Experts are deeming the recent cyber attack on the Newfoundland and Labrador healthcare system as one of the worst cyberattacks in Canadian history. Provincial officials are calling for a federal response as widespread interruptions in the healthcare system’s IT network and operations have crippled the network’s ability to provide patient care. The full extent of damages and impact on human health care are a major concern as the province struggles to regain control of their network.
It is rare to see an attack of this magnitude as entire provincial healthcare network has been taken down. Most cyberattacks involve a cyber criminal organization targeting single facilities or individual networks. In this case, thousands of medical appointments across the province have been cancelled after the attack affected what Health Minister John Haggie described as the “two brains” of the health system’s data centre.
Some signs of recovery from the attack have now begun however, the province has yet to release any further details on the incident. Authorities have not stated whether patient information exposure is a concern as the main focus seems to be getting the health network’s operations back up and running at full capacity.