A recent ransomware cyber-attack on a provider of lab services to the NHS led to so much disruption in several major hospitals that an urgent appeal for donations of O-type blood was issued.

What Happened? 

On Monday 3 June, Synnovis, a provider of lab services, was the victim of a ransomware cyber-attack. The attack on the provider then impacted several major hospitals in London, including King’s College Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’, the Royal Brompton, and the Evelina London Children’s Hospital, and primary care services in southeast London. The attack is thought to be the work of Qilin, a Russian group of cyber criminals.

The Effects

Several of the London hospitals affected declared it a critical incident. The effects of the ransomware attack included the cancellation of operations, diverting patients to other trusts, and disruption in key areas such as transplant surgeries and blood transfusions.

Urgent Appeal For Blood Donations 

The attack meant that the affected hospitals couldn’t match patients’ blood as quickly as usual. This, and the fact that blood only has a shelf life of 35 days (so stocks need to be continually replenished), and operations have been cancelled (creating a backlog) because of the cyber-attack led to an appeal. On 10 June, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) issued the appeal for O-positive and O-negative blood donors to urgently book appointments to donate in one of the 25 town and city centre NHS Blood Donor Centres in England, to boost stocks of O-type blood.

This is due to the fact that when hospitals do not know a patient’s blood type or cannot match their blood, it is safe to use O-type blood. O-negative blood type (8 per cent of the population have it) for example, can be given to anyone and is often known as the “universal blood type”, while O-positive, the most common blood type (35 per cent of donors have it) can be given to anybody with any positive blood type.

Following the disruption caused by the ransomware attack, more units of these types of blood than usual will be required over the coming weeks to support frontline staff to keep services running safely for local patients.

The Motivation? 

It’s been reported that seeking to extort money was not the primary motivation for this attack despite ransomware being used, rather the attack appears to have been carried out just to disable the system.

It’s also been reported that NHS London said shortly after the incident that it had launched a cyber response team. That said, just days before the cyber-attack, reports indicate that NHS England had spent £3m on two contracts (with KPMG and Deloitte) to provide “cyber incident response” services for the next two years.

Why Are Hospitals Targeted So Often By Cyber Criminals? 

Hospitals are often targeted by cyber criminals because they hold critical and sensitive data, often operate with outdated systems, and cannot afford prolonged downtimes, making them more likely to pay ransoms. Additionally, the widespread use of networked medical devices and historical underinvestment in cybersecurity measures make hospitals attractive targets for ransomware and other cyber-attacks.

Many may remember that the last major cyber-attack on UK hospitals was carried out by the notorious ransomware strain “WannaCry” in May 2020. The attack affected numerous NHS trusts across England, causing widespread disruption to services and leading to the cancellation of thousands of appointments and surgeries. That attack exploited a vulnerability in outdated Windows systems, highlighting significant cybersecurity weaknesses in the NHS’s infrastructure.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The ransomware attack on Synnovis and its widespread impact on major London hospitals illustrates the critical importance of cybersecurity for businesses and organisations across all sectors. For UK businesses, this is a stark reminder that cyber threats are an ever-present risk that can have far-reaching consequences. The attack on Synnovis was not an isolated event but is part of a broader trend of increasing cyber-criminal activity targeting critical infrastructure and services.

The disruption to healthcare services highlights the vulnerabilities that many organisations face, particularly those that handle sensitive data and rely on complex, interconnected IT systems. For businesses, this means that ensuring robust cybersecurity measures is not just a technical requirement but a fundamental aspect of operational resilience. Regularly updating software, conducting security audits, and training staff on cybersecurity best practices, for example, are essential steps to mitigate the risk of such attacks.

The financial and reputational damage caused by cyber-attacks can also be devastating. For businesses, a cyber-attack can result in significant downtime, loss of customer trust, and potential legal ramifications if sensitive data is compromised. Investing in cybersecurity is, therefore, not just a defensive measure but a proactive investment in the continuity and sustainability of your business.

The NHS’s swift response in this case, including the deployment of a cyber incident response team (and the recent investment in cybersecurity services), illustrates the importance of having a well-prepared response plan. Businesses should develop and regularly update their incident response plans to ensure they can quickly and effectively respond to any cyber threats. This includes having clear communication strategies in place to keep stakeholders informed during and after an incident.

Also, the urgent appeal for blood donations in the wake of the cyber-attack serves as a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness of our modern world. Disruptions in one sector can have cascading effects across others, emphasising the importance of collaboration and support within and between industries. For businesses, this means building strong partnerships and networks to enhance collective cybersecurity resilience.

The Synnovis cyber-attack which led to so many critical UK healthcare services being severely affected is yet another wake-up call for businesses and organisations of all kinds to prioritise cybersecurity. By taking proactive measures to protect their IT infrastructure, investing in robust security solutions, and preparing comprehensive response plans, businesses can better safeguard against the growing threat of cyber-attacks and ensure their long-term viability in an increasingly digital world.

Consumer association Which? has warned that scammers are posing as airline customer service representatives on social media to steal sensitive data.

Which? says that scammers are crawling social media (often using bots) to find customers contacting airlines, and then contacting them or infiltrating their existing conversations with an airline via fake ‘X’ (Twitter) accounts.

Which? reports that it has “found examples of bogus X accounts impersonating every major airline operating in the UK, including British Airways, EasyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, Tui, Virgin Atlantic and Wizz Air” and that some have even paid for a blue tick in order to appear genuine. Also, Which? claims that the scammers are often faster at responding than the real airlines!

Tactics scammers have been using to steal data for use in identity fraud or to sell to other criminals include sending victims legitimate looking DMs, directing victims to phishing websites (to harvest card details), and using claims of compensation entitlement to trick victims into downloading a payment (money transfer) app such as Remitly, Skrill and WorldRemit.

The advice is this : before engaging with a company on social media, to check the official website for links to its social media profiles, check when an account joined X, and to check how many followers it has to help reveal whether it is genuine.

With the world facing challenges like tackling overfishing while trying to support those in local communities who rely on fishing for a living, a South Africa-based company has developed apps to address both issues and more.

What Are The Issues? 

Today’s ocean and coastal communities are now threatened by rising temperatures, overfishing and biodiversity loss. Add to this a huge rise in global demand for fish supply and you get overfishing. In fact, with 30 per cent of fisheries are currently overexploited and 60 per cent are fully utilised, the scale and nature of some serious issues around fishing soon become painfully clear.

However, to fully understand the scope of the problem so that it can be effectively tackled, governments and marine scientists first need access to current, accurate, critical data about the origin of fish catches. To help tackle the overfishing problem and restore fish populations, they also require the support of local communities who depend on fishing for their livelihoods.

ABALOBI 

ABALOBI is a hybrid social enterprise, public non-profit technology initiative with ideas and technology to tackle these issues. ABALOBI’s technology is designed specifically to support sustainable fishing practices, empower small-scale fishers, and ensure traceability and transparency within the seafood supply chain. Its platform (designed around 3 apps) has been developed to benefit coastal communities by enhancing their livelihoods for social, economic, and ecological sustainability as well as preserving marine ecosystems (from the threat of overfishing). The apps also help ensure traceability and transparency within the seafood supply chain.

What Are The Three Apps & How Do They Help? 

The 3 apps that feed into the ABALOBI’s fishing sustainability platform are:

1. ABALOBI Fisher. This app is designed for small-scale fishers to log catches and manage their activities, such as recording catch data, tracking efforts, managing finances, and getting weather updates. This helps with resource management, operational efficiency, and safety. This app has been designed to enhance sustainability through accurate data logging, empower fishermen with better management tools, and to improves safety at sea.

2. ABALOBI Marketplace. Among its many features, this app essentially enables direct sales of seafood between fishermen and buyers. For example, fishermen can list catches for direct sale, manage orders, and access market prices. It also ensures full traceability from catch to consumer.

In terms of benefits, this marketplace app provides market access and fair pricing for fishermen, enhances transparency and trust in the supply chain, and can support fair compensation and improved livelihoods for fishers.

3. ABALOBI Monitor. This app provides a means for data collection by researchers and fisheries managers. For example, it collects data on fish stocks and socio-economic conditions, conducts surveys, and offers analytical tools for generating reports.

Being able to access this valuable and accurate data could help support sustainable resource management, inform research and policy decisions, and engage communities to address their needs and promote resilience.

Collectively therefore, these apps and the platform can empower small-scale fishermen, promote sustainable practices, and ensure supply chain transparency.

Well Received 

ABALOBI’s technology has been well received and the company was a finalist for last year’s Earthshot Prize, the global environmental award designed to incentivise solutions to the planet’s greatest environmental challenges.

At the time, Serge Raemaekers, Co-Founder and Managing Director of ABALOBI, said of his company’s technology: “Coastal communities are instrumental in the fight to preserve the health of our oceans. Our technology, developed in partnership with fishing communities, is both easy to use and can be adopted at scale, meaning responsible small-scale fishers across the globe can be appreciated as stewards of the ocean”. 

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation?

The development of technology like ABALOBI’s apps shows how innovative tech-based solutions can address significant global challenges and offer benefits across many industries. For UK businesses, this highlights the potential of apps to gather substantial amounts of accurate data and facilitate connections between diverse stakeholders, such as buyers and sellers or scientists and policymakers.

In ABALOBI’s case, its apparent success in developing technology to promote sustainable fishing practices and enhance the livelihoods of coastal communities illustrates how technology can drive sustainability and transparency, and improve lives. Similar approaches can be applied in different sectors, enabling businesses to optimise resource management, improve operational efficiency, and meet consumer demands for ethical practices.

Also, the ability of ABALOBI’s apps to provide real-time data and insights highlights the importance of accurate information in making informed decisions. Businesses can leverage such data to enhance their supply chains, ensure fair pricing, and build trust with customers and partners.

While technology can play a vital role in tackling tough challenges, it’s often not a standalone solution. Addressing complex issues like overfishing, for example, requires a multifaceted approach, including regulatory support, community engagement, and educational initiatives. For example, enforcing sustainable practices, raising awareness about environmental impacts, and supporting local communities are essential complementary measures.

ABALOBI appears to have developed a technology-based solution to help tackle a very real and pressing global food sustainability issue. For businesses generally, however, it provides an example of how the targeted incorporation of technology into a business strategy can help find workable solutions to problems, improve transparency, and foster resilience. Although ABALOBI is a non-profit initiative, it still serves as an example to other businesses and organisations of how technology can contribute to global sustainability efforts while enhancing their own operations and reputation.

This video-update explains how to change your Facebook (Meta) name and user name, which is less obvious than it sounds …

Pinning frequently used websites to your taskbar using Microsoft Edge allows you to access them quickly, just like any other app, enhancing your workflow efficiency. Here’s how to do it:

– Launch Microsoft Edge from the Start menu or taskbar.

– Navigate to the Website you want to pin to the taskbar.

– Click on the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of Edge.

– Select ‘More tools’, then click ‘Pin to taskbar’.

– The website will now appear as an icon on your taskbar for quick access.

Following a recent AWS survey showing that data-driven SMBs who also adopt AI more quickly and make better use of it are financially outperforming their peers, we look at ways your business could do the same.

The Key Findings Of The Report 

A recent study by S&P Market Intelligence, commissioned by Amazon Web Services (AWS), found that SMBs who prioritise data (i.e. those who are strategiaclly data driven) gain a competitive edge because decisions made are based on evidence. Whilst perhaps not a surprising general conclusion, the survey’s stats show how much of a difference being data-driven can make. For example, the survey found that “65 percent of highly data-driven SMBs financially outperform their competitors”, i.e. almost twice as much as less data-driven SMBs (33 percent).

The report also highlighted other key benefits enjoyed by SMBs that adopt a data-driven strategic approach. These include:

– Helping SMBs remain profitable and cost-efficient in the face of uncertainty, market turbulence, and evolving customer expectations.

– Being twice as likely to experience positive impacts from data across key business outcomes than less data-driven competitors, e.g. customer satisfaction (69 percent compared to 37 percent), revenue (65 percent compared to 34 percent), and cost-reduction (55 percent compared to 25 percent).

– Forecasting far more positive impact across the same key business outcomes than their less data-driven competitors, e.g. 65 percent of highly data-driven SMBs anticipate data positively impacting marketing in the next two years, compared to just 33 percent of less data-driven SMBs.

Mature Data Strategy Important 

The report also revealed that 60 per cent of organisations with a mature and comprehensive data strategy financially outperform their competitors and that SMBs with a high-level of data maturity can harness their data more effectively, thereby empowering both data managers and data consumers.

It also showed that a mature data strategy in a business fosters a data-driven culture and cross-team collaboration, enhances data governance and compliance, and reduces risk. SMBs with extensive historical data also appear to gain more accurate forecasting and customer segmentation.

Being Data-Driven Leads To Faster Adoption Of AI 

One other interesting key point revealed by the report is that “highly data-driven SMBs adopt AI at twice the rate of less data-driven competitors”. The report also appears to show that SMBs with a high level of data maturity that have invested in AI adoption can yield approximately 30 percent more value from the technology.

How Can Your Business Do The Same? 

If you’re an SMB, you may be wondering how you can leverage data to deliver some of the many positive benefits outlined in the AWS report. With this in mind, here are a dozen ideas that you could use to deliver similar positive benefits and outcomes and become more data-driven:

1. Invest in data management tools. Implement robust data management and analytics platforms to streamline data collection, storage, and analysis. For example, tools like Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics, AWS Redshift, or Google BigQuery may help to manage your data efficiently.

2. Develop a comprehensive data strategy. Create a clear data strategy that aligns with business goals. This should include data governance policies, data quality management, and a plan for leveraging data insights to drive decision-making.

3. Utilise cloud-based solutions. Think about how you can leverage cloud infrastructure to store and process data. This is because cloud solutions offer scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency, making it much easier to manage large datasets and perform complex analyses.

4. Implement data lakes. Establish ‘data lakes’, i.e. centralised repositories where raw data is stored in its original format until it is needed for processing and analysis. This can be done by selecting a cloud service provider like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud that offers data lake solutions. This approach can allow for more flexible data processing and analysis, enabling you as an SMB to extract valuable insights from diverse data sources.

5. Adopt AI and machine learning. You may already be using AI to a limited extent, but using AI and machine learning to analyse data and generate actionable insights can, as highlighted in the AWS study, help with customer segmentation, predictive analytics, and automating routine tasks, enhancing efficiency and decision-making. This kind of process could be set up, for example, by selecting a platform such as Google Cloud AI, or Microsoft Azure AI and gathering and preparing data from various sources like sales, customer interactions, and operational processes. With this data, you can build machine learning models (e.g., using TensorFlow and scikit-learn) to address specific needs such as customer segmentation, predictive analytics, and automating routine tasks. Once the models are developed, they can be integrated into business processes to automate tasks and generate actionable insights. Continuously monitor the performance of these models and refine them as needed to ensure they deliver optimal results.

6. Enhance data literacy. Consider investing in training and development to improve data literacy among employees. Ensuring that staff understand how to interpret and use data effectively can foster a data-driven culture.

7. Promote cross-team collaboration. Encourage collaboration across departments to share data insights and drive innovation. For example, tools like collaborative dashboards and data-sharing platforms can facilitate this process.

8. Leverage your historical data. It makes sense to use the historical data you already have to improve forecasting and customer segmentation. Analysing past trends can, for example, can help you to make more informed decisions and tailor offerings to meet customer needs.

9. Automate data collection and analysis. Automating the process of data collection and analysis using tools like ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) systems can reduce manual effort and improve the timeliness and accuracy of data insights. Automation of this kind can be particularly important for SMBs which typically have limited resources.

10. Strengthen data governance. Implementing strong data governance frameworks to ensure data accuracy, security, and compliance can help reduce the risks associated with data breaches and regulatory violations. Data breaches, for example, can be particularly devastating for SMBs, affecting their financial stability, customer trust, and long-term viability, so it makes sense to look seriously at this data governance issue as part of being more data-driven.

11. Utilise generative AI for content creation. Use generative AI tools to create marketing content, such as articles, social media posts, and advertisements. Analysing data on customer preferences, trends, and engagement metrics can mean that generative AI can be used to create content that resonates with customers and enhances marketing effectiveness. Generative AI can, therefore, be a way to save time and ensure a steady flow of high-quality content that is highly relevant (and could be more effective). That said, if you’re still cautious about how you adopt AI, particularly where your data is concerned, you’re not alone. For example, as the AWS study showed, most SMBs are cautious about adopting AI and are still exploring how to leverage it effectively.

Nearly half of the respondents surveyed identified security as the greatest challenge, while other major concerns include a lack of skilled personnel (43 per cent) and a general skills shortage (42 per cent). To meet this challenge, you may want to invest in upskilling your workforce, ensuring you have robust security measures, and perhaps seeking external expertise to effectively leverage AI.

12. Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs). Regularly track and analyse KPIs related to data-driven initiatives. This can help you to measure the impact of your data strategy and make necessary adjustments to achieve better outcomes.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The insights from the AWS study underscore the critical importance of becoming data-driven to gain a competitive edge. For your business, this means that prioritising data and developing a mature data strategy can significantly enhance your operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall financial performance. By leveraging data effectively, you can make more informed decisions, anticipate market trends, and respond swiftly to customer needs, thereby positioning your business ahead of less data-savvy competitors.

Implementing a robust data management framework and investing in the right tools and technologies, (such as data lakes and AI) can streamline your data processes and unlock valuable insights. Enhancing data literacy across your organisation and fostering a culture of collaboration can further empower your teams to utilise data more effectively. While concerns around security and skills shortages are valid, addressing these challenges through upskilling, robust security measures, and external expertise can mitigate risks and facilitate smoother AI adoption.

Ultimately, building a data-driven organisation is not just about adopting new technologies but about embedding data-centric practices into your business operations. By doing so, your business can harness the full potential of data, drive innovation, and achieve sustained growth in an increasingly competitive market. Now is the time to start laying the groundwork for a data-driven future that ensures your business remains resilient, agile, and ahead of the curve.