Henry Schein Cybersecurity Incident Disrupts Business Operations; Emblematic of Increased Risks Around Data Security
On Saturday, October 14, 2023, Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), a leading provider of healthcare products and services, encountered a cybersecurity incident that temporarily disrupted some of its manufacturing and distribution businesses. The company acted swiftly in response to the situation, taking precautionary measures, including temporarily taking certain systems offline, and is working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. The company is also engaging with external cybersecurity and forensic information technology experts and has notified relevant law enforcement authorities about the incident.
Cybersecurity incidents have become increasingly prevalent in today’s digital age, posing a threat to organizations across various industries. These incidents can disrupt business operations and compromise data security. Healthcare institutions are facing a growing threat as hackers increasingly target their patient data. Cyberattacks at healthcare institutions were up 74% from 2021 to 2022. The concern recently led the FDA to issue its final guidance on cybersecurity requirements for premarket approval of medical devices. Additionally, genetic testing provider 23andMe announced last week that it was the target of a cybersecurity attack with patient data becoming compromised.