The City of Cambridge has released an important update regarding the OnSolve CodeRED emergency notifications system, also known locally as Cambridge’s reverse 911 system. The platform, widely used by thousands of local governments and public safety agencies across the country, was taken offline in November following a nationwide OnSolve CodeRED cyberattack.
Residents who rely on CodeRED alerts for information about snow emergencies, evacuations, water outages, or other service disruptions are being asked to take immediate steps to secure their accounts and continue receiving notifications.
Impact of the OnSolve CodeRED Cyberattack on User Data
According to city officials, the data breach affected CodeRED databases nationwide, including Cambridge. The compromised information may include phone numbers, email addresses, and passwords of registered users. Importantly, the attack targeted the OnSolve CodeRED system itself, not the City of Cambridge or its departments.
This OnSolve CodeRED cyberattack incident mirrors similar concerns raised in Monroe County, Georgia, where officials confirmed that residents’ personal information was also exposed.
The Monroe County Emergency Management Agency emphasized that the breach was part of a nationwide cybersecurity incident and not a local failure.
Transition to CodeRED by Crisis24
In response, OnSolve permanently decommissioned the old CodeRED platform and migrated services to a new, secure environment known as CodeRED by Crisis24. The new system has undergone comprehensive security audits, including penetration testing and system hardening, to ensure stronger protection against future threats.
For Cambridge residents, previously registered contact information has been imported into the new platform. However, due to security concerns, all passwords have been removed. Users must now reset their credentials before accessing their accounts.
Steps for City of Cambridge Residents and Users
To continue receiving emergency notifications, residents should:
- Visit accountportal.onsolve.net/cambridgema
- Enter their username (usually an email address)
- Select “forgot password” to verify and reset credentials
- If unsure of their username, use the “forgot username” option
Officials strongly advise against reusing old CodeRED passwords, as they may have been compromised. Instead, users should create strong, unique passwords and update their information once logged in.
Additionally, anyone who used the same password across multiple accounts is urged to change those credentials immediately to reduce the risk of further exposure.
Broader National Context
The Monroe County cyberattack highlights the scale of the issue. Officials there reported that data such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and passwords were compromised. Residents who enrolled before March 31, 2025, had their information migrated to the new Crisis24 CodeRED platform, while those who signed up afterward must re‑enroll.
OnSolve has reassured communities that the intrusion was contained within the original system and did not spread to other networks. While there is currently no evidence of identity theft, the incident underscores the growing risks of cyber intrusions nationwide.
Resources for Cybersecurity Protection
Residents who believe they may have been victims of cyber‑enabled fraud are encouraged to report incidents to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov. Additional resources are available to help protect individuals and families from fraud and cybercrime.
Security experts note that the rising frequency of attacks highlights the importance of independent threat‑intelligence providers. Companies such as Cyble track vulnerabilities and cybercriminal activity across global networks, offering organizations tools to strengthen defenses and respond more quickly to incidents.
Looking Ahead
The City of Cambridge has thanked residents for their patience as staff worked with OnSolve to restore emergency alert capabilities. Officials emphasized that any breach of security is a serious concern and confirmed that they will continue monitoring the new CodeRED by Crisis24 platform to ensure its standards are upheld.
In addition, the City is evaluating other emergency alerting systems to determine the most effective long‑term solution for community safety.
