Pennington County officials announced that county offices will reopen Monday, July 7, following the recent discovery of a cybersecurity incident that affected portions of the county’s network.
County leaders said the matter remains under active investigation and emphasized that, to protect the integrity of the ongoing review, they will not release specific technical details or discuss investigative findings at this time.
Despite the network disruption, officials reported that many essential government services continue to operate, with some alternative service options available for residents.
County offices are expected to be open Monday, although officials cautioned that some services may be limited as recovery and assessment efforts continue. The Pennington County Commission meeting will proceed as scheduled.
Residents needing vital records, including birth, death, and marriage certificates, can still access those services through neighboring counties, by calling the South Dakota Department of Health at 605-773-4961, or online through VitalChek.com.
Vehicle registration services also remain available through the state’s online platform at my605drive.sd.gov and at self-service kiosks located throughout the area.
Officials stressed that critical public safety operations have not been interrupted by the incident. Emergency services, including 911 dispatch, the Pennington County Jail, emergency response operations, and court services, remain fully operational.
County representatives thanked residents for their patience and understanding as officials continue to investigate the incident and work to restore affected systems.
“We appreciate the public’s patience as we work through this process,” county officials said in the latest update.
The county has not provided a timeline for concluding the investigation or restoring all affected services but said updates will be shared as more information becomes available.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Pennington County is responding to a cybersecurity incident affecting portions of its network, prompting the closure of most public-facing county offices today.
County officials said critical public safety services will remain operational, including 911 Dispatch, the Pennington County Jail, the Juvenile Services Center, the Care Campus, and other emergency response functions. Court operations, the 24/7 Program, and early voting at the Pennington County Auditor’s Office from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. will also continue as scheduled.
While county staff work to assess the incident and restore systems safely, vehicle registration services remain available online through my605drive.sd.gov and at self-service kiosks.
Officials said the full scope of the cybersecurity incident has not yet been determined. Pennington County is working with the South Dakota National Guard Cyber Incident Response Team, the South Dakota Fusion Center, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and other partners as the investigation continues.
Because the investigation is ongoing, county officials said limited verified information is currently available and expect to provide their next public update by 11 a.m. this morning.
