A COLLEGE is continuing to battle digital disruption after being targeted by hackers in a cyber security attack.

Last week the Gazette revealed the internal and external networks at Colchester Institute, in Sheepen Road, had been breached.

As a result staff were left unable to communicate using their usual email system and the college’s online application system was also shut down.

Teaching, however, was able to continue on campus and lessons were still delivered remotely despite the hack.

Experienced third-party IT specialists were parachuted in to mitigate the threat and work with the school’s internal computer team.

Gazette:

Despite their best efforts, the majority of the college is still offline and it remains unknown when the system will return to normal.

A spokeswoman for Colchester Institute said: “Unfortunately all college systems remain unavailable following the cyber security incident last week.

“We have been advised that there will be no significant improvement on IT services this week.

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the current disruption, and will continue to provide updates on our website.”

One week on from the initial shut down and the college’s email systems are still non-operational and staff are still experiencing intermittent issues with the telephone network.

The online application system, for further education courses due to start in September, is also not working and phone interviews booked for next week will not be going ahead.

Learning shops will also remain closed until at least the end of this week.

But despite the continued digital disruption, the majority of the college’s lessons are said to have not been affected and are running smoothly.

Gazette:

Colchester Institute principal Alison Andreas has now spoken out following the attack.

She said: “Incidents of this nature are becoming more commonplace with an increasing number of colleges and universities reporting these in recent weeks.

“Whilst this has limited our communications, we can confirm there has been little impact on teaching and learning.

“Lessons have continued to run on campus and online, and our students and apprentices remain on track to complete their programmes.

“Telephone interviews booked for week have been postponed but applicants are advised not to worry, as soon as the system is restored we will be in touch to confirm everyone’s next steps.”

Ms Andreas has now reassured students and staff every effort is being made to restore the college’s systems as quickly as possible and experts are continuing to look for the source of the problem.

“The college’s IT team continue to work with third party experts to investigate the incident, and to restore systems as quickly and safely as possible,” she added.

“Updates are posted on the website on a regular basis.

“We would like to thank our staff, students and all customers for their continued patience and understanding at this time.”

Following the hack, an anonymous source who contacted the Gazette said employees at the college fear their information may now fall into the wrong hands.

They were also concerned about the safety of the students’ data.

“We are really concerned the students’ and staff’s information has been compromised,” she said.