The Department of Health and Human Services has worked to strengthen its communications with the private sector following the WannaCry ransomware attacks, MeriTalk reported Friday.Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee raised concerns with HHS officials that a similar event could impact U.S. health systems since the U.K.’s national health service was affected during the WannaCry attacks, the report stated.
Leo Scanlon, HHS deputy chief information security officer, said WannaCry gave HHS’ Health Services Advisory Committee the opportunity to create “one-pagers” used to answer small organizations’ questions.
HHS also established the Health Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center — based on the Department of Homeland Security‘s National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center — to support communications efforts.
Scanlon noted HCCIC is designed to provide a communication channel from the private sector, “especially the small or medium-size organizations that don’t necessarily know about NCCIC,” MeriTalk reported.
