Boston Scientific cyberattack: Cork staff asked to work remotely

Boston Scientific, a global medical technology company, is battling the aftermath of a cyberattack that has disrupted its IT systems. The attack, discovered on August 25, has impacted access to certain operating systems and business applications, including the ability to process and ship customer orders. The company expects further disruption while it works to restore the affected systems.

The probe into the attack is ongoing, but no timeline has been established yet. As of now, the company is uncertain whether the incident could have a material impact on its business. Despite the setback, shares of Boston Scientific fell more than 3% at market close and slightly recovered in after-hours trading.

The company employs around 7,000 employees across its sites in Galway, Cork, and Clonmel. In response to the cyberattack, Boston Scientific's Cork-based workers were instructed to work from home on August 26. SiliconRepublic.com has reached out to the company for additional details.

The medtech giant is the latest victim in a series of cyberattacks targeting pharmaceutical and medical technology companies. Earlier this year, Stryker, a medical equipment manufacturer, experienced a cyberattack that caused a global network disruption, with reports suggesting that its Cork plant was affected. In April, Healthdaq, a Dublin-based recruitment platform used by Northern Ireland's health trusts, suffered a cyberattack, reportedly accessing hundreds of thousands of files.

In recent months, other medtech businesses such as Medtronic, West Pharmaceutical, Novo Nordisk, Amgen, and Abbott Laboratories have also reported cyberattacks. A report by RunSafe earlier this year revealed a slight increase in cyberattacks on medical devices, with 80% of those attacked experiencing a moderate to significant impact on patient care.