Highlights
- Overall the NHS suffered around 209 ransomware attacks since 2014
- The report was formulated after a survey carried out with 245 NHS Trusts
A recent investigation asserts that the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has displayed remarkable improvement in cybersecurity post the devastating WannaCry ransomware attack. As per the latest statistics, the NHS has suffered only 6 cyberattacks since 2017.
Overall, the NHS has endured 209 successful ransomware attacks since 2014, but since 2017 there has been a spectacular improvement. This particular statistic has been announced after surveying 245 NHS Trusts, with 184 returning information and 50 declining to hand over the information requested.
Additional and important findings
This particular report formulated by Comparitech highlights the following information on other cybersecurity states of the NHS. And the information states,
- No ransomware was paid off by any staff member
- The approximate downtime calculated was 206 days
How did the NHS strive to improve its cybersecurity?
Post the ugly and destructive WannaCry review, it was revealed that not even a single NHS from the 80 had applied the Microsoft update patch that was recommended by NHS digital’s CareCERT bulletin. However, this did leave a large number of Windows 7 devices vulnerable and infected.
Subsequent to the attack, the UK government gave guidelines and shared 22 essential recommendations to heighten cybersecurity for the NHS Trusts. And the list of recommendations included mandatory cyber awareness training for members of the staff and raised investments into security.
Post the attack, Windows 7 as well has largely gone out of support.