White House takes Texas water cybersecurity model to rural hospitals

The White House and South Carolina officials launched a six-month cybersecurity pilot Monday to help rural hospitals defend against hackers and keep treating patients during attacks, extending an approach first tested with water utilities in Texas.

The initiative, Project Lifeline 250, will connect participating hospitals with technology companies offering assistance at no cost.

National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross and South Carolina Gov.

Henry McMaster announced the effort at Newberry Health Hospital.

And in South Carolina, the state’s AnMed health system experienced weeks of disruption after a July cyberattack, including limited access to medical records.