A significant cyberattack on DXS International, a technology provider for NHS England, has raised alarms as the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) begins assessing the incident. DevMan, a new ransomware group, has made their first move by launching an attack. In retaliation, DXS has issued warnings to law enforcement and regulatory officials about its members.
DXS International announced a cybersecurity event that affected its office servers. In its blog announcement, the company admitted there was little impact on its optimal service. The institution focused on reiterating that its front-line clinical services were not interrupted and actually continued to operate.
Katie Baldwin, a communications director for DXS, said in a statement, “We have no reason to believe that any patient services have been affected. This joint statement seeks to provide all stakeholders with the comfort that, even in the face of this violation, essential healthcare services will continue uninterrupted.
Just as the ICO carries out its investigation, so too has it taken multiple questions on this breach before declining to answer them. Rashana Sweidan Vigerstaff is a Communications Associate for the ICO. She is now working to assess the accuracy of information DXS has been giving her regarding the cyberattack.
DXS International acknowledged the cyberattack in a statement with the London Stock Exchange. They went on to emphasize that it still has a very narrow impact on their operations. Yet details have remained unanswered by DXS chief operating officer Steven Bauer. He wouldn’t answer a string of questions from reporters.
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai Senior Writer TechCrunch His work focuses on hacking, cybersecurity, surveillance, and privacy, and he’s been tracking these developments since the announcement surfaced. For encrypted communication, he can be reached on signal at +1 917 257 1382. He’s on Telegram and Keybase as @lorenzofb. In addition, his email address is lorenzo@techcrunch.com for further follow-up that needs proving.
As this unprecedented cyberattack continues to be investigated, stakeholders on all sides are concerned about the implications for data security and patient safety. The ICO’s response and findings will be instrumental in determining the next steps. They’ll provide oversight to ensure protocols are developed to avoid such calamities in the rapidly evolving healthcare technology environment.