When ransomware hits a municipality, the victim is not just an IT department.
Public services depend on computer systems for administration, records, communications and payments.
The 2026 Foster City ransomware incident illustrates this wider impact.
A cyberattack can therefore become a service-delivery problem even when residents themselves have not been individually hacked.
The lesson for municipalities is the same as for businesses: backups, segmentation, strong identity controls, patching and tested recovery plans are essential.
For residents, it is a reminder that official service interruptions can sometimes originate from cybersecurity incidents.
When a public body announces a cyber incident, rely on its verified communication channels for updates and be cautious of criminals using the incident as a pretext for follow-up scams.