Capita's faulty IT systems raise concerns about possible cyber-attack on critical NHS provider.

The outsourcing company, Capita, is experiencing sudden malfunctions in their computer systems. This has sparked concerns that the company - responsible for essential services for the NHS and military - may be targeted by hackers.

There are reports that the employees have been facing difficulty in getting into the computer systems since Friday morning. The initial probe is still ongoing, and the reason for this issue is yet to be determined.

Someone speaking for Capita, who couldn't open their personal email, spoke a message over the phone and said: "We have noticed a problem with our computer systems and we're looking into it."

Someone who is knowledgeable about the situation stated that the National Cyber Security Centre, Cabinet Office, and other government organizations were made aware of the outage. This was because the group has important responsibilities in areas like Royal Navy training centres and protecting security at Ministry of Defence bases.

According to the source, those located at places such as vital national infrastructure have turned to utilizing radios, writing implements, and sheets of paper.

A few workers still have the ability to use computers and send emails. The organization mentioned that they're in the initial phase of conducting an inquiry and it's premature to determine whether the malfunction occurred due to a cyber assault.

Sources from Capita have reported that workers made attempts to access the system beginning at 7 o'clock in the morning. However, they were not informed of any issues until the company sent a text message at 8:45 am, announcing a company-wide problem.

An anonymous member of Capita's staff reported that they had trouble logging in to their laptop as their usual password was not accepted. This resulted in employees being unable to access Capita's systems or other computer programmes.

The employees received a message that said: "We are presently looking into the matter and will provide more information shortly. We kindly request that you avoid using VPN or sending requests to recover your password."

The power cut, which was originally brought to light by the Times newspaper, will probably be worrying for the British government. This is because Capita is responsible for numerous important public services that are managed under contracts worth hundreds of millions of pounds, covering a wide range of government departments.

The section talks about a division that serves the public, particularly the British government. This division earned a total of £1.4 billion in revenue last year, solidifying their importance as one of the government's essential suppliers in enhancing digital services.

This company offers various kinds of assistance to the NHS such as basic medical care support. They are also in charge of recruiting individuals for the British Army. Additionally, they are responsible for maintaining the Submarine Training Centre in the UK. They have a contract with the Ministry of Defence that is valued at £525m and covers 12 years. Their duties include managing fire and rescue operations.

This company manages the road tolls for Transport for London, which includes the congestion charge and ultra-low emissions zone, and conducts evaluations for disability payments on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions. Additionally, they have a partnership with HM Revenue and Customs to streamline some tax collection duties.

Capita has recently obtained a two-year extension of the contract with Northern Ireland's Education Authority. This means that they will keep providing Information Technology (IT) services to all 1,100 schools situated in Northern Ireland for the foreseeable future.