A large academic healthcare provider in Mississippi recently experienced a
Following the incident, approximately three dozen outpatient clinics were closed and elective medical procedures were cancelled while the organization evaluated the extent of the intrusion and worked to restore affected systems. Officials reported that multiple internal platforms — including electronic medical record functionality — were impacted, requiring staff to temporarily rely on manual documentation processes.
Emergency and hospital care remained available; however, many patients with scheduled services experienced delays. Some individuals traveled long distances only to learn appointments could not proceed, and the organization began contacting patients requiring time-sensitive treatment to reschedule services.
At the time of reporting, investigators were still determining whether sensitive patient information had been accessed. The organization confirmed it was working with federal law enforcement while simultaneously attempting to restore network functionality.
The situation illustrates how ransomware attacks increasingly target organizations whose operations cannot easily pause. Healthcare systems, public infrastructure, manufacturers, and service providers face similar exposure because attackers recognize that operational disruption creates immediate pressure.
Cyber incidents are often described as “data breaches,” but this event demonstrates a different reality — ransomware attacks are operational shutdown events.
Even when emergency services remain functional, the inability to access systems can halt:
Organizations may continue operating at a limited level, but core processes slow dramatically. In many cases, employees revert to manual workflows, creating backlog, delays, and additional costs long after systems are restored.
The immediate concern in any cyber event is restoring systems and protecting data. However, the longer-term challenge is understanding the financial consequences.
A cyber incident can create multiple categories of loss, including:
For organizations with cyber insurance, documenting and supporting these losses is essential to recovery. Insurers and legal stakeholders require detailed, defensible financial analysis to evaluate claims.
After a cyberattack, technical response teams focus on containment and system restoration. At the same time, organizations, insurers, and counsel need to determine the economic impact of the event.
Meaden & Moore provides independent forensic financial analysis to support stakeholders throughout a cyber incident. Our experts work alongside incident response teams, adjusters, and attorneys to evaluate and quantify damages arising from cyber events.
Our Cyber Risk services include:
Ransomware incidents are occurring with increasing frequency and sophistication. Organizations often prepare technologically but not financially.
An effective cyber response plan should include not only IT and legal support, but also a framework for measuring financial loss and supporting insurance recovery. Early involvement of forensic financial professionals can significantly improve documentation, claim resolution, and recovery timelines.
Meaden & Moore’s Cyber Risk experts assist organizations, insurers, and legal teams from initial response through claim resolution and potential dispute support. Our objective and defensible analyses help stakeholders understand the full economic impact of a cyber event and support informed decision-making.
To learn more about Meaden & Moore’s Cyber Risk forensic accounting and litigation support services, please contact our team.
This article was co-authored by:
John Balsamo, CPA – Vice President, New York
Jordan Watts – Senior Accountant, New York
Source: Mississippi hospital system closes all clinics after ransomware attack, AP News (Associated Press), February 20, 2026.