Privacy & Security

TORONTO – The Humber River Hospital – one of Canada’s most computerized hospitals – announced that it suffered a malware attack on Monday morning that led the organization to shut down all its information technology systems and to declare a Code Grey, meaning the loss of essential services. Read More

WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority announced that in March 2021, a bag belonging to a Home Care employee of the WRHA was stolen from her vehicle. The bag contained information pertaining to the employee's daily schedule of activities, including personal health information for her clients. Read More

TORONTO – CDW Canada, a leading provider of technology solutions and services for Canadian organizations, has released its 2021 cybersecurity study, Innovation in Cybersecurity: Approach, Tools and Technologies. It reveals that regular penetration testing, multi-layer framework-based approaches to cloud consumption and third-party risk management all play a critical role in mitigating cybersecurity incidents for Canadian businesses. Read More

RED DEER, Alta. – An internal investigation by Alberta Health Services (AHS) revealed 3,224 patients had their electronic health records accessed improperly over a two-year period at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (RDRHC) by two clerical employees in the Diagnostic Imaging (DI) department. Read More

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. – Four Ontario hospitals are launching a digital identity service to give patients a convenient and secure method to access health information and services online. This initiative is being led by Niagara Health, building on the hospital’s foundational Navigator mobile app technology. Read More

OTTAWA – A new e-learning program will teach healthcare teams about the extreme and escalating risk of cyber-attacks in the healthcare industry – and how to avoid them. Saegis, a subsidiary of the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA), recently rolled out its comprehensive Saegis Shield program, an accredited cybersecurity and privacy awareness e-learning program that addresses the unique needs within Canadian healthcare. Read More

REGINA – The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Saskatchewan released a report on a cyberattack that hit eHealth Saskatchewan in December 2019, calling the breach one of the most serious ever to affect the province. Read More

MONTREAL – Following October’s cyber-intrusion into the digital information systems of CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, the first steps have been taken by the Information Resources and Digital Health teams to re-establish service, as required. The announcement was made by the Jewish General Hospital, part of the CIUSSS West-Central Montreal, on its website. Read More

VANCOUVER – WELL Health Technologies Corp., a company focused on modernizing healthcare clinics, has agreed to acquire Source 44 Consulting Inc., a provider of cybersecurity services and solutions for businesses that is based in Markham, Ont. “We are very pleased with the proposed acquisition of Source 44 as it complements our existing cybersecurity business unit and positions WELL as a leader in providing cybersecurity services,” said Hamed Shahbazi (pictured), chairman and CEO. Read More

MONTREAL – Information systems at the Jewish General Hospital were hit last week by a cyber-attack, and as a preventive measure, internet connectivity as well as external and remote access to the hospital’s networks were suspended. Read More