St. Paul does not yet know when all city networks will be back online, Carter said, but pieces of infrastructure are back up.
Some city phone numbers are functioning again, Carter said. Because most city phone numbers are voice-over-internet lines, the internet outage meant many parts of the city phone exchange did not work. The city prioritized the restoration of high-traffic lines, such as phone numbers for building permits and the Department of Safety and Inspections.
Recovery could be a long and costly process. Some attacks can cost cities millions, according to the National League of Cities, for recovery services. Lawsuits over data exposure can add millions to the tab.
On Friday, St. Paul’s City Council will vote on extending the state of emergency Carter declared on Tuesday. The extension, of up to 90 days, would allow St. Paul to bypass normal competitive bidding to hire cybersecurity help, Carter said.
