The most important regulated water and wastewater utility firm in america introduced Monday that it was the sufferer of a cyberattack that prompted the agency to pause billing to prospects.

New Jersey-based American Water — which offers companies to greater than 14 million folks in 14 states and on 18 navy installations — mentioned it grew to become conscious of the unauthorized exercise on Thursday and instantly took protecting steps, together with shutting down sure techniques. 

The corporate doesn’t imagine its amenities or operations have been impacted by the assault, and mentioned staffers have been working “across the clock” to research the character and scope of the assault.

The corporate mentioned it has notified legislation enforcement and is cooperating with them. It additionally mentioned prospects is not going to face late prices whereas its techniques are unavailable.

Earlier this 12 months, a June cyberattack on CDK International, an organization that provides software program to handle gross sales, disrupted enterprise at 15,000 automotive dealerships, forcing some to shut whereas operations floor to a halt. In February, an assault on Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth, left sufferers unable to get prescriptions whereas hospitals and pharmacies went unpaid for greater than every week.

In accordance with its web site, American Water manages greater than 500 water and wastewater techniques in about 1,700 communities in California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.