Page 55 - Cyber Defense eMagazine August 2023
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Lessons Learned: Cyberattack Shutters Five
Illinois Healthcare Facilities
Growing Cyber Attacks Pose Existential Threats to Business – Can More Connected and Efficient
Security Help Organizations Gain the Upper Hand?
By Emily L. Phelps, Director & Cybersecurity Advocate, Cyware
St. Margaret’s Health of Illinois was forced to shut down two hospitals and three clinics, almost two years
after struggling to recover from a prolonged ransomware attack in 2021. Even veteran cybersecurity
experts accustomed to troubling breach and impact news took note.
The attack had persistent impacts; it kept their network down for three months and prevented them from
billing insurers, Medicaid, or Medicare for months afterward.
"We could not access any of our information system, including email and the EMR," said Linda Burt, vice
president of quality and community service at St. Margaret’s Health. "We had to resort to paper for
medical records. It took many months, and in some service lines, almost a year to get back online and
Cyber Defense eMagazine – August 2023 Edition 55
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