Important Takeaways:

• American Water became informed of “unauthorized activity” in its computer networks and systems Thursday, the company said in a press release.
• The New Jersey-based company later determined the activity was due to a cybersecurity incident” prompting it to disconnect or deactivate certain systems. This included shutting down the company’s portal used to bill customers, while its call center has “limited functionality.”
• The company said it is “working diligently” to get the disconnected systems back online while noting the third-party investigation by cybersecurity professionals could take some time.
• American Water, which serves an estimated 14 million people in 14 states, said it also notified law enforcement and is cooperating with the investigation.
• The utility company’s water or wastewater facilities and operations are not believed to have been negatively affected by the cybersecurity attack, and the water remains safe to drink, according to the company.
• The company manages an estimated 540 groundwater treatment plants in about 1,700 U.S. communities across 14 states including California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

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