Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
- Ascension, a Wisconsin health system, experienced a cyber attack that disrupted access to some technology systems.
- It is unclear if sensitive patient information was accessed, but Ascension is working to assess the impact.
Ascension, a health system with multiple hospitals and clinics in Wisconsin, is currently investigating a cyber attack that affected its network systems. Although it is uncertain if hackers accessed sensitive patient information, Ascension is conducting an investigation to determine the extent of the breach. Last year, a similar cyber attack impacted Hospital Sisters Health System and Prevea, while Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin also faced a data breach earlier this year.
Alex Holden, the chief information security officer at Hold Security, suggested that the attack on Ascension may have not been a full intrusion into their network. Medical information stored by health systems is valuable to hackers since it remains accurate over time and can be difficult to change. Additionally, healthcare systems are often interconnected, making them vulnerable to cyber attacks due to numerous access points for hackers to exploit.
Experts warn that with the increasing sophistication of cyber attacks, health systems must prioritize cybersecurity measures by updating technologies and providing comprehensive employee training. By being proactive and staying aware of cybersecurity threats, health systems can safeguard sensitive patient information and prevent future breaches.
