November 24, 2019
Province Advises of Security Breach at Southern First Nations Network of Care
Manitoba Families reports it was advised late Friday, Nov. 22 the Southern First Nations Network of Care (SFNNC) computer systems were attacked by a virus earlier in the week. When the province became aware, immediate steps were taken to ensure provincial systems and information remained safe.
SFNNC has advised that contingency plans prepared by SFNNC and its agencies have been put in place to continue to support and protect children and families under the care of the SFNNC. The province is offering technical support and other resources to assist SFNNC. Department officials notified the other three authorities of the attack and have been working collaboratively to support service delivery in the southern agencies and across the province.
Technical support is available from the Manitoba Child and Family Services (CFS) Branch in concert with information technology expertise. It is critical the SFNNC co-operate with the province in responding to this urgent situation and that it accept the mitigation support that has been offered by the province.
At this time, Manitoba Families is working with all designated intake agencies operated by the Northern Authority and General Authority to offer additional supports that may be needed. Staff from the All Nations Coordinated Response (ANCR) will be available to provide necessary information to child welfare partners by phone or fax including outside of business hours.
SFNNC is still determining the extent of information that could potentially be at risk as well as available options to resume normal operations.
The province has offered technical support and other resources to assist SFNNC and other partners in child welfare, as needed. The province is also limiting remote access to its computer systems to ensure security as this issue is resolved.
Child welfare staff, including foster-care providers, who may be directly affected by this situation and require immediate child protection services should contact their CFS agency by phone or call the provincewide toll-free intake line at 1-866-345-9241. All non-urgent questions that your CFS agency cannot answer, should be directed to their governing authority. All other non-urgent questions can be emailed cfsd@gov.mb.ca.
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security and RCMP are aware of the situation and investigating.
Further updates will be provided as more information is available.
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