| IT shutdown | In 2021, a devastating attack severely impacted a healthcare provider in California. In addition to stealing patient data, attackers unleashed ransomware that forced the organization to take down its IT systems, including backup servers. |
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| Operational impact | Staff resorted to pen-and-paper processes. Even basic digital operations such as telemetry — that is, the electronic monitoring of patients’ vital signs — were interrupted. It took weeks to restore all digital systems. |
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| Patient impact | Not only did the provider have to suspend some services, other hospitals in the region saw median waiting times increase by 47.6% due to the influx of diverted patients. |
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| Cost | Reported losses totaled almost $120 million. |
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