The recent global coordinated ransomware attack (dubbed “WannaCry2”) that hit thousands of private and public sector organisations across the globe, including many NHS Trusts, is still being investigated.
As ever, we would recommend that organisations ensure that systems are kept fully updated, and that backups are maintained and tested. Keeping your software up to date will help to protect you against many Internet borne threats.
You can see how to update your Windows software here https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/311047/how-to-keep-your-windows-computer-up-to-date, and how to update Apple Macs here https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201541.
Achieving Cyber Essentials should mean that you will not be using unsupported software which would put you at a high risk of internet borne attacks. You can check to see which operating systems are unsupported here https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13853/windows-lifecycle-fact-sheet, and a list of the Apple products and Operating systems still supported can be found here https://support.apple.com/sitemap.
For the latest guidance on the recent incident, please reference the website of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/ransomware-latest-ncsc-guidance.
The NCSC also has general guidance on protection from ransomware here https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/protecting-your-organisation-ransomware.
Microsoft has also published recent guidance on WannaCry2 here https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/msrc/2017/05/12/customer-guidance-for-wannacrypt-attacks.