NSW Health Minister Ryan Park has confirmed no patient information has been impacted by a major cyber breach at the state’s health authority.
Cyber Security NSW on Wednesday announced investigations are under way into the hacking of NSW Health last week.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park, left. AAP
“Cyber Security NSW is responding to a cyber breach impacting an isolated server within NSW Health,” the authority said.
“The breach has been declared a major incident and is being investigated by the NSW Police Cyber Crime Squad.
“No patient data has been impacted at this time nor is any patient data currently at risk from this limited cyber breach.
“As this is a criminal investigation, no further comment is available.”
NSW Police said its State Crime Command’s Cybercrime Squad were alerted to an alleged data breach at NSW Health about 1pm last Friday.
“Detectives have commenced an investigation under Strike Force Civic and are working closely with NSW Health and Cyber Security NSW,” a police statement said.
“Investigations are ongoing.”
Park confirmed on Wednesday no patient data had been compromised.
“What I can tell people is that at this stage, no patient details or information has been compromised, and there’s no clinical risk or clinical service that has been compromised in terms of any future risks.”
Park said NSW Health had “very robust cybersecurity systems in place”, but cyberattacks were a major challenge facing governments at all levels.
“We will make sure that we keep the community and individuals updated as best we can, but we have to do that knowing that we are going through a police investigation,” he said.
“So that can be challenging.
“The reality is for all government agencies and individuals – this is going to be a part of the challenges we face in terms of criminal activity going forward, and we will need to constantly look at what we’re doing in this space.”