Bitdefender, a specialist in threat prevention, detection, and incident response, has announced that its managed detection and response (MDR) service will be provided free to NHS organisations in South London affected by a suspected Qilin ransomware attack on Synnovis, a partner providing pathology lab services.
The cyber attack, which was revealed earlier this week, led to Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College NHS Foundation Trust having to cancel clinical procedures and redirect patients due to Synnovis’ inability to offer diagnostics and testing services, notably impacting blood transfusions. The attack has also affected other NHS services, including GP surgeries that rely on Synnovis.
Bitdefender co-founder and CEO, Florin Talpes, expressed concern over the disruption caused by the attacks on London hospitals, emphasizing the importance of cyber security in ensuring patient care is not compromised. Bitdefender’s offer includes six months of complimentary access to 24/7 threat monitoring with Bitdefender MDR, as well as access to GravityZone, their unified security platform with enhanced detection and response options.
Based in Bucharest, Romania, Bitdefender previously assisted Romanian hospitals after a ransomware incident in February 2024. The aim of providing free security services to NHS bodies impacted by the Synnovis attack is to reduce the risk of further cyber threats and improve overall defenses.
NHS England London’s medical director, Chris Streather, assured that pathology services are still available, albeit at a reduced capacity, with urgent cases being prioritized. Urgent and emergency services, as well as maternity departments, are operating as usual.
Patients with upcoming appointments at affected facilities are advised to attend unless notified otherwise. NHS England is actively investigating the extent of the attack and its impact on patient data, in compliance with ICO regulations. A cyber incident response team is in place to support Synnovis and provide necessary guidance during this challenging time.