Updates Promised As Investigation Progresses, Council Tax And Parking Fine Services Limited (Rbkc), Website Instability Expected (Rbkc), , Hackney Council raised cyber security threat level to 'critical' and urged staff to protect residents’ data; Westminster City Council acknowledged public difficulties in contacting the council., Residents Advised To Expect Delays In Accessing Services, Emergency Contact Numbers Provided For Urgent Issues, Apologies Issued For Disruption, Regular Updates Promised As Recovery Progresses, , Residents Advised Of Service Delays, Vulnerable Residents Prioritized For Support, Apologies Issued, Updates Promised As Information Becomes Available, , Residents: Use Emergency Contacts Only; Beware Of Phishing; Document Urgent Requests For Later Submission., Businesses/Suppliers: Check Log-Ins, Change Passwords, Enable Mfa, Monitor For Suspicious Activity., Avoid Non-Emergency Contacts Until Temporary Channels Are Restored., Do Not Share Full Bank Details/Passwords In Response To Unsolicited Messages., Expect Phased Service Restoration With Essential Services Prioritized., , Residents Urged To Remain Vigilant, Staff Instructed To Work Remotely, Alternative Contact Numbers Published, Website Maintenance Alerts, , Staff Warned Not To Click Links From Rbkc/Westminster Colleagues In Outlook/Teams, Public Apologies Issued For Service Disruptions and .

Initial Access Broker

How did the initial access broker gain entry for each incident ?

Incident : Cyber Attack ROY4633046112625

Entry Point: Suspected Phishing (Via Staff Warnings), Kensington And Chelsea Council (Shared It Systems),

Incident : Cyberattack ROY4694046112625

Entry Point: Potentially via shared IT services or stolen credentials

High Value Targets: Social Care Systems, Housing Support Systems, Safeguarding Teams,

Data Sold on Dark Web: Social Care Systems, Housing Support Systems, Safeguarding Teams,

Incident : Cyberattack ROY3202332112725

High Value Targets: Social Care Data, Housing Records, Revenues/Benefits Systems, Electoral Services,

Data Sold on Dark Web: Social Care Data, Housing Records, Revenues/Benefits Systems, Electoral Services,

Post-Incident Analysis

What were the root causes and corrective actions taken for each incident ?

Incident : Cyberattack ROY3202332112725

Corrective Actions: Expected: Increased Investment In Cyber Resilience, Network Segmentation And Offline Recovery Testing, Supplier Risk Management Improvements,

What is the company's process for conducting post-incident analysis ?

Post-Incident Analysis Process: The company's process for conducting post-incident analysis is described as Specialist Cyber Incident Experts, National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc), , Specialist Cyber Incident Experts, National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc), , National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc), Cyber Specialists, , Staff Warned About Phishing Emails/Links, , National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc), , Monitoring Emails And Phone Lines, , Specialist Cyber Incident Experts, National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc), , Enhanced Measures To Isolate And Safeguard Networks (Lbhf), , Specialist Cyber-Incident Experts, National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc), , National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc), , National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc), Specialist Cyber Incident Responders, , , National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc), Cyber Specialists (Unspecified), , Vigilance for Further Incidents, Partner Agencies, External Incident-Response Experts (Likely), , Likely Implemented Post-Incident, , National Crime Agency (Nca), Gchq'S National Cyber Security Centre (Ncsc), .

What corrective actions has the company taken based on post-incident analysis ?

Corrective Actions Taken: The company has taken the following corrective actions based on post-incident analysis: Expected: Increased Investment In Cyber Resilience, Network Segmentation And Offline Recovery Testing, Supplier Risk Management Improvements, .

Additional Questions

Incident Details

What was the most recent incident detected ?

Most Recent Incident Detected: The most recent incident detected was on 2024-XX-XXT00:00:00Z (Monday morning, exact date unspecified).

What was the most recent incident publicly disclosed ?

Most Recent Incident Publicly Disclosed: The most recent incident publicly disclosed was on 2023-11-06T00:00:00Z.

Impact of the Incidents

What was the most significant data compromised in an incident ?

Most Significant Data Compromised: The most significant data compromised in an incident were Potential compromise of residents' data (unconfirmed), Under investigation (standard practice to check), Under investigation (standard practice), Potential personal data (unspecified), Residents urged to be cautious and .

What was the most significant system affected in an incident ?

Most Significant System Affected: The most significant system affected in an incident was Phone linesShared IT systems (unspecified) and phone linesshared IT systems and Shared IT systemsPhone linesCall center (Kensington and Chelsea)Critical services (temporarily disrupted) and IT systems (shared between RBKC and Westminster City Council)Potential impact on London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and Phone linesOnline servicesContact centerComputerised systems (shut down as precaution) and Phone linesCouncil tax billing systemsParking fine payment systemsWebsite (intermittent downtime)Shared IT infrastructure and IT systemsPhone line services and IT systemsonline portalsphone linesshared systems and Websites (patchy availability)Phone LinesOnline Reporting ServicesShared IT Infrastructure and Phone linesComputerised systems (shut down as precaution) and NetworksPhone linesOnline portalsHousing enquiry systemsCouncil tax and benefits query systemsAppointment booking systemsBack-office casework and payment systems and Phone linesOnline formsInternal networks (partially closed)Website (intermittent outages) and RBKC systemsWestminster Council systemsHammersmith & Fulham Council systems (partial connectivity issues).

Response to the Incidents

What third-party assistance was involved in the most recent incident ?

Third-Party Assistance in Most Recent Incident: The third-party assistance involved in the most recent incident was specialist cyber incident experts, national cyber security centre (ncsc), , specialist cyber incident experts, national cyber security centre (ncsc), , national cyber security centre (ncsc), cyber specialists, , national cyber security centre (ncsc), , specialist cyber incident experts, national cyber security centre (ncsc), , specialist cyber-incident experts, national cyber security centre (ncsc), , national cyber security centre (ncsc), , national cyber security centre (ncsc), specialist cyber incident responders, , national cyber security centre (ncsc), cyber specialists (unspecified), , partner agencies, external incident-response experts (likely), , national crime agency (nca), gchq's national cyber security centre (ncsc), .

What containment measures were taken in the most recent incident ?

Containment Measures in Most Recent Incident: The containment measures taken in the most recent incident were Mitigations put in place (unspecified), IT teams worked overnightMitigations implementedNetwork access restrictions (implied), Shut down of computerised systemsIsolation and safeguarding of networks (LBHF), Shut down several computerised systemsBusiness continuity/emergency plans invoked, Mitigations implemented by IT teams, Temporary shutdown of computer networksIncreased monitoringMitigation measures applied overnight, Isolation of NetworksProtective Measures for DataMitigations Implemented Overnight, Shut down of computerised systems to limit damage, Isolating affected systemsShifting to manual processesMutual-aid arrangements with other councils, Network segments closed as precautionSystems disconnected from internet and Network isolationPrecautionary system reviews.

Data Breach Information

What was the most sensitive data compromised in a breach ?

Most Sensitive Data Compromised: The most sensitive data compromised in a breach were Residents urged to be cautious, Potential compromise of residents' data (unconfirmed), Under investigation (standard practice to check), Potential personal data (unspecified) and Under investigation (standard practice).

Lessons Learned and Recommendations

What was the most significant lesson learned from past incidents ?

Most Significant Lesson Learned: The most significant lesson learned from past incidents was Delayed recovery (months) is common due to infrastructure rebuild needs.

What was the most significant recommendation implemented to improve cybersecurity ?

Most Significant Recommendation Implemented: The most significant recommendation implemented to improve cybersecurity was Shift from prevention-only mindsets to strategies emphasizing preparedness, resilience, and rapid response., Enhance cyber hygiene and supplier risk management (per NCSC/LGA guidance), Modernize legacy IT systems to address vulnerabilities exploited by advanced cyber-criminal tools (e.g., AI)., Verify unusual requests, Residents advised to treat incident-related correspondence with caution (phishing risk)., Accelerate patching and network segmentation, Councils urged to review digital interdependencies to prevent cascading breaches., Invest in resilient, segmented networks to isolate and contain cyber threats., Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and review remote access policies, Enhance collaboration with cybersecurity experts and national agencies (e.g., NCSC) for incident response and recovery., Avoid opening suspicious emails, Implement robust protective measures (referencing Hackney Council's 2020 criticism), Experts emphasize need to identify shared system providers to mitigate supply-chain risks., Do not click on unexpected links, Prioritize security reviews before restoring lower-risk systems, Invest in offline recovery testing at scale and Integrate digital transformation with cyber resilience initiatives to strengthen defenses against industrial-scale attacks..

References

What is the most recent source of information about an incident ?

Most Recent Source: The most recent source of information about an incident are Hammersmith and Fulham Council Announcement, RBKC Official Statement, Hackney Council 2020 Cyber Attack Reference, BBC, Huntress (Dray Agha, Senior Director of Security Operations), Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) Official Statement, Security Expert Kevin Beaumont, BBC News, Joint Statement by RBKC and WCC (2023-11-24), London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF) Statement, Hammersmith & Fulham Council Memo, Historical precedents (Redcar & Cleveland, Hackney, Gloucester councils), Metropolitan Police Statement, National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Statement, The Register, Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Public Digital (Dai Vaughan, Chief Technology Officer), Hammersmith and Fulham Update (2023-11-25), Westminster City Council (WCC) Website Update, Statement from Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), Met Police Statement, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) Statement, Article on London councils cyberattack, Sky News, National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) guidance for councils, BleepingComputer, Metropolitan Police Cyber Crime Unit Statement, The Guardian, Westminster City Council (WCC) Statement, Joint statement by RBKC and WCC, News Article (unspecified publisher), Statements from Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster City Council and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) website.

What is the most recent URL for additional resources on cybersecurity best practices ?

Most Recent URL for Additional Resources: The most recent URL for additional resources on cybersecurity best practices is https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/mar/13/three-london-councils-hit-by-cyber-attack, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-XXXXXXXXX .

Investigation Status

What is the current status of the most recent investigation ?

Current Status of Most Recent Investigation: The current status of the most recent investigation is Ongoing (too early to determine if data compromised or attribution).

Stakeholder and Customer Advisories

What was the most recent stakeholder advisory issued ?

Most Recent Stakeholder Advisory: The most recent stakeholder advisory issued was Apology to residents for inconvenience; updates to be provided as available, updates to residents and partners in coming days, Staff warned about phishing risks, Updates to residents and partners planned in coming days, Residents advised of potential service delays (RBKC, Westminster), Updates promised as investigation progresses, Residents advised to expect delays in accessing services, Emergency contact numbers provided for urgent issues, Residents advised of service delays, Vulnerable residents prioritized for support, Residents: Use emergency contacts only; beware of phishing; document urgent requests for later submission., Businesses/Suppliers: Check log-ins, change passwords, enable MFA, monitor for suspicious activity., Residents urged to remain vigilant, Staff instructed to work remotely, Staff warned not to click links from RBKC/Westminster colleagues in Outlook/Teams, .

What was the most recent customer advisory issued ?

Most Recent Customer Advisory: The most recent customer advisory issued were an Residents warned of potential service delays; advised to be flexible and understanding, joint public statements acknowledging concerns and outlining response efforts, Public apologies issuedUpdates to be provided as available, Public statement acknowledging the incident and assuring continuity of critical services, Alternative phone numbers provided via website banners, Council tax and parking fine services limited (RBKC)Website instability expected (RBKC), Hackney Council raised cyber security threat level to 'critical' and urged staff to protect residents’ data; Westminster City Council acknowledged public difficulties in contacting the council., Apologies issued for disruptionRegular updates promised as recovery progresses, Apologies issuedUpdates promised as information becomes available, Avoid non-emergency contacts until temporary channels are restored.Do not share full bank details/passwords in response to unsolicited messages.Expect phased service restoration with essential services prioritized., Alternative contact numbers publishedWebsite maintenance alerts and Public apologies issued for service disruptions.

Initial Access Broker

What was the most recent entry point used by an initial access broker ?

Most Recent Entry Point: The most recent entry point used by an initial access broker was an Potentially via shared IT services or stolen credentials.

cve

Latest Global CVEs (Not Company-Specific)

Description

Angular is a development platform for building mobile and desktop web applications using TypeScript/JavaScript and other languages. Prior to versions 19.2.16, 20.3.14, and 21.0.1, there is a XSRF token leakage via protocol-relative URLs in angular HTTP clients. The vulnerability is a Credential Leak by App Logic that leads to the unauthorized disclosure of the Cross-Site Request Forgery (XSRF) token to an attacker-controlled domain. Angular's HttpClient has a built-in XSRF protection mechanism that works by checking if a request URL starts with a protocol (http:// or https://) to determine if it is cross-origin. If the URL starts with protocol-relative URL (//), it is incorrectly treated as a same-origin request, and the XSRF token is automatically added to the X-XSRF-TOKEN header. This issue has been patched in versions 19.2.16, 20.3.14, and 21.0.1. A workaround for this issue involves avoiding using protocol-relative URLs (URLs starting with //) in HttpClient requests. All backend communication URLs should be hardcoded as relative paths (starting with a single /) or fully qualified, trusted absolute URLs.

Risk Information
cvss4
Base: 7.7
Severity: LOW
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Description

Forge (also called `node-forge`) is a native implementation of Transport Layer Security in JavaScript. An Uncontrolled Recursion vulnerability in node-forge versions 1.3.1 and below enables remote, unauthenticated attackers to craft deep ASN.1 structures that trigger unbounded recursive parsing. This leads to a Denial-of-Service (DoS) via stack exhaustion when parsing untrusted DER inputs. This issue has been patched in version 1.3.2.

Risk Information
cvss4
Base: 8.7
Severity: LOW
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Description

Forge (also called `node-forge`) is a native implementation of Transport Layer Security in JavaScript. An Integer Overflow vulnerability in node-forge versions 1.3.1 and below enables remote, unauthenticated attackers to craft ASN.1 structures containing OIDs with oversized arcs. These arcs may be decoded as smaller, trusted OIDs due to 32-bit bitwise truncation, enabling the bypass of downstream OID-based security decisions. This issue has been patched in version 1.3.2.

Risk Information
cvss4
Base: 6.3
Severity: LOW
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Description

Suricata is a network IDS, IPS and NSM engine developed by the OISF (Open Information Security Foundation) and the Suricata community. Prior to versions 7.0.13 and 8.0.2, working with large buffers in Lua scripts can lead to a stack overflow. Users of Lua rules and output scripts may be affected when working with large buffers. This includes a rule passing a large buffer to a Lua script. This issue has been patched in versions 7.0.13 and 8.0.2. A workaround for this issue involves disabling Lua rules and output scripts, or making sure limits, such as stream.depth.reassembly and HTTP response body limits (response-body-limit), are set to less than half the stack size.

Risk Information
cvss3
Base: 7.5
Severity: LOW
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Description

Suricata is a network IDS, IPS and NSM engine developed by the OISF (Open Information Security Foundation) and the Suricata community. In versions from 8.0.0 to before 8.0.2, a NULL dereference can occur when the entropy keyword is used in conjunction with base64_data. This issue has been patched in version 8.0.2. A workaround involves disabling rules that use entropy in conjunction with base64_data.

Risk Information
cvss3
Base: 7.5
Severity: LOW
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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Network Security

Identify exposed access points, detect misconfigured SSL certificates, and uncover vulnerabilities across the network infrastructure.

SBOM (Software Bill of Materials)

Gain visibility into the software components used within an organization to detect vulnerabilities, manage risk, and ensure supply chain security.

CMDB (Configuration Management Database)

Monitor and manage all IT assets and their configurations to ensure accurate, real-time visibility across the company's technology environment.

Threat Intelligence

Leverage real-time insights on active threats, malware campaigns, and emerging vulnerabilities to proactively defend against evolving cyberattacks.

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