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Software bug causes ACC computer crashes countywide

Writer's picture: Classic City NewsClassic City News

By Joe Johnson

A software bug this weekend caused the failure of computer hardware throughout the Athens-Clarke County government.

As a result, several departments were without computer services all day Monday, and services had yet to be restored to some departments as of Tuesday afternoon.

“Over the weekend, several pieces of physical hardware that make up the server infrastructure for ACCGov that runs departmental applications such as the Planning Department's Self-Service Portal / Building Inspection's Energov system / GIS mapping functions, file shares, and other items failed due to a software bug in the hardware,” county Public Information Officer Jeff Montgomery said.

The accgov.com email server was briefly down on Tuesday, he said.

According to Montgomery, the county’s Information Technology Department already had “an extensive incident response plan designed to be used in circumstances much like this one.

“IT has already received replacement hardware and has begun installation, restoration, and backups. Some components are already coming back up,” he said. “They will continue to replace hardware which requires physical installations and rewiring, backup and restore information, and bring systems back online as soon as possible.

Montgomery said that some departments have temporary workarounds. Planning, for example, was open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in order to take physical submissions with the self-service portal down.

Police were receiving 911 calls as normal, but had to undertake some more manual processes similar to what they do when there is a system maintenance downtime window for dispatching

Newly-generated police reports were still unavailable to the public as of Tuesday afternoon.

“We do not have access to our records management software, said Lt. Shaun Barnett, ACCPD’s public information officer.

The county jail's website has not been updated since early Monday morning, and it appears that the Clerk of Courts site is functioning.

“Some of the recovery just takes a little time even once we have the hardware,” Montgomery said. “It is expected that this process may take several days for all systems to be fully restored. Mission critical applications that serve our community are being prioritized.”

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4 Comments


Sabina Babington
Sabina Babington
Dec 16, 2024

Yes, software threats are not rare these days. Other commentators, who suggested a better software development solutions, are actually right. What I would also add, is that cyber threat intelligence must be done prior to implementation of any new software. Sometimes risks are higher than you can even imagine. I wish you all a good and safe work day.

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Oleksii
Oleksii
Oct 10, 2024

The recent hardware outage at the Athens-Clarke County government shows how important it is to have not only a robust IT infrastructure, but also up-to-date tools to quickly restore systems. In situations like these, modern technologies and platforms are key. For example, using Flutter-based solutions, as described in Cogniteq’s article on Flutter app development https://www.cogniteq.com/flutter-app-development, can significantly improve system management and monitoring, as well as ensure more stable operation of applications and services, which is especially important for services that serve critical public needs, such as emergency services and data management.

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sexoy35938
Sep 25, 2024

It’s concerning to hear about the software bug causing ACC computer crashes across the county. Such issues can disrupt operations and hinder productivity significantly. It’s crucial for organizations to have reliable support systems in place to address these challenges swiftly. Companies like JD Young specialize in providing technology solutions and support that can help mitigate such risks and ensure smoother operations. Hopefully, a fix will be implemented quickly to minimize the impact on users and restore functionality!

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Forest Gamp
Forest Gamp
Dec 21, 2023

The recent software bug in the ACC computer system has caused widespread disruptions countywide, highlighting the critical importance of robust and thoroughly tested software solutions. This incident sheds light on the potential risks associated with relying on software, particularly in essential sectors. The affected system was reportedly developed by a hotel software company, emphasizing the need for heightened diligence when it comes to creating and maintaining software infrastructure. In such instances, companies like ChannelRUSH, specializing in hotel software solutions, play a pivotal role in ensuring the reliability and security of critical systems. This event underscores the imperative for ongoing monitoring, regular updates, and stringent quality control measures in software development to prevent similar disruptions in the future.

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