The Impact of the NHS Cyber Attack The NHS cyber attack has caused significant disruptions, particularly in London, affecting major hospitals and leading to operations being cancelled and emergency patients being diverted. The attack targeted pathology partner Synnovis, impacting services like blood transfusions and test results. The NHS has made an urgent appeal for O blood-type donors following the ransomware attack. The attack is believed to have occurred on Monday, with some departments unable to connect to a main server. The NHS is working with the National Cyber Security Centre to understand the full impact.  Sources: 123

The Importance of Cybersecurity The attack underscores the importance of cybersecurity for businesses. Cybercriminals collected approximately $209 million in the first three months of 2016, with daily ransomware attacks rising by 300% since 2015. The total estimated cost of cyber attacks to businesses in 2023 was $8 trillion. The best defense against such attacks is prevention, which includes up-to-date offsite backups and anti-virus & anti-malware programs.

Preventing Cyber Attacks in Your Business To prevent cyber attacks, businesses should educate staff about cybersecurity; with security awareness training, encrypt and backup data, conduct regular audits, be mindful of insider data breaches, restrict admin rights, install a firewall, keep software updated, and ensure a best practice password policy.

Cybersecurity Strategies for Businesses Small and midsize businesses must research and prepare for attacks just as large enterprises do. They often have fewer resources and less talent available to help fortify against attacks, making them potentially more vulnerable. This is where we at Create IT come in, we can provide enterprise grade cyber security for small businesses prices.

Conclusion The NHS cyber attack serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of inadequate cybersecurity. It’s crucial for businesses to implement comprehensive cybersecurity strategies to protect against such threats and ensure the continuity of their operations.

For a detailed cybersecurity strategy tailored to your business, it would be beneficial to consult with IT security experts who can provide a customized plan based on your specific needs and vulnerabilities. Get in touch today to find out how we can beef up your cyber security defences.