The fine relates to a ransomware incident in August 2022.
Hackers accessed certain systems of Advanced’s health and care subsidiary via a customer account that did not have multi-factor authentication (MFA).
The cyber attack was widely reported at the time, with reports of disruption to critical services such as NHS 111, and other healthcare staff unable to access patient records.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) issued several pointed recommendations following its investigation into the August 2022 ransomware attack on Advanced’s health and care subsidiary.
These were aimed at reinforcing cybersecurity standards for organisations handling sensitive personal data, especially in healthcare:
🔐 Key Recommendations from the ICO:
Full implementation of multi-factor authentication (MFA): While Advanced had MFA on many systems, the lack of complete coverage allowed attackers in.
The ICO emphasized that MFA must be deployed comprehensively across all access points.
Comprehensive vulnerability scanning: The ICO found gaps in how Advanced monitored its systems for weaknesses. Regular and thorough scanning is essential to identify and patch vulnerabilities before they’re exploited.
Robust patch management: Inadequate patching left systems exposed. The ICO stressed the need for timely updates and fixes to known security flaws.
Stronger technical and organisational measures: The regulator concluded that Advanced’s security posture fell short of legal expectations for protecting sensitive health data.
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Thanks for your time. This is Mark from IT Life-Raft. As always, stay safe online.
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