Christie’s employs backup plans amidst major cyberattack

Prominent auction house Christie’s is currently dealing with a major cyberattack that has interfered with its operations. The sale of artwork and valuable things valued at approximately $840 million (£670 million), including a collection of rare wines and a $35 million painting by Vincent van Gogh, has been impacted by the mentioned attack.

Christie’s website has been taken offline, making it impossible for prospective purchasers to view these items due to the cyber attack. Furthermore, the auction of a collection of rare watches that formerly belonged to Formula 1 icon Michael Schumacher has been postponed.

 

Christie’s continues accepting phone and in-person bids and has launched an alternative website.

 

Despite the online outage, bids can still be put over the phone and in person, keeping things a bit normal. Christie’s notified press authorities that their systems were the target of a “technology security incident.” The auction company emphasised that it frequently tests its established policies and practices for handling incidents of this nature. Christie’s has created a different website with basic details about the items up for auction in an effort to lessen the damage.

Moreover, despite the cyberattack that started last week, the company was nonetheless able to hold a watch charity auction in Geneva on Friday. This event, which was first planned for 2023, raised £26.4 million, or 28 million Swiss Francs, to fund research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The auction company has ensured that online bidding is still available through its Christie’s Live service, even though the website is currently unavailable. With this substitute, purchasers can participate in the sales without requiring access to the main website.

Christie’s reaction to the cyberattack demonstrates its agility and resiliency in the face of technological difficulties. The company’s dedication to upholding its auction timetable and catering to its clients is evident in the prompt deployment of a substitute website and the ongoing phone, in-person, and live services.

The incident underscores the growing susceptibility of well-known companies to cyberattacks. The art industry is keeping a close eye on Christie’s as it navigates this situation, which highlights how important it is for the auction sector to have safe and dependable digital platforms.