Stryker, America’s largest medical device manufacturer, has said that it has successfully contained a cyberattack that crippled its internal systems for nearly a week, and that the company is now focused on getting its ordering, shipping and customer-facing operations back on track, as per a report by news agency Reuters. The cyber attack disrupted the company’s global operations across 61 countries but it says no medical products or patient services were compromised.
Stryker hacking: What exactly happened
The cyber attack struck on March 11, hitting Stryker’s internal Microsoft Windows environment, impacting the company’s global operations. Employees found that cellphones, laptops and other remote devices connected to the company’s platforms had been compromised. This resulted in disruption of services including order processing, manufacturing and shipments.
An Iran-linked hacking group called Handala claimed responsibility for the attack the same day, stating that it carried out the cyber operation in retaliation for a strike on a girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran.
Stryker hacking: The damage
In the previous update, posted to its official website on March 15, Stryker drew a clear line between what was affected and what wasn’t. It highlighted that no patients were put at risk.
“All Stryker products across our global portfolio — including connected, digital, and life-saving technologies — remain safe to use,” the company stated, adding that the attack was entirely contained to its internal Microsoft environment.
The business operations took a serious hit as services remained disrupted for full five days. The company said it was “prioritising restoration of systems that directly support customers, ordering and shipping.” Stryker also said it is working closely with its global manufacturing sites to manage operations.
“We are working closely with our global manufacturing sites to manage operations and mitigate potential impacts, supported by our robust resiliency and business continuity plans. While electronic ordering systems are currently unavailable, we are actively bringing those systems back online. In the meantime, your Stryker Sales Representatives will be working with you and your distributors directly in an effort to bring you replenishment product through manual ordering where that option exists. Orders placed prior to the disruption will be reconciled as systems are restored, and electronic orders placed during the disruption will process once systems are back online, and supply is flowing normally,” the company had said.
