RDOS Communications Erick Thompson says the regional district is finding ways to communicate in spite of limitations to its network imposed by a ransomeware attack last week.

(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)

No time is a good time for the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen to have network issues but the problem was particularly vexing this week.

Following an attempted ransomeware attack on the regional district’’s network last week, the RDOS has been working  to restore the service, but parts of it are still not up and running, and that caused some issues when the Christie Mountain wildfire flared up on Tuesday, Aug.18.

Communications officer Erick Thompson says the regional district had some challenges early on.

“We had what is known as a brown out, where our website was much more active than usual and there was a technical issue with the server from our web host. That has since been rectified,” he says.

The regional district has been relying not only on its website, but also its Facebook and Twitter pages to provide information on the fire and accompanying evacuation orders and alerts.

He also reminds residents of the district’s Civic Ready mass notification system.

“People are reminded to sign up and you’ll get alerts and notification for any emergency in the area. We’ve been using that system vigourously,” he says.

Thompson says the last few days have been tough, but he believes the RDOS has managed to effectively get the message out.

"I’d like to think we’ve done quite well. We’ve been working closely with the City of Penticton. Our systems are still challenged following the attack. We’ve contacted the City of Penticton and said we may need some help, so we’ve been working with them to get information out,” he says. “We’ve been going in front of the media a lot, I myself have been in front of the media a lot today, for that purpose, to make sure the information is getting out and if we’re having any digital difficulties that we’re getting beyond that. I’d like to think we’re doing well. For the most part I think we’ve made the adjustments we need to."

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