The healthcare industry has become a significant target for cybercriminals, and hospitals have been affected the most. However, this is not surprising when you consider hospitals' vast amount of confidential patient data.
Several hospitals have moved toward electronic file systems to adjust to the increasingly growing volume of patient records and storage demands. However, the digital storage shift has also made them more vulnerable to data breaches.
The data in hospital servers include the patients' protected health information (PHI), financial information such as credit card numbers and bank account details, and other personally identifying information (PII). Cybercriminals can quickly sell this information on the black market for a considerable amount or use the data themselves to commit fraud and pin the losses on the victims.
Why Are Hospitals Considered Easy Targets By Cybercriminals?
Hospitals are relatively easy targets because they have multiple areas that can be exploited. For instance, these health institutions often run medical devices with old operating systems due to budget concerns. IT teams find it challenging to update these outdated applications, making it easier for hackers to attack their lack of vulnerability management.
Moreover, studies show that healthcare employees are more prone to phishing attacks than other sector workers. Due to the high-stakes environment in hospitals, employees do not have the luxury of double-checking emails that seem urgent. They would instead click on the links and quickly fill in the necessary information to ensure processes are swiftly completed for better patient care.
The Impact of Data Breaches on Hospitals
It's already bad that the healthcare industry is the most targeted regarding cyberattacks. What's worse, however, is that the cost to remediate data breaches in healthcare is roughly thrice as much in other industries. For reference, a single compromised health record averages $408, while stolen non-health records are only valued at $148.
Moreover, cyberattacks on electronic health records (EHRs) put patient privacy at risk by compromising PHI, which can lead to substantial penalties under HIPAA's Privacy and Security Rules.
Finally, cyberattacks can cause hospitals to temporarily lose access to patient records and medical devices, significantly impacting their ability to provide effective patient care. Even the slightest alteration to patient data can seriously affect a patient's health.
What Should Hospitals Do To Improve Cybersecurity?
Cybercriminals keep developing new ways to attack network systems and compromise data controls. Therefore, hospitals must also spend the same time and effort upgrading their security solutions to ensure their threat intelligence and security alerts are at least on par with the latest cyber hazards developed by bad actors.
Building a robust security system is easier said than done, especially for hospitals. Management must receive consistent updates regarding their cyber risk status to ensure appropriate measures are taken to mitigate risks and improve network security.
However, managing an information security program requires a dedicated workforce. Most hospitals already have issues hiring enough employees to fill patient-centric roles, so dedicating full-time security teams to monitor cyber threats will be more than challenging. Fortunately, security automation tools can maintain system security without needing manual intervention.
Recommended Automation Tools To Improve Cybersecurity
Automating security processes is an excellent way to ensure industry regulatory compliance, even in cybersecurity. Moreover, different types of security automation tools are available to strengthen your cybersecurity strategy through faster threat detection and mitigation, improved productivity, and standardized security processes.
Here are some highly-recommended security automation platforms and tools to consider if you wish to empower your healthcare organization's security operations center (SOC):
- Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
Investing in RPA technology can increase productivity by automating low-level processes so that employees can focus on other tasks that require intelligent analysis. For instance, modern RPA solutions can continuously scan your system for vulnerabilities, analyze data, and apply the necessary mitigation practices such as firewalls and IP blocking.
- Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR)
SOAR systems are accumulated solutions that collectively identify, standardize, and automate incident response processes to build an effective cybersecurity program with minimal human contributions. SOAR platforms are often relied on for policy execution, report automation, and automated vulnerability remediation.
- eXtended Detection and Response (XDR)
XDR solutions are the latest developments in combining endpoint security, network detection, and threat response. XDR consolidates data from several security environments to define and assess evasive attacks hiding between security layers. XDR technology often includes automated detection and response orchestration through machine learning and API integration.
A Final Word on Improving Hospital Cybersecurity
In an ideal setting, hospitals must maximize their culture of patient care by starting a complementary environment rooted in cybersecurity. A protective and wary mindset encourages them to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions to prevent cyber threats.
The best way to improve hospital cybersecurity is not just to invest in the latest cybersecurity solutions but also to ensure that employees actively contribute to the institution's overall security policies. Additionally, when employees are encouraged to share their insights, experiences, and concerns related to cybersecurity, management will have an easier time identifying potential gaps or weaknesses in the security infrastructure.
