May 9, 2024 at 03:21PM
Ascension, a leading healthcare organization in the US, has detected a cybersecurity event affecting its network. The disruption has led to clinical operations being impacted, with a potential involvement of ransomware. The incident is part of a string of cyber attacks on the healthcare industry, prompting calls for stronger cyber protections from authorities.
The meeting notes indicate that Ascension, a leading healthcare organization in the US, has experienced a cybersecurity event leading to disruptions in its clinical operations. The company detected unusual activity on its networks and has recommended its partners to suspend all connections to Ascension systems. Incident response specialists at Mandiant have been called in to investigate, and relevant authorities have been made aware.
There are signs that ransomware may be involved, with disruptions to virtual desktop infrastructure and virtual private network connections across the US. Some computers used by Ascension staff are displaying ransomware messages, and clinical operations have been disrupted, with partners resorting to pen and paper operations.
This incident is part of a series of cyber attacks targeting major healthcare organizations. The healthcare industry is a prime target for online attackers due to the nature of its operations and the perceived likelihood of victims paying for quick restoration. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has been advocating for stronger cyber protections in the healthcare sector, especially against ransomware threats.
CISA has also launched initiatives, such as the Ransomware Vulnerability Warning Pilot scheme, to help organizations swiftly patch vulnerabilities associated with ransomware activity, ultimately saving the economy a great deal of money and preventing substantial disruptions.