Senator Questions US Healthcare Giant Over Cyber-Attack
A major healthcare provider whose systems were knocked offline for three weeks by a ransomware attack has been asked by a US senator to answer questions about its cybersecurity practices.
Universal Health Services announced on Monday that all 400 of its health system sites were back online after being hit by a cyber-attack in the early hours of September 27.
UHS initially reported the attack as an "Information Technology security incident," but staff who took screenshots of the attack confirmed that ransomware was responsible for the disruption.
As a result of the incident, UHS disconnected all systems and shut down the network to prevent further propagation. While some hospitals diverted ambulances and some lab test results were delayed, the company said that "patient care was delivered safely and effectively at our facilities across the country using established back-up processes, including offline documentation methods."
Following the attack, former technology entrepreneur and vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Mark Warner, has written to UHS to express concerns regarding their cybersecurity measures.
Warner told the Fortune 500 company that with annual revenue of more than $11bn, it should have a cybersecurity posture "sufficiently mature and robust to prevent major interruptions to health care operations."
