| Recurring |
multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident at the Metropolitan Opera was a significant cyberattack that impacted their network systems, leading to the paralysis of their website, box office services, and ticket sales [136924]. This incident marked the first major cyberattack in the Met's 139-year history, indicating that a similar incident had not happened before within the organization.
(b) The cyberattack on the Metropolitan Opera, which disrupted their ticketing system and operations, highlighted the vulnerability of cultural institutions to cyberattacks in the digital age [136924]. This incident is part of a broader trend where cybercriminals target various entities such as local governments, businesses, hospitals, and now, cultural institutions, with ransomware attacks. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident at the Metropolitan Opera was due to contributing factors introduced by system development, specifically a cyberattack that temporarily impacted the network systems, leading to the paralysis of the website, box office, and ticket sales [136924].
(b) The software failure incident was also influenced by contributing factors introduced by the operation of the system, as the cyberattack disrupted the electronic payment system for the company's employees and hampered its ability to order sets for upcoming productions [136924]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident at the Metropolitan Opera was caused by a cyberattack that impacted the company's network systems, specifically targeting its ticketing system. This attack paralyzed the box office, website, and electronic payment system, hampering the company's ability to sell tickets and order sets for upcoming productions [136924].
(b) outside_system: The cyberattack on the Metropolitan Opera, which led to the software failure incident, was orchestrated by an organized criminal gang. This external threat exploited vulnerabilities in the system, leading to the disruption of services and financial operations at the opera house [136924]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident at the Metropolitan Opera was due to non-human actions, specifically an audacious cyberattack [136924]. The attack paralyzed the company's website, box office, and ticketing system, impacting its ability to sell tickets. The attack did not involve human participation in introducing the contributing factors that led to the failure.
(b) The cyberattack on the Metropolitan Opera, which caused the software failure incident, was orchestrated by an organized criminal gang according to Peter Gelb, the Met's general manager. The attack had all the hallmarks of a ransomware attack, a form of modern-day piracy that has become a global scourge in recent years. The attack was not a result of contributing factors introduced by human actions within the company [136924]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident at the Metropolitan Opera was not attributed to hardware issues. The incident was a result of an audacious cyberattack, which is a contributing factor originating in software. The attack paralyzed the company's website, box office, and ticketing system, impacting its ability to sell tickets [136924]. The attack had the hallmarks of a ransomware attack, a form of modern-day piracy targeting various entities, including cultural institutions like the Metropolitan Opera [136924].
(b) The software failure incident at the Metropolitan Opera was primarily due to contributing factors originating in software. The cyberattack that struck the company caused the network systems to be temporarily impacted, leading to the disruption of ticket sales and the electronic payment system for employees [136924]. The attack, believed to be orchestrated by an organized criminal gang, had the characteristics of a ransomware attack, encrypting files and holding them hostage until a ransom is paid [136924]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident at the Metropolitan Opera was malicious in nature, as it was caused by a cyberattack orchestrated by an organized criminal gang [136924]. The attack had all the hallmarks of a ransomware attack, which is a form of modern-day piracy targeting various entities, including cultural institutions like the Metropolitan Opera. The attack resulted in the temporary disruption of the Met's network systems, paralyzing its box office, and impacting its ability to sell tickets. Despite the attack, the Met reassured customers that no credit card information was stolen during the incident. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident related to poor_decisions:
- The software failure incident at the Metropolitan Opera was a result of an audacious cyberattack orchestrated by an organized criminal gang [136924].
- The attack had all the hallmarks of a ransomware attack, indicating a deliberate and malicious intent to disrupt the operations of the Metropolitan Opera [136924].
- The attack impacted the network systems, paralyzed the box office, and hindered the ability to sell tickets, showcasing the damaging consequences of the cyberattack [136924].
(b) The intent of the software failure incident related to accidental_decisions:
- There is no indication in the article that the software failure incident was a result of accidental decisions. The incident was clearly attributed to a deliberate cyberattack orchestrated by criminal actors [136924]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
accidental |
(a) The software failure incident at the Metropolitan Opera was not attributed to development incompetence. The incident was described as a cyberattack orchestrated by an organized criminal gang, with cybersecurity experts suggesting it had the hallmarks of a ransomware attack [136924].
(b) The software failure incident at the Metropolitan Opera was accidental in the sense that it was a result of a cyberattack by external malicious actors. The attack was not caused by accidental factors within the development process but rather by deliberate actions aimed at disrupting the opera's operations [136924]. |
| Duration |
temporary |
(a) The software failure incident described in the article was temporary. The Metropolitan Opera's website and ticketing services were paralyzed by a cyberattack, but the company announced that these services had been restored nine days after the attack [136924]. This indicates that the failure was not permanent and was resolved within a specific timeframe. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident at the Metropolitan Opera resulted in a crash where the cyberattack temporarily impacted the network systems, paralyzing the box office and hindering the ability to sell tickets [136924].
(b) omission: The incident led to an omission in the system's intended functions as the ticketing system was knocked out, preventing the company from handling its usual daily sales of about $200,000 [136924].
(c) timing: While the software failure incident did not directly involve a timing issue, it occurred during the lucrative holiday period when the company typically handles significant ticket sales each day, highlighting the impact of the attack's timing [136924].
(d) value: The failure did not involve the system performing its intended functions incorrectly in terms of the value provided to customers or the company [136924].
(e) byzantine: The incident did not exhibit characteristics of a byzantine failure where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions [136924].
(f) other: The software failure incident at the Metropolitan Opera could be categorized as a cyberattack leading to a system disruption, compromising the network systems and electronic payment system, rather than fitting into the specific behaviors outlined in options (a) to (e) [136924]. |