NHS vendor Advanced to pay £3M fine

NHS vendor Advanced to pay £3M fine

The U.K. data protection regulator has confirmed that NHS vendor Advanced will pay just over £3 million in fines. The penalty comes after the company failed to implement essential security measures ahead of a devastating ransomware attack in 2022.

Security Lapses and Regulatory Action

Initially, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) had indicated it would impose a fine in excess of £6 million back in August 2024 due to Advanced’s inadequate security protocols. The regulator explained that the company breached data protection laws by not fully rolling out multi-factor authentication, a measure that could have prevented unauthorized access using stolen credentials.

The breach allowed hackers to access personal details of tens of thousands of people across the United Kingdom. For more details, you can read the ICO’s official statement on the matter here.

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Impact on NHS Systems

The LockBit ransomware attack on Advanced resulted in widespread service outages across the NHS. Advanced is responsible for maintaining patient data systems for the health service, meaning the security lapse had significant repercussions on data availability and patient care operations.

Settlement and Ongoing Concerns

In a recent statement, Advanced confirmed that the issue has been settled. Although the company did not disclose further details or name a spokesperson, the incident serves as a critical reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures, especially in sectors that manage sensitive data.

This case highlights how crucial it is for organizations to enforce strict data protection practices and shows the potential financial and operational impacts of security oversights.

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