Dutch healthcare software vendor ChipSoft was knocked offline after a ransomware attack on April 7, disrupting its website and prompting hospitals to check their systems. The company serves about 80 percent of hospitals in the Netherlands.
KEY FACTS
- Incident ChipSoft was hit by ransomware, according to a Z-CERT advisory.
- Impact The company’s website went down on April 7 and was still unreachable.
- Hospital use Most hospitals could still use patient portals, though 11 have taken software offline.
- Unknowns The group behind the attack has not been identified.
Z-CERT said it was contacted on April 7 and was working with ChipSoft, healthcare institutions and partners to assess the impact. The advisory said hospitals and other healthcare partners should audit ChipSoft systems for unusual traffic and report anything suspicious.
The software is used differently by each customer, with some hospitals relying on it more heavily for record keeping than others. Local news outlet NOS reported that 11 hospitals had taken their systems offline, including nine that use the software more extensively.
Healthcare cyberattacks have remained a major concern in the Netherlands. Z-CERT has repeatedly warned that ransomware and extortion are among the biggest threats facing the sector, and recent attacks in the region have caused prolonged downtime and disrupted care.
WHY IT MATTERS
The attack hit software used widely across Dutch hospitals, making even a short outage disruptive for care delivery and record access. It also underscores the need for backup and disaster recovery plans when healthcare systems are targeted.