Hospitals faced with rising cyber attacks: the example of Basel and French-speaking Swiss hospitals

As the pandemic drags on, healthcare establishments are increasingly being targeted by cybercriminals. Against this backdrop, Basel Hospital has launched a call for tenders for the creation of a hybrid Security Operations Center (SOC) to protect its IT systems.

Rising IT threats

Basel Hospital has noted an increase in cyber-attacks in recent months, without specifically mentioning the impact of the health crisis. However, the increase in threats appears to be linked to the pandemic, with attacks targeting, in particular, pharmaceutical companies developing anti-Covid vaccines. Hackers are not only targeting companies, but also hospitals, as demonstrated by the ransomware attack on the Düsseldorf hospital in September, which had dramatic consequences.

Increased vigilance on the part of Swiss hospitals

In French-speaking Switzerland, hospitals are also on the alert. Franck Calcavecchia, head of IT security at Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), assures us that threat indicators are stable. However, surveillance has been stepped up in response to the pandemic context. The HUG has an outsourced SOC, as the creation of an in-house SOC would be too costly and require advanced technical skills.

For its part, CHUV has also set up an SOC in collaboration with an external company, and is closely monitoring attempted cyber attacks. Although the Covid crisis did not lead to a sudden increase in attacks, the level of vigilance was increased and protective measures were put in place, following the recommendations of the National Center for Cybersecurity (NCSC).

Conclusion

Cybersecurity in hospitals has become a priority in the face of increasing threats. Healthcare establishments such as those in Basel, Geneva and Lausanne are being vigilant and adapting their security strategies to protect themselves against increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks.

Source : ICTjournal