New York Blood Center Enterprises, a chain of blood donation centers, recently fell victim to a ransomware attack, prompting the organization to take some of its technology systems offline. Despite the attack, the centers are still accepting donations, although processing times may be delayed. Additionally, donation center activities and blood drives may need to be rescheduled as a result of the incident.
The ransomware attack was detected by the blood centers’ IT systems on Sunday, prompting NYBCe to engage third-party cybersecurity experts to investigate and restore their systems. Law enforcement has also been notified about the incident. The organization operates in over 17 states, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, serving hundreds of hospitals and providing various medical services to research, academic, and biopharmaceutical organizations.
NYBCe is currently working on restoring its systems but does not have a specific timeline for completion. Despite the attack, the organization is in direct communication with hospitals to implement alternative solutions and fulfill orders. The Greater New York Hospital Association has confirmed that member hospitals have not experienced any delays in blood supply due to the incident.
Cybersecurity has become a growing concern in the healthcare sector, with ransomware attacks on the rise. These attacks can have severe consequences, disrupting access to critical technology and potentially leading to care delays. Last year, a ransomware attack on OneBlood, a blood center serving hospitals in the southeastern U.S., resulted in the organization resorting to manual processes for blood collection and distribution.
As the healthcare industry continues to face cybersecurity threats, organizations like NYBCe are working diligently to address and mitigate such risks. It is crucial for healthcare providers to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their systems and data from potential cyber threats.
