UNM Health Systems Recover After Cyberattack Disrupted Care and Operations

Overview of the UNM Health Cyberattack

The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center recently disclosed a cyberattack that caused notable system outages, impacting patient care and academic operations across the institution.

• Initial Impact: UNM Health temporarily limited new patient admissions, diverted ambulances, and suspended specific outpatient appointments and surgeries.
• Operations Status: UNM Hospital and Sandoval Regional Medical Center remained open during the incident, and scheduled services gradually resumed.
• Academic Impact: Classes at the four health sciences schools were temporarily canceled, and nonessential staff were instructed to stay home.

Threat Actor Claims and Official Response

While UNM Health initially did not disclose the specific nature of the attack, external security reports noted that a newly emerged ransomware group named Byod claimed responsibility for the incident.

• Extortion Claims: The threat group asserted that it compromised numerous campus and hospital systems, allegedly accessing personal data such as HR, payroll, and student records.
• Official Assessment: According to updates from UNM Health Sciences, internal IT security teams worked alongside external partners to secure the network.
• Core Systems: Subsequent assessments indicated that while some end-user devices were affected, the incident did not penetrate core systems or servers.

Practical Implications and Verification

Organizations and individuals affected by or monitoring such incidents are advised to follow standard verification and security protocols.

• Safety Guidelines: For emergencies, officials advised calling 911.
• Vigilance: Patients, staff, and students are encouraged to remain alert for unsolicited communications and potential phishing attempts following system disruptions.
• Verification: To confirm official updates, stakeholders should monitor verified announcements directly through the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center's official communication channels.