Cyberattack Forces California City to Declare State of Emergency
Suisun City in Northern California declared a state of emergency on Aug 8, 2026, after a cyberattack compromised several critical public safety operations, including 911 routing, police and fire dispatch, records, and city services.
To contain the threat, the city was forced to shut down its entire IT network while officials worked with federal, state, and regional agencies to investigate what happened.
Here’s what you need to know.
Cyberattack on Suisun City, California
At roughly 5:45 a.m. on August 7, Suisun City was hit by a cyberattack that compromised critical municipal IT systems. The attack affected 911 routing, police and fire dispatch, city records, online services, and other internal city systems.
The disruption led the Suisun City Council to unanimously approve a local state emergency on Saturday, August 8.
To contain the cyberattack and preserve evidence for investigators, city officials disconnected the entire IT network. The city is now working alongside federal, state, and regional agencies, including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and California Office of Emergency Services, to investigate the incident and restore affected systems.
Despite the disruption, officials reported that there was no immediate threat to public safety. Emergency services remain active, with 911 calls being routed through the Solano County dispatch center while the city works to restore its own systems.
At this time, officials have not disclosed who was responsible for the cyberattack, how it entered Suisun City’s network, or whether information was accessed or stolen.
The Rising Threat of Municipal Cyberattacks
The Suisun City cyberattack shows how a successful attack can cause major disruptions to everyday life. Unfortunately, these attacks are only becoming more common.
For example, last July, more than 30 Minnesota water systems were targeted in a coordinated cyberattack, and several other states were targets of similar attacks. This follows a rising trend in cyberattacks, with Microsoft reporting that it’s now twice as expensive to recover from a cyberattack compared to 2024.
As government agencies are increasingly targeted by cybercrime, the impact on local security, citizen trust, and – as we’re seeing with Suisun City – infrastructure is a serious concern.
Small municipalities must invest in their cybersecurity before an attack happens, not after.
What Businesses Can Take Away
The Suisun City cyberattack underscores the importance of proactive cybersecurity and IT support.
As cybersecurity expert Alex Hamemrston Told NewsNation, “After an incident happens, there’s all the money in the world to go out and fix it. But before an incident happens, it’s much harder to get budget for prevention.”
It’s a classic case of break-fix vs proactive IT support – i.e. reacting to issues after they happen vs minimizing issues from happening in the first place.
Without proactive support, a cyberattack becomes far more dangerous (and expensive). That’s because without a plan, confusion spreads as teams try to figure out what went wrong, how to recover, and how they can get back online. A lack of preparation can make a bad situation worse.
That’s why managed service providers (MSPs), like The 20 MSP, champion proactive IT support.
How Can You Protect Your Business?
One of the strongest ways to prevent and recover from cyberattacks is to have a dedicated MSP that provides proactive IT support.
Proactive support means having someone who continuously monitors your technology, stays on top of performance and security updates, and, in general, makes sure everything is running as it should.
From security solutions such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), encryption, endpoint protection, and zero trust security policies, to cyber awareness training programs, an MSP helps outfit smaller organizations with the tools they need to stay secure and prepared for the worst.
That said, prevention can never reach 100%. That’s why MSPs help their partners create detailed business continuity plans that outline what to do during a crisis. These plans can cover everything from who to contact, how to restore lost files, and what parts of your organization you should prioritize when it comes to getting back online.
When you combine consistent monitoring and regular maintenance with a strong recovery plan, you give your organization the greatest chance of bouncing back after a cyberattack. That’s far more reliable than reacting only when things go south.
The 20 MSP Helps Municipalities Stay Secure
Cyberattacks are scary. There’s no way around it. But they’re far less scary when you invest in the proper security – and that’s where a trusted MSP comes in.
The 20 MSP helps small municipalities and organizations overcome their cyber fears by equipping them with the tools they need to stay safe. For a predictable, flat-rate fee, we offer our partners 24/7 U.S.-based IT support alongside strong security solutions, employee cyber awareness training, proactive monitoring, backup and disaster recovery, and much more.
Don’t wait for the attack to happen. Reach out today, and let’s get your business protected.
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About The 20 MSP
As a leading provider of managed IT services, The 20 MSP serves thousands of businesses nationwide, including single and multi-location organizations, delivering white-glove service, secure and streamlined IT infrastructure, and 24/7/365 support. We believe in building lasting relationships with clients founded on trust, communication, and the delivery of high-value services for a fair and predictable price. Our clients’ success is our success, and we are committed to helping each and every organization we serve leverage technology to secure a competitive advantage and achieve new growth.
