The wholesale company Metro fell victim to a cyber attack. As a result, the company’s IT infrastructure partially failed, causing disruptions to operations.
IT infrastructure partially down
The company initially noticed disruptions in its own IT infrastructure. Immediately initiated internal investigations confirmed the suspicion of a cyber attack on the wholesaler. According to the company’s own statements, Metro immediately informed the relevant authorities about the attack and is aiming for comprehensive cooperation in clarifying the incidents. In addition, the company announced that it had hired experts to remedy the consequences of the attack and restore security and functionality of the systems.
Stores remained open
The wholesale company’s branches remained open on a regular basis despite the cyberattack. However, the stores experienced problems with digital payment processing. Metro, however, announced that it had quickly put improvised remedies in place. In addition, there are still problems in the web app and in the company’s online store. According to Metro, this can lead to delays in processing. However, once the work that has now begun has been completed, operations should once again run smoothly online. The processing of orders will continue in any case.
In addition to the German part of the company, Metro companies in Austria and France were also affected, according to initial reports. The attack on Metro joins a long list of similar incidents at large companies and other organizations. A attack on the university hospital of Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf had caused a particular stir in the past, forcing it to severely curtail operations and sign off on emergency services for several weeks. The fact that operations at Metro continue largely undisturbed shows that the company has prepared for such incidents. This is also in line with a trend.
