UPDATE: Instructure Has Taken Canvas Offline

Update May 7, 2026 - 5:22 p.m.: Canvas is currently unavailable university-wide. This is a nationwide issue. Users should not attempt to engage with or respond within the Canvas system until further notice. Our teams are actively monitoring the situation and working with the vendor toward resolution. Additional updates and communications will be shared as more information becomes available. Visit systemstatus.baylor.edu for updates.

Update May 7, 2026 - 4:30 p.m.: Earlier today, several universities using Canvas reported that their access to the system was blocked by a ransom notice. In response, Instructure took Canvas offline. Visit systemstatus.baylor.edu for updates.

Original Notice May 6, 2026 - 11:11 a.m.: BaylorITS was notified yesterday afternoon that a data breach at Instructure, whose Canvas platform supports learning at 41% of higher education institutions in North America, has impacted Baylor’s data stored on their servers. Because Baylor uses DUO two-factor authentication, Bear ID passwords were not stored on Instructure’s servers. This incident was not directed at Baylor, but is part of a larger breach that impacted a yet to be determined number of their higher education customers.

Instructure detected and addressed the breach and is closely monitoring its infrastructure. As they responded to this cyberattack, higher education customers, including Baylor, experienced brief outages on Respondus, CidiLabs, and TurnItIn platforms last week.

The company has contracted with a forensics firm to investigate the extent of the breach and will provide a full accounting to Baylor and other customers.

No action needs to be taken aside from continuing to remain diligent about basic cybersecurity protections, including:

• Beware of “phishy” messages.
  Do not click links in unsolicited messages claiming to be from Canvas, Instructure, or BaylorITS. Forward all suspicious messages you receive to abuse@baylor.edu.
• Access Canvas and other websites directly
  Avoid clicking links whenever possible to access online resources.

BaylorITS will update this article and post updates at canvas.web.baylor.edu as we receive additional information from Instructure.

Please contact HelpDesk+ in person on the main floor of Moody Memorial Library, by phone at (254) 710-4357, or via HelpDesk+ Chat at helpdesk.baylor.edu if you have any questions or need support.