What's Happening?
On December 18, 2025, Louisiana state agencies experienced an online outage attributed to a domain name system (DNS) service degradation. The outage began at approximately 4 a.m. CST and was resolved by
1 p.m. CST after the state Office of Technology Services (OTS) switched public DNS providers. The incident affected all state agencies, including the Office of Motor Vehicles. OTS Communications Director Thomas Mule stated that a cyber attack was not suspected, but a thorough analysis is ongoing to determine the root cause.
Why It's Important?
The outage in Louisiana underscores the critical role of DNS in maintaining internet connectivity and the potential vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure. Such disruptions can impact government operations and public services, highlighting the need for robust cybersecurity measures and contingency plans. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and securing digital infrastructure to ensure the continuity of essential services.
What's Next?
The Office of Technology Services is conducting a root cause analysis to understand the factors leading to the DNS service degradation. The findings will be published once the analysis is complete. This incident may prompt state agencies to review and strengthen their cybersecurity protocols to prevent future disruptions.
