The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) assured its stakeholders and the public it is taking immediate actions to restore the integrity of its digital assets following a reported hacking incident.
In a statement released by the agency dated April 3, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum acknowledged that the information technology (IT) infrastructure of the agency had been hacked on Tuesday, April 2.
“We recognize the concerns this incident may raise among our stakeholders and the public, and we want to assure you that we are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness,” Solidum said.
The DOST chief noted that they are already working closely with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to monitor the situation.
“Our technical teams are working diligently to address any vulnerabilities and reinforce our cyber defenses,” Solidum said.
“We want to reassure everyone that immediate action was taken to isolate and contain the affected systems while conducting a comprehensive assessment of the damages incurred,” he added.
The cyber-attack targeted key components of the DOST’s IT network, raising concerns about the integrity of data and the potential exposure of confidential information.
DOST also confirmed the hackers could access two terabytes (TB) worth of data, including research plans, design, schematics, and other sensitive information.
As investigations into the hacking incident continue, the DOST said it will remain committed to restoring the integrity of its IT infrastructure and reinforcing its cybersecurity posture.
“Recovery plan has been initiated and continuous efforts to revert systems will proceed as we finalize the impact assessment of the incident,” Solidum stated.
“The DOST remains dedicated to ensuring the security and integrity of its digital assets. We will continue to enhance our cybersecurity protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future,” he concluded.
In light of the incident, DOST vowed to bolster its cybersecurity defense and protocols to prevent similar hacking attempts.