Microlise is urgently addressing a cyber attack that disrupted DHL’s delivery services, particularly affecting retailer NISA.
- The attack occurred on Halloween, leading to a complete shutdown of the delivery tracking system used by DHL for NISA.
- Microlise and DHL acted quickly to minimize disruptions, implementing interim solutions for delivery updates.
- Cybersecurity experts stress the increased risks supply chains face from such cyber incidents.
- The logistics sector is urged to strengthen its cybersecurity measures to protect against future threats.
i>The logistics sector faced a significant cyber incident when technology provider Microlise experienced a severe cyber attack on Halloween, disrupting delivery services for DHL, particularly affecting the retailer NISA. Early on 31 October, the attack resulted in the complete erasure of servers critical for DHL’s delivery tracking systems used by NISA, leading to significant operational challenges. It is yet to be confirmed if the attack extended beyond NISA within DHL’s client base.
Microlise and DHL demonstrated quick response capabilities by instantaneously shifting to an interim system providing updates every 15 minutes to ensure continuity of service. Additionally, DHL’s drivers were instructed to communicate any delivery delays directly to retailers through customer service teams, circumventing the disabled live tracking tools.
According to a Microlise spokesperson, parts of the affected systems have been restored, and efforts are ongoing, guided by cybersecurity experts to safely and securely complete the full restoration. Their focus remains on minimizing disruption and resuming normal services as efficiently as possible, maintaining transparent communication with customers and stakeholders throughout the process. The protection of customer data and business operations is emphasised as a primary concern.
DHL reassured its clients that their systems remained unaffected by the incident. They activated contingency plans to sustain service levels, underscoring the incident’s independence from other DHL Group operations like DHL Express, DHL eCommerce, or DHL Global Forwarding.
Cybersecurity specialists have highlighted the vulnerability of digital supply chains, indicating the importance of enhancing cyber resilience among third parties within the logistics industry. Such weaknesses can result in considerable reputational and operational damage, affecting not only the technology providers but also the companies relying on their services.
Sigma Cyber Security highlighted the logistics sector’s ongoing exposure to cyber threats, referencing a prior breach involving DHL in June 2023. The repeated targeting of logistics and delivery infrastructure signals a pressing need for robust security measures, training, and system updates, alongside collaboration with technology vendors to secure operational integrity.
The ongoing threat of cyber attacks necessitates strengthened defences within the logistics industry to safeguard operations and maintain trust.
