Disaster Recovery Journal Summer 2023

outage due to human error during routine maintenance. The outage affected several high-profile websites and services, including Netflix, Reddit, and Airbnb. 5. British Airways – with a revenue of $16 billion employing 42,000 employees with 250 aircraft serving more than 200 destinations in 75 countries. In 2017, British Airways suffered a major IT outage which resulted in the cancellation of more than 400 flights and caused significant disruptions for passengers. The outage was caused by a power surge that affected the airline’s IT systems. 6. Facebook – with 2.9 billion subscribers employing 63,000 employees worldwide with $85 billion in revenue. In 2018, Facebook suffered a major data privacy scandal involving the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica. The scandal resulted in significant reputational damage and a loss of user trust. 7. Colonial Pipeline – a major fuel pipeline system that spans more than 5,500 miles from Texas to New Jersey, delivering gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel to consumers and businesses on the East Coast. In 2021, Colonial Pipeline suffered a ransomware attack which resulted in a shutdown of their pipeline system for several days. The attack caused fuel shortages and price spikes across many states, particularly in the Southeastern United States. The pipeline shutdown also impacted airline and trucking operations, causing delays and disruptions to supply chains. The disruption highlighted the vulnerability of critical infrastructure systems to cyber threats, and it prompted discussions about the need for improved cybersecurity measures and incident response plans. The event also drew attention to the importance of maintaining resilient supply chains and the potential impacts of disruptions to fuel and energy systems on the economy and society. Hospital specific major disruptions in just the last five years:

1. WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017 : The WannaCry ransomware attack affected hospitals and healthcare facilities in multiple countries, including the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS). This resulted in significant disruptions to patient care and hospital operations. 2. Hurricane Harvey in 2017 : The hurricane caused widespread flooding and damage to healthcare facilities in Texas, leading to hospital evacuations and significant disruptions to patient care. 3. NotPetya ransomware attack in 2017 : The NotPetya ransomware attack affected several hospitals and healthcare facilities in Ukraine, causing significant disruptions to patient care and hospital operations. 4. COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 : The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant

disruptions to hospitals and healthcare facilities worldwide, including shortages of medical supplies, equipment, and staff, and changes to patient care protocols. These are just a few examples of the major disruptions reported in the last 10 years (before September 2021). Overall, a robust disaster recovery plan is essential for businesses of all sizes and industries to protect their operations, data, and reputa tion in the face of potential disruptions. It is a proactive approach to managing risk and ensuring business continuity in the event of unexpected events. v Julius “Jules” Edwards, MBCP, CBCP, is a senior IT service continuity analyst for Novant Health. He has more than 25 years of experience in the business continuity management space for banking, retail, and health care industries. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Army and National Guard.

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