New Jersey gets settlement from Cisco systems over cybersecurity holes

New Jersey is participating in a $6 million settlement with Cisco Systems over video surveillance systems sold by the company that were vulnerable to electronic attacks.

“We take cybersecurity seriously here in New Jersey,” Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said. “Enforcement actions like the one we are announcing today put companies on notice that if they want to sell their products to New Jersey, they must satisfy the highest standards for cybersecurity.”

A multi-state investigation found that, in addition to being vulnerable themselves, the systems opened up the networks on which they were hosted to electronic attacks.

The states found Cisco knew of the problems with the surveillance systems as early as 2008 but did nothing to patch the vulnerabilities until 2013.

Some New Jersey schools and universities, among other organizations, purchased and deployed the vulnerable Cisco systems.

New Jersey’s share of the award is $143,000.