Online Business Registry access was restored by the Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry (BCCAR) six days after the platform was taken offline following a cybersecurity incident. The Online Business Registry System became available again at 8:00 this morning after security assessments, recovery work and additional testing.
BCCAR says the incident was detected on August 4, prompting the agency to temporarily disable the online registry while it investigated unauthorized access and introduced further safeguards.
Online Business Registry: restoration and safeguards
The investigation has confirmed that some documents were downloaded during the breach. Those documents have been marked with a solid warning icon under the “Attachments” section of the relevant application or register record to allow affected users to identify them.
BCCAR stresses there is no evidence that any of the marked documents were altered or deleted, and the warning does not affect a document’s validity. Users who find a marked attachment in their accounts are advised to review BCCAR’s online cybersecurity update and the frequently asked questions for guidance.
BCCAR’s initial investigation identified passport-based registration for limited public-user accounts as a vulnerability that was exploited to gain unauthorized access; that registration option has been temporarily disabled. The Registry has also imposed a temporary limit of 100 document views or downloads per user per hour. These measures will remain under review and may be adjusted.
While the online platform has been restored, BCCAR says the investigation is ongoing and that additional verified information will be released as it becomes available. Customers with concerns may contact the Registry via hotline at 223-4701, WhatsApp at 615-8761 or by email at inquiries@bccar.bz.
