In the wake of the recent ransomware attack on Synnovis, a pathology partnership involving Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College Hospitals NHS Trust, and SYNLAB, the pressing need for advanced cybersecurity solutions has never been clearer. The June 3rd attack, orchestrated by the Russian cyber-criminal group Qilin, resulted in a major IT incident, significantly reducing Synnovis’s capacity to process samples and causing widespread disruption.
Impact on the NHS and Patients
The ransomware attack on Synnovis had severe repercussions for the NHS. Almost all Synnovis IT systems were affected, forcing a reversion to manual processes and delaying service delivery. Over 3,000 hospital and GP appointments were disrupted, creating a backlog and straining resources. The attack caused significant distress for patients, with delays in receiving critical test results and potential impacts on treatment plans. The breach of data, including patient names, dates of birth, NHS numbers, and blood test descriptions, heightened concerns about the security of personal information.
Impact on Data Privacy and Synnovis
Qilin published nearly 400GB of stolen data on the darknet, including sensitive patient information and business account spreadsheets. This breach poses severe risks of identity theft and fraud. For Synnovis, the attack impacted its reputation, operational capabilities, and financial stability, while also affecting the wider NHS supply chain.
NCSC’s Response
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is working with Synnovis, NHS partners, and law enforcement to investigate the incident. NCSC Deputy Director Eleanor Fairford emphasized the seriousness of the data breach and advised individuals to remain vigilant against potential fraud attempts.
MemCrypt’s Solution
MemCrypt’s innovative anti-ransomware defence solution is essential for organizations looking to protect their data and operations. MemCrypt’s solution can detect ransomware activity early, stop attacks in their tracks, and initiate immediate recovery processes to restore files and data, minimizing downtime and operational impact. MemCrypt has been demonstrated to be effective in detecting, stopping and recovering from the Qilin ransomware used in this attack.
About MemCrypt
MemCrypt is at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation, offering state-of-the-art solutions to combat ransomware and other cyber threats. For more information, visit https://memcrypt.io/. This incident underscores the critical importance of robust cybersecurity measures in protecting sensitive health information and ensuring the continuity of essential medical services.
