What was the cyber attack on London Hospitals?
Russian hackers cyber attacked Synnovis which is the provider of pathology services to many NHS hospitals including St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, transplant center the Royal Brompton, Harefield Hospital and the Evelina London Children’s Hospital. These are the main primary services that have been affected, according to the BBC.
The incident has had a big impact on delivery of services which delayed a lot of operations and it has especially affected blood transfusions and test results which are major problems for the NHS. GP services across Bexley, Greenwich, Lewisham, Bromley, Southwark and Lambeth boroughs have also been affected. It was thought to have happened on monday , meaning some departments couldn’t connect to the server.
The NHS apologized for the inconvenience and said it was working with the National Cyber Security Centre to understand the impact. Also a spokesperson from Synnovis said the company has sent in a taskforce of IT experts to fully assess the impact of this cyber attack.
One patient, Oliver Dowson, 70, was prepared for an operation from 6 o’clock at the Royal Brompton. That BBC reported that he was told by a surgeon at about 12:30 o’clock that it would not be going ahead and the staff on the ward didn’t seem to know what happened, just that many patients were being told to go home and wait for a new appointment.
Who was responsible for the NHS Cyber Attack?
A Russian group of cyber criminals called Qilin are thought to be behind a cyber attack which forced London hospitals to cancel operations, the ex-National Cyber Security Centre chief said the attack on pathology services Synnovis has led to a severe reduction in capacity and it’s a very serious incident.
What can businesses learn from the June 2024 NHS cyber attack?
1. Cyber insurance is necessary, and other measures need to be put in place
Cyber attack insurance is essential to protect businesses from the damage caused by a cyber attack. Cyber crime insurance will recuperate monetary loss due to the malicious action from a hacker. But neither of these insurance solutions will prevent a hacker from the initial instance, however the cyber insurance policy puts preventative measures in place.
The main benefits of cyber insurance are:
Financial Protection: Helps mitigate the financial impact of a cyberattack, reducing the risk of significant business disruption.
Legal and Regulatory Support: Provides coverage for legal fees, fines, and penalties related to data breaches and other cyber incidents.
Incident Response: Offers access to expert resources, such as cybersecurity professionals and public relations experts, to manage and contain a cyber incident effectively.
Reputation Management: Helps manage the public perception and reputational damage following a cyber incident.
Preventative measures such as secure passwords,filtered emails, updated systems and penetration testing regularly should be put in place. Romero Insurance Brokers have outlined a list of rules, helping businesses ensure they are cyber secure.
If you are the decision-maker at your business , talk to your broker today to see if you have the relevant insurance in place and check if its been updated.
2. Have a incident response plan in place
A cyber attack is inevitable no matter the amount of preparation or the strength of your security. When it does happen a plan needs to be put in place to minimize the damage.
The NHS was the victim of a ransomware attack. They had private information stolen about their patients and then they had to pay ransom so the information wouldn’t get released. The NHS has tried and tested contingency plans in place including robust defenses to protect their networks; they are also working with the National Cyber Security Centre to fully understand the impact.
An incident response plan is necessary for businesses as it will minimize the damage that could be done to businesses. An incident response plan needs to be orchestrated by a professional because if the plan isn’t up to standards it is useless and easy to bypass.
Do you have effective Cyber insurance for your business?
The risk of a cyber attack increases year on year. Cyber insurance will ensure your business is finacially protected.
Romero Insurance Brokers will ensure you have an expert handler who will ensure you have everything you need to be cyber secure. While our insurance will help avoid a financial fiasco, you should always consider risk management too. We offer sound advice, risk assessment checklists, claims reports, up-to-date insurance information and full free consultation for all our clients. For more information, or to speak to our risk management team, please get in touch.
