National healthcare IT provider Synapxe has announced plans to enhance its cybersecurity defenses in response to a recent cyber attack that disrupted the web services of public hospitals and polyclinics in Singapore. The IT provider aims to strengthen its system design to make it more resilient against future distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks.
In the wake of a seven-hour disruption on November 1, caused by a DDoS attack, Synapxe has undertaken joint investigations with the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore to identify the source of the attack. DDoS attacks involve flooding servers with Internet traffic to obstruct users from accessing online services.
Synapxe is implementing a range of measures to improve its operating processes, including enhanced monitoring and tighter coordination between threat identification and defensive countermeasures. These changes will enable the company to respond more effectively to future attacks, safeguarding the reliability and accessibility of public healthcare systems.
The implementation of a layered defense system had previously been in place, encompassing system backups, traffic-blocking services, and firewalls to detect and respond to cyber threats, including DDoS attacks. However, during the November 1 attack, an abnormal surge in network traffic overwhelmed Synapxe’s firewall, bypassing the blocking service.
It is important to note that no evidence suggests any compromise of public healthcare data or internal networks. Synapxe remains committed to ensuring the protection of critical systems for clinical services and operations. Patient care was not compromised during the attack, as those services remained accessible and unaffected.
Synapxe is proactively addressing the cybersecurity incident and does not anticipate any further disruptions to public healthcare services. The company continues to work closely with relevant agencies, including the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, to fortify its defense mechanisms and strengthen its capacity to mitigate future cyber threats.
FAQ
What is a DDoS attack?
A distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack occurs when attackers flood servers with Internet traffic, making it difficult or impossible for legitimate users to access online services.
How does Synapxe plan to improve its cybersecurity defenses?
Synapxe aims to strengthen its system design to make it more resilient against new forms of DDoS attacks. They will also enhance monitoring and coordination between threat identification and defensive measures.
What measures did Synapxe have in place before the attack?
Synapxe employed a layered defense system, including system backups, traffic-blocking services, and firewalls to detect and respond to cyber threats, including DDoS attacks.
Was public healthcare data compromised during the attack?
No evidence suggests that public healthcare data or internal networks were compromised during the attack.
Will Synapxe’s improvements prevent future disruptions to public healthcare services?
Synapxe is actively addressing the incident and working closely with relevant agencies to strengthen its defense mechanisms and mitigate future cyber threats, minimizing the risk of disruptions to public healthcare services.