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title: Majority of SEC Charges Against SolarWinds Dismissed in...
description: A U.S. District Court judge has dismissed most SEC charges against SolarWinds and its CISO, Tim Brown, related to the 2020 Sunburst cyberattack. The ruling...
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og:description: A U.S. District Court judge has dismissed most SEC charges against SolarWinds and its CISO, Tim Brown, related to the 2020 Sunburst cyberattack. The ruling...
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# Majority of SEC Charges Against SolarWinds Dismissed in Court Victory

**[Collections](https://daily.dev/sources/collections)** · 2 min read · 1 upvotes · 0 comments

## Summary

A U.S. District Court judge has dismissed most SEC charges against SolarWinds and its CISO, Tim Brown, related to the 2020 Sunburst cyberattack. The ruling found that post-breach disclosure charges were based on hindsight. However, the trial will proceed for claims about misstatements on cybersecurity practices before the breach, focusing on alleged security deficiencies. The case underscores the importance of accurate cybersecurity disclosures and robust internal practices.

## Content

# Judge Dismisses Majority of SEC Charges Against SolarWinds, Securities Fraud Case Proceeds

In a significant legal development, a U.S. District Court judge has dismissed most of the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) charges against SolarWinds and its Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Tim Brown, following the 2020 Sunburst cyberattack. This attack was a significant supply chain breach that raised questions about SolarWinds’ cybersecurity measures and disclosures.

## Dismissed Charges

The majority of the SEC's charges, specifically those concerning disclosures made after the company's systems were breached, have been dismissed. The judge found that these charges heavily relied on hindsight and did not sufficiently establish that SolarWinds and its executives had misled investors regarding their cybersecurity measures post-breach. This ruling provides essential guidance to publicly traded companies on how to handle cybersecurity incident disclosures.

## Charges Moving Forward

Despite the dismissal of most charges, the SEC's case against SolarWinds for alleged misstatements about its cybersecurity practices before the breach will proceed. The judge's decision to allow these securities fraud charges to go to trial highlights the importance of accuracy in corporate cybersecurity statements. The SEC had pointed out several security deficiencies at SolarWinds, such as weak password enforcement, which will now be scrutinized in court.

## Implications for Cybersecurity and Corporate Governance

This ruling serves as a crucial reminder for CISOs and other corporate executives about the need for transparency and alignment between internal security practices and public statements to investors. The case underscores the importance of proper cybersecurity practices and accurate disclosures. Companies must ensure their internal cybersecurity assessments reflect their public communications to prevent legal repercussions.

In conclusion, while the dismissal of most charges provides some relief for SolarWinds, the ongoing securities fraud case will continue to shed light on the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures and truthful investor communications.

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Tags: [#cyber](https://daily.dev/tags/cyber), [#legal](https://daily.dev/tags/legal)

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