This article was published in 2019. Laws, case law and regulatory guidance may have changed since then. Contact us for up to date advice.
A US hospital has had to cancel several operations because its systems were infected with ransomware. Campbell County Memorial Hospital is also unable to admit new patients, and some existing patients have been transferred to other hospitals. This is reported by security.nl
The unnamed ransomware managed to infect all of the hospital’s systems, which is affecting patient care. In addition to cancelling operations, various other treatments and examinations have also been cancelled. According to the hospital, there are no indications that the attackers accessed or misused patient data.
Because of the ransomware, the hospital has decided to deploy additional ambulances to provide assistance where necessary. Today as well, operations and treatments in several departments, including oncology, have been cancelled or rescheduled. Patients have been advised to confirm their appointments with the hospital by telephone before setting off. It is not yet known when the systems will be restored.
Why this article matters for your organisation
This article shows that information security is vital for every organisation. Your organisation could also face cyber attacks. You would be well advised to take the appropriate (technical and organisational) measures. A sound information security policy, regular updates of the software you use, or training and refresher courses for your employees are some examples. You can also make use of a Cybersecurity Healthcheck.
Would you like to know more about the options? Feel free to contact us for a no-obligation conversation.