Ransomware in the Workplace: What to Do?
Ransomware attacks are increasing in the UK and no organisation is immune, regardless of size or sector. So how can you reduce the chances of being hit? Tyrex shares some…
In the UK’s healthcare sector, the integrity of patient data is paramount. NHS Trusts and private healthcare providers are entrusted with vast quantities of sensitive information, making them prime targets for cyber attacks that can disrupt clinical services and erode public trust. While digital defences are constantly evolving, a significant and often overlooked vulnerability remains: removable media. USB drives, used daily to transfer patient records, diagnostic images, and update medical equipment, can act as a trojan horse, bypassing network firewalls and introducing malware directly into the heart of a clinical environment.
Stay Secure
The Unseen Risk: How Removable Media Compromises Healthcare Data Protection
The operational realities of a modern hospital involve a constant flow of data between isolated systems. A radiologist transfers MRI scans from a diagnostic machine to a central server; a visiting consultant brings patient notes on a USB drive; a third-party vendor arrives to update the firmware on a critical piece of medical equipment. This reliance on a “sneakernet”—physically carrying data on USB devices—creates numerous entry points for malware.
A single infected device can have devastating consequences. Ransomware could encrypt patient records and cripple hospital operations, leading to cancelled appointments and delayed treatments. A data breach could expose sensitive patient information, resulting in significant regulatory fines under GDPR and irreparable damage to an organisation’s reputation. Endpoint software security, while important, is not foolproof. It can be outdated on legacy medical devices, accidentally disabled by users, or simply incapable of detecting sophisticated, zero-day threats. A hardware-enforced solution is the only way to comprehensively mitigate this risk.
Key Takeaways
The Problem
USB devices are a common method for transferring patient data and updating medical equipment, creating a major entry point for malware into clinical networks.
The Risk
A malware or ransomware infection can lead to severe disruption of patient care, breaches of sensitive data, and significant non-compliance penalties.
The Solution
A dedicated hardware kiosk that physically isolates, scans, and decontaminates every USB device before it is used within the secure healthcare environment.
Trusted by over 30,000 Partners
Effective healthcare cybersecurity requires a proactive, physical line of defence. Tyrex provides military-grade USB decontamination stations that neutralise threats before they can compromise sensitive networks. By creating a secure checkpoint for all removable media, Tyrex ensures robust healthcare data protection, safeguarding patient confidentiality and maintaining operational continuity in the most demanding clinical settings.
Hardware-Enforced Healthcare Cybersecurity for Clinical Networks
Tyrex transforms this critical vulnerability into a point of strength. Our physical decontamination stations act as a secure gateway, creating an isolated environment where every USB device must be proven clean before it can connect to a clinical workstation or network. This hardware-enforced approach provides a level of assurance that software-only solutions cannot match.
Each Tyrex station is powered by a multi-layered scanning process that utilises seven distinct detection engines (five anti-virus and two anti-malware). This comprehensive analysis identifies and neutralises a broad spectrum of threats, from common viruses to advanced, unknown malware variants. By decontaminating the media itself, rather than just scanning it on a potentially compromised endpoint, Tyrex provides a definitive and trustworthy workflow for all data transfers, forming a cornerstone of a robust healthcare cybersecurity strategy.
Ensuring Compliance with UK Healthcare Data Protection Standards
Healthcare organisations in the UK operate under a strict regulatory framework. Tyrex is engineered to help trusts and clinics meet and exceed these compliance mandates. Our stations create a complete, unalterable audit trail of every device and file scanned, providing clear and verifiable evidence of due diligence.
Tyrex helps your organisation demonstrate compliance with key standards, including:
The UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018
The NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT)
Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus
This guide is authored by the cybersecurity specialists at Tyrex, who have protected Forbes 2000 companies and critical UK & European infrastructure for over six years.
Guarding Infrastructures
Enhancing Healthcare Cybersecurity in Practice: A UK Hospital Use Case
Imagine a typical scenario in a busy UK hospital: a cardiologist needs to transfer a patient’s echocardiogram images from an ultrasound machine to the central Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) for review. Using an unverified personal USB drive introduces an unacceptable risk. With a Tyrex station, the process becomes secure, efficient, and compliant.
The table below illustrates the practical benefits of implementing a hardware-enforced security checkpoint.
| Challenge | Without Tyrex | With Tyrex |
|---|---|---|
| Patient Data Transfer | A high-risk transfer using an unverified USB drive, creating a potential vector for a malware infection. | A fully audited, secure transfer using a USB device that has been decontaminated by a Tyrex station. |
| Clinical Network Integrity | The risk of a ransomware attack spreading from the workstation to the entire clinical network, disrupting services. | Malware is identified and neutralised within the isolated Tyrex station before the device ever reaches the network. |
| Compliance & Auditing | An unaudited data transfer that creates a compliance gap under the NHS DSPT and GDPR. | Every scan and file transfer is automatically logged, creating a clear audit trail for compliance and reporting. |
4500
Decontamination Stations Deployed
The Unmatched Power of TYREX: Measurable Success
Versatile Deployment for Hospitals, Clinics, and Labs
We recognise that healthcare environments are diverse. Tyrex solutions are available in multiple form factors to fit any clinical workflow, from a large hospital to a local GP surgery. Our wall-mounted Tyrex Satellite is perfect for consultation rooms and laboratories with limited space, while our portable Tyrex Mobile unit empowers community healthcare workers to transfer data securely in the field. This flexibility ensures every access point to your patient data is protected.
Insertion
The user inserts the USB drive into the Tyrex station.
Threat Neutralisation
If malware is detected, Tyrex stations can be configured to neutralise the threat, quarantine infected files, or securely erase the drive's content.
Safe Usage
Once a device is certified clean by the Tyrex station, it can be safely used within the secure network environment.
This process occurs within a hardened, isolated hardware environment, ensuring that malware cannot bypass the scanning process or infect the station itself—a significant advantage over software-only solutions that run on potentially vulnerable host computers.
K-REX Console
The CONSOLE can be placed on a desk, which makes it convenient for any standard work environment. This USB media decontamination solution protects your critical infrastructures from cyber threats.
Features
- Available in 4G, 5G, WiFi, wired and offline
- 10 inch HD screen
- Weight: 12kg
K-REX Totem
The TOTEM can be positionned on the floor, at the entrance of reception halls or in any public areas. This USB decontamination solution comprises a small platform to hold your hard drive during the antivirus scan.
Features
- Available in 4G, 5G, WiFi, wired and offline
- 24 inch HD screen
- Weight: 54kg
K-REX Satallite
The SATELLITE USB decontamination station can be hung on a wall. It is particularly adapted to confined spaces such as ships or meeting rooms. With 5 anti-virus and 2 anti-malware running simultaneously, the SATELLITE is able to scan and clean your USB devices and prevent cyber threats or viruses from spreading through your information system.
Features
- Available in 4G, 5G, WiFi, wired and offline
- 7 inch HD screen
- Weight: 6kg
K-REX Mobile
The MOBILE is a movable USB decontamination station. Ruggedized with the MIL-STD-810G and ATEX military standards, it is designed for environments requiring mobility. With up to 5 antivirus and 2 optional anti-malware scanners running simultaneously, it is able to scan any USB or removable devices and prevent malwares or viruses from spreading through your information system.
Features
- Available in 4G, 5G, WiFi, wired, offline and ATEX versions
- 10 inch HD screen
- Weight: 1.3kg
Secure Your Patients, Protect Your Trust
Safeguarding patient data and ensuring the continuity of care is the fundamental mission of every healthcare organisation. In an era of escalating cyber threats, protecting your digital front door is no longer optional. Tyrex provides the specialised hardware and expertise required to secure your most critical assets and maintain the trust of your patients.
Securing Every Sector
Who Benefits from Tyrex “Sheep Dip” Cyber Security?
Don’t let removable media be the Achilles’ heel of your cybersecurity posture. Tyrex USB protection solutions provide a robust, reliable, and user-friendly way to mitigate the risks associated with USB drives and other portable storage. By implementing our “white stations” or “sheep dip” cybersecurity kiosks, you add a critical layer of defence, ensuring that only clean, verified devices can access your valuable systems and data.
Defence and Government
Protecting classified networks and ensuring secure data transfer between different security domains. The term “sheep dip” is often used in this sector to describe USB scanning kiosks.
Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)
Safeguarding industrial control systems (ICS), SCADA environments, and operational technology (OT) in sectors like energy, water, and transportation from cyber-physical attacks initiated via USB.
Industrial Manufacturing
Preventing malware from halting production lines or compromising automated systems, especially where “sneaker-net” USB transfers are common for updates and data logging.
Oil, Gas and Maritime
Securing remote and often disconnected assets like offshore platforms, pipelines, and vessels, where USBs are frequently used by personnel and third-party contractors.
Enterprise IT & Finance
Protecting high-value corporate data, ensuring compliance with regulations like GDPR and ISO 27001, and enforcing removable media policies effectively.
Numbers at a Glance
TYREX Protection in Numbers
250
Customers worldwide
5
Signature-based antivirus
37
of computer security threats (virus, worms, malware, trojans etc.) are created to spread through removable media
2
Anti-malware solutions
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