Key systems restored next week after Waikato attack

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

Waikato DHB has restored just over half of its servers and expects some key information systems, including its patient administration system (PAS), to be back online by the end of next week.

On May 18, the DHB was hit by a cybersecurity attack, which caused a full outage of its Information Services across the region.

Deputy director general data and digital Shayne Hunter has described the attack as "probably the most significant attack that we've had in New Zealand on any organisation". 

Waikato chief executive Kevin Snee says the DHB has made significant process towards restoring technical systems, has a fuller understanding of what happened and is taking steps to stop it happening again. 

“Alongside the work to resolve the attack itself we have also continued work in the background to start reinstating our key digital systems which will bring us much closer to routine operations,” he says. 

This will mean staff and patients can expect to see radiation therapy service up and running as well as the PAS, which identifies patients and tracks and shares records within the clinical environment. Diagnostic services across the DHB’s radiology and laboratory are also expected to be online at this stage by the end of next week. 

“Although there will still be some way to go, this would be a big step on from the past weeks,” says Snee. 

“Work to restore affected systems will continue over coming weeks, which will allow us to progressively stand our services back up.”

Waikato DHB has several hundred servers, many major network sites and many thousands of workstations and numerous mobile devices and specialist medical equipment. 

“Over the last four days we have been able to restore just over half of our servers to a point that we have confidence that they are not compromised and have integrity to be put back into service,” Snee says. 

“Alongside this we have implemented monitoring systems for our workstations that provide heightened security at a desktop level and have restored about 20 per cent of our workstation network into operation. 

“To provide assurance that the servers, networks and desktops are secure we’ve worked closely with international specialist services to systematically test and secure all items before they are reinstated.” 

However, Snee says it will be some time before the DHB’s IT systems are fully functioning again.

Hunter said at a press conference that other DHBs have been asked to be diligent about checking emails and watching for phishing attacks and to be prepared in case an attack is successful.

He said cyber criminals are motivated by money and it’s a “game of cat and mouse” trying to stay ahead of them.

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