The city of St. Paul faces an unprecedented cybersecurity crisis as a sophisticated cyberattack has forced Governor Walz to deploy the National Guard. Critical municipal systems remain offline, with authorities warning of potential mass data exposure affecting residents and businesses alike.

Business operations across the city have ground to a halt, with payment systems, licensing portals, and public safety networks compromised. Security experts compare the breach’s scale to recent attacks on Minnesota’s tribal casinos and healthcare infrastructure.

Officials urge all citizens to immediately check for compromised data, as driver’s licenses, property records, and court documents may be exposed. The attack’s ripple effects mirror the devastating $100 million impacts seen in similar incidents nationwide.

St. Paul Cyber Attack 2025: National Guard Deployment, Data Breach Checklist, and Business Impact Guide

The Scope of the St. Paul Cyber Attack

The city of St. Paul is currently facing one of the most severe cybersecurity crises in Minnesota history. This coordinated attack has compromised multiple government systems, forcing Governor Tim Walz to activate the National Guard’s specialized cyber units. Residents report being unable to access essential services like utility payments or business license portals since the attack began early Tuesday morning.

Authorities have identified three primary impacts:

• Disruption of municipal operations
• Potential theft of sensitive citizen data
• Crippling effects on local businesses

The activation of National Guard cyber units suggests this is far beyond typical ransomware – we’re likely dealing with state-sponsored actors or highly organized cybercrime syndicates.

How the Cyber Attack Unfolded

According to cybersecurity experts consulted by Twin Cities media, the attackers used a multi-phase approach:

1. Initial phishing emails targeting city employees
2. Exploitation of unpatched vulnerabilities in legacy systems
3. Lateral movement through networked devices
4. Deployment of customized ransomware

The Attack Vector

Forensic investigators found similarities with recent attacks on Minnesota tribal casinos, particularly the:

• Use of compromised vendor credentials
• Command-and-control servers hosted in Eastern Europe
• Double extortion tactics (data theft + system encryption)

Checking for Data Compromise

Residents should take these immediate steps:

1. Enroll in the city’s offered credit monitoring
2. Freeze credit with all three bureaus
3. Change passwords on any accounts linked to city services
4. Watch for phishing emails referencing the attack

Remember – assume any data you’ve provided to St. Paul systems since 2020 may be compromised. This includes property records, utility accounts, and even parking ticket payments.

Business Impact Analysis

The attack has created a domino effect across St. Paul’s economy:

Most Vulnerable Sectors

Small businesses operating on thin margins face existential threats from:

• Inability to process payroll
• Frozen business licensing systems
• Disrupted supply chain communications

Recovery Timeline and Resources

The state has established emergency measures including:

1. Bridge loans through MN DEED
2. Cybersecurity grants for affected businesses
3. Special insurance claim processing

This incident proves municipalities must treat cybersecurity like physical infrastructure – with continuous funding and modernization. The $2 million savings from delaying system upgrades now costs $200 million in recovery.