Once those files are encrypted, users cannot access them without paying a ransom to obtain a decryption key — unless, of course, they have trusted data backups and a reliable disaster recovery service in their corner. But here’s the thing: when ransomware strikes any business, it can cause chaos. When a hospital is the target of an attack, well, the stakes get a whole lot higher.
Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles was hit by ransomware in February, when its computer systems went offline for more than week and hackers demanded $3.6 million to restore the company’s files. And on March 28th, hackers disrupted the operations of DC-area hospital chain MedStar Health, Inc. Both of those events had such a negative impact on business that critical procedures couldn’t be carried out — some patients even had to be moved to nearby facilities for treatment.
In addition, hospital employees couldn’t access patient data, email messages, and other important information. Instead, they had to rely on good old-fashioned pen and paper, along with fax machines and other antiquated technologies that had a major impact on productivity and efficiency. Most tellingly, in Hollywood, the hospital refused to reveal what kind of data backup system it had in place.
The hospital and the FBI claimed that no patient records were accessed by hackers because of the ransomware infection, but another recent NBC News story revealed that one in three Americans had their health care records compromised in 2015, many via the exact kind of ransomware attack mentioned above.
So if you work in the health care industry (or any line of business that requires secure data), what can you do to keep your company and its critical data safe?
Contact for assistance
Devi Mazumdar
OwnerCMIT Solutions of San Antonio NE
www.sanecmit.com
Work Phone - 210.243.2337
Fax Number – 210.568.2756
Toll Free - 1.800.399.CMIT
