A critical failure of a core network switch at the state Capitol in Pierre triggered a two-day outage last week, disrupting South Dakota’s online government services. The malfunction caused a power outage that rippled through the state’s data center network, halting access to vital records, vehicle registrations, court systems, and law enforcement databases.
The Bureau of Information and Telecommunications shipped a replacement switch overnight and restored services by Wednesday. Spokeswoman Lisa Rahja described the failed component as the “network backbone” for state systems.
South Dakota Searchlight reported the outage coincidentally occurred during the inaugural meeting of the Governor’s Resilience and Infrastructure Task Force, led by Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen. While the disruption didn’t hinder the meeting, Venhuizen called it a “timely reminder” of infrastructure vulnerabilities. Gov. Larry Rhoden later clarified the outage stemmed from a power failure—not malicious activity—and stressed the importance of long-term planning.
Lawmakers are now demanding answers. Sen. Taffy Howard confirmed the issue will be addressed at the upcoming Government Operations and Audit Committee meeting. Rep. Marty Overweg expressed concern, especially given the state’s ongoing $70 million upgrade to its financial systems under the “BISON” project. Rep. Erik Muckey added that the outage highlights the need for better redundancy and proactive investment in digital infrastructure.
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