As healthcare modernizes , cybersecurity is lagging
Mark Grindey at Zeus Cloud , explains what the benefits can be of integrating cyber security more deeply into the culture of the National Health Service , ensuring that the UK is better equipped to deal with cyberattacks . The NHS today blocks 21 million items of malicious activity every month , emphasizing just how crucial good cyber security is for the NHS .
In recent years , the National Health Service in UK has faced numerous challenges , with the likes of staff shortages , the impact of an ageing population , and an ever-increasing backlog of patients all playing a part in straining its resources . However , with the government announcing in the recent Autumn Budget that the NHS would receive an extra £ 1.57bn for new surgical hubs , scanners and radiotherapy machines , there is some positive news .
This is somewhat overshadowed by the prospect of cyber threats , specifically ransomware , which continues to add a layer of vulnerability to the NHS and jeopardises its ability to deliver timely and effective care .
The issue of ransomware attacks was addressed in 2020 by Lord Darzi , who highlighted the need for stronger cyber security measures in a report stating that , despite the growing reliance on digital infrastructure , NHS organisations allocate only 1 – 2 % of their running costs to IT services , far below the 4 – 10 % spent in other sectors .
This underinvestment in cyber security seems to have continued , and when mixed with the long-standing issues facing the NHS , these attacks could have disastrous consequences for patient care . With a survey
Mark Grindey , CEO Zeus Cloud of 100 cyber security managers in the UK health sector finding that 81 % of healthcare organisations in the UK had been hit by ransomware in the previous year , it ’ s clear the need for an effective cyber security strategy has never been more important . The 2020 white paper written by researchers from Imperial College London ’ s Institute of Global Health Innovation , led by Lord Darzi , stated that fresh investment is urgently needed to defend against threats that could put patient safety at risk . Fast forward to 2024 , and there have been considerable strides made . However , there is still much work to be done .
The NHS blocks 21 million items of malicious activity every month , emphasising just how crucial good cyber security is for the NHS . Yet , attacks do slip through the net , devastatingly affecting patients – WannaCry and Synnovis being the headliners .
One of the most notorious ransomware attacks on the NHS was the WannaCrypt virus , also known as WannaCry that struck several computer systems in May 2017 . This attack encrypted files on infected computers , rendering them inaccessible to users , and demanded a ransom payment in exchange for decryption keys .
The WannaCry attack in 2017 not only affected individual users but also caused significant disruptions in the public sector , as it affected at least 34 % of NHS trusts in the UK .
The Department of Health and Social Care estimated that the WannaCry attack cost the NHS a total of £ 92 million , significant diversion of funds that could ’ ve been used in other crucial areas of healthcare , such as patient care , medical research , and facility improvements .
The attack also caused widespread disruption , leading to the cancellation of thousands of appointments and procedures . This not only affected patient care and
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