St John applauded, wins award for health data resilience

Hato Hone St John has been named a finalist in the Veeam Data Resilience Awards, in recognition of its efforts to safeguard vital healthcare data and maintain uninterrupted delivery of emergency medical services.

As healthcare data increasingly becomes a target for cyber hackers, HHStJ turned to Veeam Software, a global leader in data resilience, to secure its digital infrastructure.

According to St John's National Tech Infrastructure Manager, Andrew Fletcher, the move was prompted by a significant rise in cyber-attacks on medical institutions.

"There's been an increase in medical data breaches, with health and patient data now more valuable to hackers than financial data," Fletcher said.

He explained that healthcare organisations have become prime targets for ransomware attacks, making data resilience essential not only for security, but also for operational continuity.

"It's not just about keeping the data safe; it's about making sure the ambulances keep rolling and life-saving services are not impacted," Fletcher said.

"If our IT systems go down for too long, it could literally be a life-or-death situation, so having a data resilience powered by Veeam is critical to ensure we keep running."

Fletcher emphasised that nearly all of St John's services are reliant on robust digital platforms. This includes emergency paramedic care, first aid training, and remote monitoring through wearable medical alarms.

"Whether we are providing emergency paramedic care, offering first aid training or monitoring wearable medical alarms, practically all our services depend on digital technology," he said.

"As well as ensuring we are always on with our IT platforms, our organisation needs to be data resilient. If that data isn't secure and accessible, it could impact emergency responses, patient care, and the support people count on every day."

The importance of avoiding IT disruptions, Fletcher added, cannot be overstated.

"We rely on an extensive IT infrastructure to support our work, and extended periods of unplanned downtime could potentially be fatal."

As a result of the proactive work led by Fletcher and his team, St John has been selected as one of three finalists for the Veeam Data Resilience Awards, which are being held in San Diego from 21 to 23 April.

In addition to the nomination, Fletcher has been invited to speak at the VeeamON conference, where he will present on the increasing cyber threats facing healthcare providers, particularly ransomware.

Beni Sia, General Manager and Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific and Japan at Veeam, noted the severity of the risks associated with cyber-attacks on healthcare systems and praised HHStJ's efforts.

"The threat of ransomware demands best-in-class data resilience because without data, businesses grind to a halt," Sia said.

"In Hato Hone St John's case, that can be the difference between life and death. It's a privilege to be entrusted to power their data resilience and we're proud to be an integral part of the work required to ensure they can continue to save and protect lives."

The recognition highlights the growing importance of cybersecurity in the healthcare sector and the need for constant vigilance and investment in systems that protect critical services.