As an OPTN contractor, UNOS is committed to best-in-class cybersecurity protections
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), a longtime and trusted federal contractor for the nation’s organ donation and transplantation system, continuously upgrades the IT system that houses the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) data to ensure the system maintains the highest level of security.
The OPTN IT system has never experienced a cybersecurity breach from an attack by a malicious actor. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the federal agency with oversight responsibility for the OPTN, regularly conducts IT security audits for the system, as is industry standard.
A report on the security of the OPTN IT system by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) found opportunities for upgrades to improve security for the network. The OIG report was based on standard testing of the OPTN IT system that was conducted in April 2023. The OIG report was published 20 months after the testing, on December 2, 2024.
UNOS, in its role as an OPTN contractor, has already addressed or remediated all recommended upgrades, with one final upgrade planned for HRSA verification in 2025.
UNOS strives to work seamlessly with HRSA to ensure adherence to strict controls over all IT systems related to the organ donation and transplantation network. UNOS understands that cybersecurity is of utmost importance to maintaining the integrity of the system. UNOS moved expediently to address and remediate the vulnerabilities identified in the report.
The nation should have confidence that the U.S. organ donation and transplantation network’s IT system is secure.
About UNOS
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a nonprofit organization that serves the organ donation and transplant system and broader public health community through its work developing new technologies and initiatives, conducting data-driven research and analysis, providing expert consulting services, advocating for patients, and being a leader in bringing communities together to save lives.
