Waikato cyber attack prompts warnings for other organisations to take stock of digital safety
Hospitals and clinics in Waikato were forced back to pen and paper after a ransomware attack crashed Waikato District Health Board IT systems including computers and phones, affecting Waikato, Thames, Tokoroa, Te Kuiti and Taumarunui hospitals.
”The cyber attack at Waikato DHB reinforces the need for organisations and I mean all organisations to review and continue to review cyber security protections,” says Shayne Hunter, Deputy Director-General of Data and Digital at the Ministry of Health.
“We are, especially in New Zealand, very good at technology and we do have very good defences but it might be in the wrong place,” says Joerg Buss of cyber security firm, Darkscope.
1 NEWS approached government ministries holding private data and were told they couldn't discuss whether their defences had been successfully breached in the past year but some, including the Ministry of Social Development said following the Waikato DHB attack they're reinforcing cyber security policies and increasing staff awareness.
Nelson City Council also confirmed it has dealt with a cyber security incident, although it says no council data was compromised.
