The recent cyber attack on blood services at London hospitals and GP surgeries has led to around 170 patients suffering, reports suggest. This recent ransomware attack on Synnovis, a pathology services provider for London hospitals and GP surgeries, is a recent reminder of the devastating consequences of cyber breaches in the health sector.
What happened?
Pathology services provider, Synnovis, was the victim of a ransomware attack by a Russian cyber gang in June last year, the impact was immediate and included:
- Over 10,000 patient appointments were cancelled across two major NHS trusts.
- Hundreds of GP practices were unable to order essential blood tests.
- Nearly 600 incidents were linked to the attack, with 170 cases of patient harm reported.
- Among these, one patient suffered severe harm, 14 experienced moderate harm, and the rest were classified as low harm.
According to NHS guidance severe harm occurs when patients either suffers permanent harm; needs life saving care or could have reduced their life expectancy, among a number of other factors.
This breach didn’t just disrupt operations, it compromised patient safety. According to NHS guidance, severe harm includes permanent damage, the need for life-saving care, or a reduction in life expectancy. These are not just statistics; they represent real lives affected by a failure to secure digital assets.
Why healthcare is a prime target
Healthcare organisations manage vast amounts of sensitive data, from patient records to diagnostic results. This data is not only valuable to cybercriminals but also critical to patient care. Any disruption can lead to delayed treatments, misdiagnoses and in worst-case scenarios, loss of life.
What steps can those in the healthcare industry take?
Digital transformation is changing how the healthcare industry operates and with these digital revolutions highlights the importance of a secure cybersecurity strategy that takes all threats into consideration.
CSG have supported a number of healthcare organisations, including our work for the University Hospitals Birmingham Charity, the official charity of University Hospitals Birmingham. We helped support the hospital through our Microsoft Azure services, helping strengthen their systems through the security measures that the cloud provides.
“It was very easy to work with CSG, who understood our requirement for the cloud hosting service and the entire cycle was handled very professionally from the very first phone calls through to the delivery of the service. We were happy with the overall service and would recommend CSG to any organisation considering Microsoft Azure Services.” Mike Hammond, Chief Executive.
The role of MDR in strengthening cyber defences
What can your healthcare organisation do? At CSG we provide top-end security solutions across a range of industries and our Managed Detection and Response (MDR) approach is a proactive cybersecurity solution designed to detect, analyse and respond to threats in real time. Unlike traditional security measures, MDR provides:
- 24/7 monitoring of your digital environment
- Rapid threat detection and containment
- Expert analysis to understand and mitigate risks
- Continuous improvement of your security posture
By adopting MDR, healthcare organisations can significantly reduce their exposure to cyber threats and respond swiftly to incidents before they escalate. You can learn more about this by having a chat with our team or take a look at our Sophos MDR videos to learn more about the trusted security solution.
How Azure helps strengthen your healthcare organisation
Microsoft Azure plays a transformative role in strengthening the health sector by providing secure, scalable and intelligent cloud solutions which CSG can help you set up to fit the unique needs of your healthcare organisations. Through Azure, health providers can modernise their infrastructure, improve patient care and ensure compliance with strict data protection regulations like HIPAA and GDPR.
Azure enables secure data storage and sharing, allowing healthcare professionals to access patient records in real time, from any location, while maintaining strict privacy controls. Its AI and machine learning capabilities support predictive analytics, helping clinicians identify health risks earlier and personalise treatment plans. Azure also facilitates interoperability between different health systems, improving collaboration across departments and institutions.
Azure’s disaster recovery and backup solutions ensure continuity of care even during system outages or cyber incidents. With built-in compliance tools and security frameworks, Azure helps healthcare organisations meet regulatory requirements while focusing on delivering better outcomes for patients.
How CSG helps you build a resilient cyber security strategy
At CSG, we understand the difficult challenges faced by healthcare providers. Our approach is not just about deploying tools; it’s about crafting a comprehensive strategy that fits your organisation’s needs. Here’s how we work with you:
- Risk assessment: we evaluate your current security posture and identify vulnerabilities.
- Strategic planning: we develop a customised cybersecurity roadmap aligned with your operational goals.
- MDR implementation: we deploy advanced MDR solutions to ensure continuous protection.
- Ongoing support: we provide training, updates and expert guidance to keep your defences strong.
Our goal is simple: to help you significantly reduce the risk of a cyber breach and ensure that your digital assets – and your patients – are protected.
The Synnovis attack is a sobering example of what’s at stake. Cyber security in healthcare is not optional, it’s essential. With the right strategy and the right partner, you can protect your organisation against the most advancwd threats and continue delivering safe, uninterrupted care.