| Recurring |
multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident has happened again at one_organization:
The article does not provide information about a similar incident happening again within the same organization or with its products and services. Therefore, it is unknown if a similar incident has occurred again at the same organization.
(b) The software failure incident has happened again at multiple_organization:
The article mentions that cyber-attacks have wreaked havoc globally in recent years, indicating that similar incidents have occurred at multiple organizations worldwide [135449]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident in Vanuatu was primarily due to contributing factors introduced during the system development and operation phases. The malware attack on state networks caused delays in communication and coordination within the government [135449]. Additionally, the government departments were still using local computer drives to store data instead of web servers or the cloud, indicating a lack of proper system development practices [135449]. On the operational side, officials resorted to using private Gmail accounts, personal laptops, pen and paper, and typewriters to run the government, showcasing the failure in the operation and maintenance of the system [135449]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident in Vanuatu was primarily caused by a cyber-attack involving malware that targeted state networks, leading to the crash of government email and website archives [135449]. The attack originated from within the system, affecting internal government communication and data storage processes. Additionally, the incident highlighted internal vulnerabilities such as departments still using local computer drives to store data instead of more secure options like web servers or the cloud. The need for upgrading software and moving files to the cloud to manage the system better indicates internal system weaknesses that contributed to the failure.
(b) outside_system: While the cyber-attack itself was an internal factor, there were external factors that exacerbated the software failure incident. For example, gaps in internal communications within the government in the days following the attack compounded the situation [135449]. Additionally, the article mentions that some authorities initially attributed the issue to poor weather damaging internet infrastructure, indicating a potential external factor that initially clouded the understanding of the root cause of the failure. The offer of assistance from Australia's government also highlights external support being sought to address the aftermath of the cyber-attack. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in Vanuatu was primarily due to non-human actions, specifically a cyber-attack involving malware that crashed government email and website archives [135449]. The attack caused delays in communication and coordination within the government, leading to officials resorting to using private Gmail accounts, personal laptops, pen and paper, and typewriters to run government operations. The malware attack on state networks disrupted normal operations and forced government departments to rely on alternative methods of communication such as Facebook and Twitter. Additionally, the incident highlighted the vulnerability of small nations like Vanuatu to cyber-attacks, emphasizing the importance of cybersecurity measures to prevent such non-human-induced failures. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident in Vanuatu was not attributed to hardware issues. The incident was identified as a cyber-attack on state networks, specifically a malware attack that crashed nearly all government email and website archives [135449]. The attack was recognized as having the hallmarks of a cyber-attack by the diplomatic team, ruling out attributing the issue to poor weather damaging internet infrastructure [135449].
(b) The software failure incident in Vanuatu was primarily due to contributing factors originating in software. The incident was caused by a malware attack on state networks, which resulted in crashing government email and website archives, leading to delays in communication and coordination among government departments [135449]. The malware attack affected the government's ability to operate digitally, forcing officials to resort to using private Gmail accounts, personal laptops, pen and paper, and typewriters to run the government [135449]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident in Vanuatu was malicious in nature, as it was caused by a cyber-attack involving malware that crashed nearly all government email and website archives. The attack disrupted government operations, leading to delays in communication and coordination among government departments and agencies [135449]. Additionally, the attack was recognized as having the hallmarks of a cyber-attack by foreign diplomats and cybersecurity experts, indicating that it was a deliberate act to harm the government's systems [135449].
(b) The incident was not non-malicious, as there is no indication in the articles that the failure was caused by unintentional factors or errors. The presence of suspicious phishing activity in emails to the Ministry of Finance and the deliberate targeting of government networks point towards a malicious intent behind the cyber-attack [135449]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The software failure incident in Vanuatu, where a cyber-attack brought down government servers and websites, can be attributed to poor decisions. The incident was a result of a malware attack on state networks that caused delays in communication and coordination within the government [135449]. Additionally, the government departments were still using local computer drives to store data instead of utilizing web servers or the cloud, indicating a lack of proper cybersecurity measures and infrastructure in place [135449]. Furthermore, the government officials mentioned that they lacked the expertise to upgrade software and move files to the cloud, highlighting a gap in decision-making regarding cybersecurity preparedness [135449]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, accidental |
(a) The software failure incident in Vanuatu was partly attributed to development incompetence as local officials lacked the expertise to upgrade software and move files to the cloud for better management [135449]. This lack of professional competence hindered the government's ability to effectively address the cyber-attack and restore their systems.
(b) Additionally, the incident involved accidental factors such as gaps in internal communications in the days following the attack, which compounded the situation [135449]. Initially, some authorities attributed the issue to poor weather damaging internet infrastructure, indicating a lack of understanding of the true nature of the problem. |
| Duration |
temporary |
(a) The software failure incident in Vanuatu was temporary. It was caused by a cyber-attack that brought down government servers and websites, leading to delays in communication and coordination among government departments [135449]. The incident involved malware crashing government email and website archives, forcing officials to resort to using private Gmail accounts, personal laptops, pen and paper, and typewriters to run the government. The incident also led to impromptu solutions for communication between agencies and departments, with some offices even running from their Facebook pages and Twitter. The incident occurred on Sunday, 30 October, and the government officially recognized the problem on 5 November. Assistance from Australia was sought to bring the government IT systems back up to speed. The incident did not crash civilian infrastructure like airline or hotel websites, and most tourism and business continued as usual. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident in Vanuatu involved a crash where the malware attack caused the government servers and websites to crash, leading to the loss of nearly all government email and website archives [135449].
(b) omission: The incident resulted in omission failures as government departments struggled to stay connected, causing delays in communication and coordination, and leading to the need for impromptu solutions for communication between agencies and departments [135449].
(c) timing: The timing of the incident was crucial as it occurred during a transition period with the new prime minister coming into power just a few days after the crash. This timing added complexity to the situation and delayed the official recognition of the problem [135449].
(d) value: There is no specific mention of a value-related failure in the articles.
(e) byzantine: The incident did not exhibit behaviors of a byzantine failure.
(f) other: The incident also involved a lack of expertise locally to remedy the situation, requiring outside assistance for upgrading software and transitioning data to the cloud for better management [135449]. |