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Australian steel producer BlueScope (ASX: BSL) has confirmed its IT systems have been affected by a cyber attack, causing disruptions to part of its operations.
In a short statement to the ASX, the company says its manufacturing and sales operations have been impacted by the incident.
Some processes have been paused as a result, but steel despatches continue along with some manual processes and workarounds.
BlueScope chief financial officer Tania Archibald says the incident was detected in one of the company's US businesses prompting the company to respond swiftly.
"We are taking this event extremely seriously," says Archibald.
"Our people are working diligently to protect and restore our systems, and we are working with external providers to assist us.
"Our focus remains on being able to service our customers and to maintain safe and reliable operations."
While the company fully assesses the impact the group has been forced to revert to manual operations where possible with an aim to return to normal operations "as quickly as possible".
The attack is the latest in a string of cyber attacks affecting Australian businesses and follows a ransomware extorsion at logistics and transport company Toll.
Toll Group confirmed on Wednesday it was the victim of a cyber attack involving ransomware known as 'Nefilim'.
IT systems were shut down once the attack was detected to mitigate the risk of further infection, and Toll notes it has refused from the outset to engage with the attacker's ransom demands.
Australia's health insurance sector was also recently the victim of a string of cyber attacks that preyed on COVID-19 vulnerabilities.
According to global cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks a series of eight campaigns from a cybercrime actor called SilverTerrier have been taking advantage of vulnerable businesses during COVID-19 confusion.
Of the eight campaigns three were specifically targeted at Australian companies, with the health insurance sector the main target of SilverTerrirer.
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