THE University of the West Indies (The UWI) is investigating a potential cyber security issue involving ransom ware claims, but says there is currently no confirmed evidence that its systems or data have been compromised.
In a statement issued Wednesday, August 19, the university said it had received an alert regarding the claims and had activated its incident response plan as a precaution but did, however, note that “there is no confirmed evidence of a breach of our IT environment, systems, or any leaked University information.”
The university’s technical teams are reportedly reviewing its systems, checking for indicators of compromise and assessing its readiness as the investigation continues.
The UWI has said they are also working with cyber security experts and regional authorities in responding to the alert.
Members of the university community have been urged to remain vigilant and avoid clicking on suspicious links or attachments. Students, staff, alumni and other stakeholders have also been advised to report unusual system activity or suspicious messages to their campus IT Helpdesk.
The university further acknowledged that reports of a potential cyber security incident could cause concern across its community, but said it would provide further updates as the situation warrants.
The alert comes as The UWI continues to operate across its regional network, which includes campuses in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda, as well as its Global Campus ahead of the upcoming fall semester.
For now, the university has yet to confirm that a breach occurred or that university information has been leaked. The investigation was said to be on-going.