Cyberattack on the National Health Laboratory Service of South Africa – implications, response and recommendations
Cybersecurity is now an integral consideration in the management of healthcare institutions in this modern technological era. Cyberattacks primarily targeting healthcare institutions have increased exponentially. Recently, the information technology systems of the National Health Laboratory Ser...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
South African Medical Association
2024-11-01
|
| Series: | South African Medical Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/2549 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823860584651685888 |
|---|---|
| author | S Cassim Z C Chapanduka |
| author_facet | S Cassim Z C Chapanduka |
| author_sort | S Cassim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Cybersecurity is now an integral consideration in the management of healthcare institutions in this modern technological era. Cyberattacks primarily targeting healthcare institutions have increased exponentially. Recently, the information technology systems of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) of South Africa (SA) were targeted by cyberterrorists using disruptive ransomware. As a result, all files on the affected computers and servers became inaccessible, thus affecting all NHLS operations. We share our experience of this cyberattack from the department of haematological pathology at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, SA. We outline the negative impact on the NHLS and the immediate response, and make future recommendations, including a draft of a business continuity plan.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8954366c3f594148ba3347baee465a2f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0256-9574 2078-5135 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | South African Medical Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-8954366c3f594148ba3347baee465a2f2025-02-10T12:25:28ZengSouth African Medical AssociationSouth African Medical Journal0256-95742078-51352024-11-011141210.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i12.2549Cyberattack on the National Health Laboratory Service of South Africa – implications, response and recommendationsS Cassim0Z C Chapanduka1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5489-8392Division of Haematology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South AfricaDivision of Haematology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa Cybersecurity is now an integral consideration in the management of healthcare institutions in this modern technological era. Cyberattacks primarily targeting healthcare institutions have increased exponentially. Recently, the information technology systems of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) of South Africa (SA) were targeted by cyberterrorists using disruptive ransomware. As a result, all files on the affected computers and servers became inaccessible, thus affecting all NHLS operations. We share our experience of this cyberattack from the department of haematological pathology at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, SA. We outline the negative impact on the NHLS and the immediate response, and make future recommendations, including a draft of a business continuity plan. https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/2549CyberattackNHLSmedical laboratory |
| spellingShingle | S Cassim Z C Chapanduka Cyberattack on the National Health Laboratory Service of South Africa – implications, response and recommendations South African Medical Journal Cyberattack NHLS medical laboratory |
| title | Cyberattack on the National Health Laboratory Service of South Africa – implications, response and recommendations |
| title_full | Cyberattack on the National Health Laboratory Service of South Africa – implications, response and recommendations |
| title_fullStr | Cyberattack on the National Health Laboratory Service of South Africa – implications, response and recommendations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cyberattack on the National Health Laboratory Service of South Africa – implications, response and recommendations |
| title_short | Cyberattack on the National Health Laboratory Service of South Africa – implications, response and recommendations |
| title_sort | cyberattack on the national health laboratory service of south africa implications response and recommendations |
| topic | Cyberattack NHLS medical laboratory |
| url | https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/2549 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT scassim cyberattackonthenationalhealthlaboratoryserviceofsouthafricaimplicationsresponseandrecommendations AT zcchapanduka cyberattackonthenationalhealthlaboratoryserviceofsouthafricaimplicationsresponseandrecommendations |