Quick response keeps computer infection in check

Details provided by Shannon Barnes,
Information Technology Administrator

Repairs to Idaho’s highways and bridges are readily apparent; so are repairs to buildings and vehicles. But a repair that potentially saved ITD lost time, productivity and valuable resources was made in the background where few people saw them, but everyone benefited.

Alert network security specialists intervened quickly and efficiently when a computer virus began spreading like seasonal flu.

Upon opening an e-mail message and its attachment, a virus was released on an ITD computer and quickly to a District 5 file server.  The consequence of this virus was that D-5 employees were no longer able to access their files on this server (denial of service),” explained Shannon Barnes.

The virus quickly jumped to several other servers, including one at Headquarters.  Matthew Bazayiff, a D-5 information technology employee, recognized the risks of the virus and quickly contacted the ETS Security Team in Boise.  For the next 24 hours a highly skilled team that included Bazayiff, Craig Schumacher, Mike Griffin, Brandon Carter, Greg Christensen and Barton Phelps, analyzed the problem and mitigated the risks of this virus to ITD systems. 

“If the virus had continued without intervention, it could have shut down our ITD systems and likely cost the department hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost hours and hardware and software costs,” Barnes said. “Very few people in the department knew about the security breach, nor did they experience disruptions in their day-to-day work. 

“That is our definition of success.” 

ITD has increased its investment in cyber security by creating a security team. Over the past three months its efforts successfully blocked more than 3,600 malware (viruses) attempts designed to breach ITD systems. 

“Investments in security can be hard to justify because when it is working you never know it,” Barnes added.

“I think it is important to understand that your investment is paying off.  We will never be able to stop all of the viruses from getting through defenses, however, this time the ‘good guys’ won.”

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Published 1-25-2013