Scots' environmental watchdog hit in "significant" cyber attack

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) suffered “a significant cyber attack” in the early hours of Christmas Eve affecting its contact centre, internal systems, processes and internal communications. A criminal investigation is underway. SEPA said its core regulatory, monitoring, flood forecasting and warning services were “adapting and continuing to

operate.” The attack, according to SEPA chief executive, Terry A’Hearn (pictured), involved “complex and sophisticated criminality,” and “remains ongoing and communication into and across the organisation remains significantly impacted.

“For the time being, we need to protect a criminal investigation and our systems. Some of our internal systems and external data products will therefore remain offline in the short term,” A’Hearn said.

SEPA said further updates, will be available at www.sepa.org.uk/cyberattack as more information comes to light. Regulated businesses are advised to visit SEPA's website and find the latest information on SEPA’s response to the attack at www.sepa.org.uk/cyberattack