AZ Monica hospital still lacks patient Wi-Fi six months after cyberattack

More than six months after a severe cyberattack in mid-January, AZ Monica hospital campuses in Deurne and Antwerp have yet to restore Wi-Fi for patients and visitors. The hospital's CEO, Geert Smits, stated that securing the network is the top priority, even above patient Wi-Fi. The focus is on building a more robust infrastructure in line with European guidelines and recommendations from the Center for Cybersecurity (CCB).

"We find that very regrettable, but it is ultimately our priority because hospitals are increasingly being hacked," Smits said. "Therefore, it is important to first ensure that everything can happen in a safe environment." He anticipates that it will take several more months before Wi-Fi is available again for patients and visitors.

During the attack, hackers demanded ransom, but the hospital refused to pay. Fortunately, backups were in order, allowing the hospital to restore its own data. There were never any indications that data had been stolen, and the perpetrators remain unknown. In the initial days following the attack, the hospital only performed urgent procedures and partially suspended operations at its emergency department. Within a week, it resumed about 70 to 80 percent of its activities, and after approximately four weeks, the hospital was fully operational again.

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We find that very regrettable, but it is ultimately our priority because hospitals are increasingly being hacked. Therefore, it is important to first ensure that everything can happen in a safe environment.