A former IT contractor caused significant disruption at the British Museum last week, gaining unauthorized access to the institution’s IT systems and forcing the temporary closure of several galleries and exhibitions. The incident, which occurred on January 23, has raised questions about security protocols and the museum’s response to such breaches.
What Happened During the British Museum Incident?
The British Museum was forced to close some of its exhibitions and galleries after a former tech contractor, who had recently been dismissed, breached the museum’s premises. According to reports from The Register, the contractor deliberately shut down multiple IT systems, leading to operational difficulties.
A museum spokesperson confirmed that the individual trespassed into the museum’s secure areas and caused significant disruption. Fortunately, the museum’s ticketing system remained unaffected, although support systems were impacted, which prompted the museum to temporarily halt operations.
Impact on the Museum’s Operations
Due to the disruption, several exhibitions, including temporary ones, were closed to the public for a short period. The museum quickly notified affected visitors and offered refunds for tickets. Operations returned to normal by January 27, after the necessary repairs were made to restore functionality to the affected systems.
The British Museum clarified that the systems impacted were primarily internal support systems and not the ticketing or customer-facing platforms. This distinction was important, as the museum had to shut down its ticketing services temporarily for safety and operational reasons.
How Did the Police Get Involved?
The Metropolitan Police were called to the scene on the evening of January 23, at approximately 8:25 PM, following reports that the contractor had caused damage to security and IT infrastructure. The police arrived swiftly and arrested the man, who is in his 50s, on suspicion of burglary and criminal damage. He has since been bailed pending further investigation.
This physical breach of the museum’s security was quickly addressed by the authorities. The police confirmed that the incident was not a cyber attack, which could have escalated the situation further.
British Museum’s IT Partnerships and Security Measures
The British Museum has long recognized the importance of maintaining robust IT infrastructure. In 2017, the museum partnered with Microsoft to leverage Azure’s data analysis capabilities for optimizing its operations. The museum also worked with Agilyx Group and Unit4 for a major cloud migration in 2024, moving from on-premise systems to a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform to ensure better scalability and security.
Despite these sophisticated technological solutions, the recent breach highlights the challenges in managing access control and ensuring the integrity of IT systems, even in highly secure institutions like museums.
What Were the Museum’s Responses to the Incident?
After the incident, the British Museum focused on quickly restoring operations and ensuring that public trust was maintained. A spokesperson noted that the affected systems were primarily support services, which did not involve direct visitor-facing technology such as the ticketing system. The museum assured the public that the incident was not the result of a cyber attack but a physical security breach.
The museum also expressed its regret over the closure of temporary exhibitions, acknowledging the disruption caused to visitors. While operations have since resumed, the incident has prompted a reevaluation of security measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What caused the British Museum to close its exhibitions?
A former IT contractor, who had been dismissed, gained unauthorized access to the museum and shut down several IT systems, leading to the closure of exhibitions for a brief period.
2. Was the British Museum’s ticketing system affected?
No, the museum confirmed that its ticketing system remained operational. The disruptions primarily affected internal support systems.
3. Was the incident a cyber attack?
No, the British Museum clarified that the incident was not a cyber attack. It was a physical security breach, where the contractor accessed the museum’s premises and caused damage to its IT infrastructure.
4. What charges did the arrested contractor face?
The contractor was arrested on suspicion of burglary and criminal damage. He was later released on bail pending further investigation.
5. How is the British Museum handling the aftermath of the incident?
The museum resumed normal operations quickly, but it closed some galleries and offered refunds to affected ticket holders. It is reviewing security protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
