🛡️ Ransomware 37% of K12 Cyber Attacks. Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Drug Shortages.

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Today's Topics

🛡️ K-12 Cyber-Security. 37% of K12 cyber incidents were ransomware attacks
✈️ Sustainable Air Fuel. United Airlines buys 3x more SAF than the second-largest buyer
💊 Pharmaceutical. 91% of US Pharmacies Adapted Vial Sizes/Concentrations Amid Drug Shortages

🖥️ 37% of K12 Cyber Incidents Were Ransomware Attacks

Since 2016, there have been 1331 cybersecurity-related incidents reported affecting K12 schools. Among the incidences in 2021, the most frequently disclosed type of cyber attack to impact schools in the United States was ransomware attacks. 19.8% were student data breaches, which could result in unauthorized access to personal information such as names, social security numbers, student identification numbers, and other educational records.

The shift to remote learning during the pandemic led to an increased number of cybersecurity-related incidents, such as ‘class invasion’ where online classes were interrupted. This type of attack became the most common type of cyberattack in 2020, which did not exist in 2018 as students weren’t on lockdown and attending classes virtually. In a resource-constrained environment, directing investment toward the most impactful measures and increasing cybersecurity budgeting can help address continuous threats. As K12 schools struggle with IT resources and are unable to single-handedly prevent all cyberattacks, implementing smaller changes can reduce the number of successful cyberattacks.

✈️ United Airlines Buys 3x More SAF Than the Second-Largest Buyer

United Airlines is the leading purchaser of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), with total volumes amounting to 14.3B liters. By February 2024, major airlines and cargo carriers have increasingly become key purchasers of SAF, driven by regulatory pressures and growing consumer demand for greener travel options. In September 2023, United Airlines committed to purchasing up to 1B gallons of SAF from Houston-based Cemvita, with Cemvita supplying 50 million gallons annually for over 20 years. 

The UK government has announced plans to gradually transition to SAFs by 2030, mandating that 10% of all jet fuel used on flights be derived from these sustainable sources. Most airlines anticipate that the gradual shift to more expensive SAFs will lead to higher ticket prices due to the increased fuel costs. Investment in SAFs is expected to grow as the aviation industry aims for carbon neutrality, given that SAFs can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 70%. SAF represents one of the most viable pathways for the aviation industry to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, as hydrogen or electric-powered passenger aircraft are still in the experimental stages.

💊 91% of US Pharmacies Adapted Vial Sizes/Concentrations Amid Drug Shortages

Drug shortages pose significant risks to healthcare, impacting patient safety and medical procedures. A survey by the ASHP revealed that 57% of respondents faced shortages of chemotherapy drugs, followed by corticosteroid and hormonal drugs (28%), oral liquids (22%), and crash cart drugs (18%). Operational strategies are being considered, including finding alternative sources, utilizing different preparation methods, and compounding. Addressing these shortages may necessitate healthcare providers to alter their purchasing practices, such as using different vial sizes and concentrations. This approach offers flexibility in medication administration and dosage adjustments, reducing the risk of treatment interruptions and patient harm leading to 91% of US pharmacies employing this strategy. Moreover, organizations may have shifted inventories of shortage drugs to centralized locations or patient care areas, enhancing oversight and monitoring. 

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