St. Louis-based Ascension has been commended by healthcare leaders for its prompt and transparent response to a recent ransomware cyberattack. The health system took its IT network offline on May 8, informed the public about the breach three days later, and provided consistent updates through a dedicated website. In collaboration with the FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Ascension promptly communicated with its vendors to mitigate further risks. Healthcare consultant Rhoda Weiss and other industry executives have expressed admiration for Ascension’s openness and rapid dissemination of information. Ascension also stresses the importance of accurate and credible communication to maintain public trust and ensure operational continuity, highlighting its efforts to collaborate closely with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts.
