Volvo Group has disclosed that a recent ransomware attack on its human resources software provider, Miljödata, may have resulted in unauthorized access to personal information belonging to its North American workforce.
The incident underscores growing concerns about third-party risk and the importance of robust vendor security practices.
Ransomware Incident and Discovery
On August 20, 2025, Miljödata, which supplies HR management services to Volvo Group, suffered a ransomware attack that encrypted systems and disrupted operations.
The attack went undetected until August 23, when Miljödata’s cybersecurity team identified suspicious activity on its network.
A deeper investigation confirmed on September 2 that employee data may have been compromised, prompting Miljödata to immediately notify Volvo Group and initiate containment measures.
Importantly, Volvo Group’s own IT infrastructure was not breached; the attack was confined to the vendor’s environment.
Based on the information available, the breach may have affected basic personal identifiers for impacted employees.
Specifically, first and last names were included in the leaked data, along with Social Security numbers.
No payroll, bank account details, or insurance information appear to have been accessed. However, given the sensitivity of Social Security numbers, affected individuals face an elevated risk of identity theft and fraud if this information is misused.
Volvo Group is working closely with Miljödata to validate the full extent of the exposure and to determine whether any additional data categories were involved.
In response to the incident, Miljödata engaged external cybersecurity experts to conduct a comprehensive forensic investigation and to enhance the security of its hosted environment.
Volvo Group has also undertaken its own review of vendor management and data-protection policies to prevent similar events in the future.
To support affected employees, Volvo Group is providing a complimentary 18-month subscription to Allstate’s Identity Protection Pro+ service, which includes tri-bureau credit monitoring, monthly credit score tracking, dark-web monitoring, and full-service identity restoration assistance.
Impacted colleagues will receive credentials and detailed enrollment instructions via email and postal mail in the coming days.
Employees are encouraged to remain vigilant by regularly checking bank and credit card statements for suspicious activity.
They may also obtain free annual credit reports from the three major credit bureaus and place fraud alerts or security freezes on their files.
Volvo Group’s People Services team is available to field questions and guide employees through any identity-protection actions.
This breach highlights the critical need for organizations to maintain stringent oversight of their vendors’ security practices.
By promptly addressing the incident and offering identity-theft protection, Volvo Group aims to minimize harm to its workforce and strengthen resilience against future third-party cyber threats.
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