The City of Marietta has announced a temporary setback for local businesses looking to make online transactions. Due to a ransomware attack on a major payment service provider, BridgePay Network Solutions, the city cannot currently process certain online credit card payments. While the attack, which took place on February 6, has left many municipalities in a lurch, Marietta is swiftly working on a contingency plan. According to a public notice, the city is actively seeking a secure alternative for these payments and expects to bring specific services back online in stages.
Impacting hundreds of cities nationwide, the service interruption was the result of a sophisticated cyber offense targeted at BridgePay, occurring in the early hours, Marietta officials said. While the specific cybercriminal group behind the ransomware has not yet been identified, BridgePay has signaled cooperation with federal agencies and cyber recovery experts. According to BridgePay's initial findings, "no payment card data was compromised and there is no evidence of usable data exposure," as noted by the city's official website.
In the interim, for business owners in Marietta needing to make essential payments, a physical workaround is in place. Payments for Business License, covering vital excise taxes such as Liquor, Hotel and Motel, and Auto Rental, will be prioritized for online restoration. Until the full-service restoration is achieved, transactions can be made in person. They may do this at the City Hall's Business License Office, which is ready to accommodate payments at 205 Lawrence Street, on the first floor.
