NWO application system down following failed cyberattack

Research funding body NWO has been hit by a cyberattack. While the damage appears to be limited, the NWO’s application system will remain offline as a precaution. Deadlines for grant applications will still be enforced, though applications must now be submitted via email.

Initially described as a technical issue, the NWO’s ISAAC application system has now been down for nearly a week. The funding organisation has since confirmed that the cause was a cyberattack. For security reasons, ISAAC will remain offline at least until this coming Monday.

“There were attempts to gain access”, an NWO spokesperson said, “but they were unsuccessful.” It appears that no harm was done to NWO’s systems, and no data was stolen.

Temporary solution

Researchers use ISAAC to apply for research funding from NWO. This Tuesday afternoon, there was a deadline for the Take-off programme, which supports researchers in bringing their innovations to market. As a temporary measure, applications must now be submitted via email.

“It’s very frustrating for researchers that the system isn’t working,” the spokesperson added. “At this point, we don’t know who is responsible or what their motive might be. It’s even possible that it wasn’t a targeted attack.” ISAAC is expected to be operational again by Monday 26 August.

In 2021, NWO was crippled by a successful hack. At that time, ISAAC was the only system not affected, but it was taken offline as a precaution, just as it has been now.