Apology issued to staff and pupils as schools in Northern Ireland hit by cyber attack

The Northern Ireland Education Authority has issued a statement after an IT system used across schools in Northern Ireland was the target of a cyber attack.

The Education Authority has confirmed that the C2k school system, which is used to provide online and IT infrastructure in schools , has been targeted in the cyber attack and that an investigation is underway to establish the impact that it has had.

In the statement, the Education Authority said it is unable to confirm if personal data has been affected at this early stage, reports Belfast Live .

The statement said that a full password reset has been carried out across the network as a "critical security measure", with apologies offered to pupils and staff for the impact of the attack.

A spokesperson for the Education Authority said: "We can confirm that the C2k school system has been the target of a cyber attack.

"As soon as we became aware of the incident, the system managers, Capita, took immediate steps to contain the issue and begin a full investigation.

"The investigation is at an early stage, and we are not yet able to confirm whether any personal data has been affected. We are taking this very seriously and are engaging with the Information Commissioner's Office and relevant authorities as part of our response.

"As a critical security measure, a full password reset has been carried out across the school network. Capita is conducting further security tests, and access to the system is currently unavailable.

"We will update users on the arrangements for regaining access as soon as possible, including arrangements for password resets.

"These steps are essential in the context of maintaining the integrity and security of the system and the safety of all users.

"We understand and sincerely apologise for the impact on staff and pupils; particularly pupils who may be preparing for exams or completing coursework during the Easter period. We are working hard to resolve this problem as soon as possible.

"We will continue to updates at and on our social media channels."