Last Updated on 16/12/2021 by Sanskriti
A cyber-attack on a payroll system provider has impacted big corporations in the UK and the United States, including Sainsbury’s.
Kronos stated on Saturday that its computer systems had been hit by ransomware.
Kronos is used by many firms, including Sainsbury’s, to track, store, and process employee hours.
According to reports, the grocery giant lost a week’s worth of data for its 150,000 UK employees. However, it stated that they will be compensated before the holidays.
Payroll, human resources (HR), and accounting are among the departments that are increasingly leveraging past data and working habits to ensure that employees are paid the proper amount on time.
A ransomware attack occurs when hackers gain access to a computer network and encrypt important data before demanding a fee to decrypt it.
“We’re in close contact with Kronos while they investigate a systems issue”, A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman said. “In the meantime, we have contingencies in place to make sure our colleagues continue to receive their pay.”
Kronos, a Massachusetts-based startup, offers a variety of cloud payroll services, along with an automated payment system.
Customers should “evaluate and implement alternative business continuity protocols” since some services might be unavailable for many weeks, it added.
According to NBC News, Whole Foods Market and Honda North America, both of which utilize Kronos, were among those affected. Honda UK said it was unaffected by the incident.
“UKG recently became aware of a ransomware incident that has disrupted the Kronos Private Cloud, which houses solutions used by a limited number of our customers,” says a UKG official.
It had acted quickly to analyze and address the problem, as well as advised impacted consumers and notified authorities.“We recognize the seriousness of the issue and have mobilized all available resources to support our customers and are working diligently to restore the affected services,” UKG official further added.
