A 2020 ransomware attack at the Burlington-based University of Vermont Health Network compromised 1,300 servers and cost the health system $65 million, local news outlet WCAX reported Oct. 12.
The attack, which was caused by an employee clicking on a link at home and plugging their computer back into the work network, forced the health system to shut down its EHR for nearly a month.
Following the attack, the health system has added more layers of authentication and secured the EHR portal.
UVM Medical Center President and COO Stephen Leffler, MD, recounted the attack during his testimony to lawmakers at Capitol Hill and called on lawmakers to support federal grants that could allow hospitals to purchase stronger security software.