The Second Time is Two Too Many
We read this morning that California's Wood Ranch Medical is closing it's doors following a crypto-ransom attack. The practice was unable to restore from its backup files and has lost all of their patients' information. The doctor has refused to pay the criminal's ransom.
This is the second time in 2019 that we're hearing about a doctor's office closing their doors following a ransomware attack and we truly feel for the patients affected. Imagine if your complete medical record was gone. We don't know how compliant or secure this Covered Entity's program was. We do know that somehow their systems were encrypted and their backups either also affected or ineffective. More important, we wonder what it will take for all Covered Entities and Business Associates to start protecting their electronic records like they protect their banking information.
Do no harm and stay (HIPAA) safe!
