Cyber threat sharing network for health launched and more briefs

Health cyber threat sharing network pilot contract awarded

A contract to launch a Health Cyber Sharing Network in Australia has been awarded to a non-profit cyber threat intelligence sharing service. 

In a statement, CI-ISAC Australia said it will use the federal government’s A$6.4 million ($4.2 million) funding to enable the exchange of valuable cyber security threat information “more quickly, within a secure and confidential environment.”

Already providing a platform for receiving and sharing cyber threat intelligence for over 100 members, including Google Cloud and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, CI-ISAC said it will add health sector education on mitigating threats, cyber and insider threat training, attack surface monitoring, and improving cyber incident response plans. 

The non-profit is now seeking health and medical organisations and their suppliers to join the network; it will also provide complimentary 12-month memberships.  

NSW Health names new CIO

Richard Taggart, former CIO of Sydney Local Health District, has been appointed as the new CIO of NSW Health and the permanent chief executive at eHealth NSW.

He was previously the national director of digital health at Calvary Health Care. 

For four years since 2019, he also led the Digital Health and Innovation team at Sydney LHD, overseeing major projects such as the NSW Health Vaccination Centre systems and the RPA Virtual Hospital at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. 

“Over the next few months, my focus will be on meeting the incredible people at eHealth NSW and across the system and getting to know the business in more detail to be better able to set its future direction,” Taggart said, commenting on his appointment.

‘Software malfunction’ put Auckland hospitals to a halt

Public hospitals in Auckland, New Zealand recently experienced a short IT systems outage.

On 25 January, a glitch on some applications used at Auckland City, Waitākere, North Shore and Middlemore Hospitals caused them to shut operations almost four hours early in the morning. 

The shutdown, according to Te Whatu Ora Northern Region deputy chief executive Mark Shepherd, was due to a software malfunction; there was no evidence of any cyber security concerns, he added.

The systems went back and running immediately within the day.