OneBlood, a leading not-for-profit blood center, has been hit by a ransomware attack, affecting its services across much of the southeastern U.S. including Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas. The cyber incursion has led to a significant disruption requiring more than 250 hospitals to activate their critical blood shortage protocols. As reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, OneBlood officials have stated that despite the attack, the center remains operational but is forced to use manual processes, elongating the time required to conduct its vital work.
"We have implemented manual processes and procedures to remain operational. Manual processes take significantly longer to perform and impacts inventory availability," Susan Forbes, OneBlood’s senior vice president of corporate communications and public relations, told FOX 5 Atlanta. The attack has left OneBlood at a "significantly reduced capacity," and there is an urgent need particularly for O-positive and O-negative blood types, although donors of all blood types are encouraged to come forward.
The cybersecurity breach at OneBlood is part of a wider trend, as health systems face an increased threat from such attacks. Last year's figures indicate that the average cost for a ransomware attack was a staggering $1.5 million. This was a considerable jump from the $5,000 average in 2018. According to a 10News report, as hospitals continue to integrate online tools more deeply into their operations, the threat of cyberattacks is only expected to escalate.
In response to the disruption, OneBlood is collaborating with cybersecurity experts and various government agencies to assess the scope of the intrusion and to restore full functionality to its IT systems. "OneBlood takes the security of our network extremely seriously," Forbes said in a statement obtained by 10News. Reiterating the urgency of the situation, she added, "If you are eligible to donate, we urge you to please make an appointment to donate as soon as possible."
While the community rallies in support, also blood centers from across the U.S. are sending additional supplies to aid OneBlood during this critical time. The current situation underscores the fragility of our vital healthcare infrastructures and the importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding against such detrimental attacks.
