The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has successfully countered a cyber attack targeting its online water connection portal last month.
In a press statement, BWSSB Chairman Ram Prasath Manohar revealed that the attack, detected on April 11, was identified and contained before any sensitive customer information could be compromised.
According to BWSSB officials, the attack specifically targeted the portal handling new connection applications, which contained only limited data from recent applicants. The board’s comprehensive customer database, which is securely maintained in the state government’s data center, remained untouched during the incident.
Following the incident, the water utility has filed a formal complaint with the Cyber Crime police station to facilitate a thorough investigation into the origin and nature of the attack.
As part of its response strategy, BWSSB has already transferred all relevant data from the affected portal to more secure centralized servers. The board is now exploring long-term security enhancements, including the possible implementation of blockchain technology.
“Recognised for its transparency, immutability and resistance to tampering, blockchain is being considered as a long-term solution to fortify the board’s digital infrastructure,” Manohar said.
This incident comes amid growing concerns about cyber security vulnerabilities in public infrastructure systems across India.
Experts suggest that utilities managing essential services like water supply are increasingly becoming targets for cyber attacks due to their critical importance and sometimes outdated security protocols.
The BWSSB has assured residents that all online services continue to operate normally, and no disruption to water supply or billing systems occurred as a result of the incident.
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