Cyberattacks have relentlessly targeted the healthcare industry for the past decade. Healthcare organizations are an attractive target due to having sensitive healthcare data concerning their patients, including personally identifiable information (PII).
A patient's PII includes their name, address, social security and other identification numbers, and payment card information. Cybercriminals can utilize this data to steal identities, commit healthcare fraud, or sell it to the black market.
Healthcare providers must keep patient information safe, which is why they should always be ready to address data breaches. Data breaches only happen when healthcare providers fail to set up reasonable security measures, whether accidental or intentional. This explains why breaches usually happen when there is a lack of training in data security practices, especially in industries that carry sensitive data such as healthcare information.
Healthcare organizations must know what to expect to improve their cybersecurity measures. Below are some of the biggest cyber threats in healthcare and how the industry can address them to improve patient safety:
1. Internal Threats
Before thinking about external threats, organizations must ensure that no internal actors threaten their networks. Insiders can present significant danger by gaining unauthorized access to proprietary systems without worrying about existing cybersecurity solutions that only defend against external factors.
Insiders are familiar with the network's vulnerabilities and overall setup, making it easy to hack the system. However, not all insider threats are made with malice, as employees unknowingly clicking on suspicious links can just as easily compromise the organization's network security.
2. Phishing Scams
A phishing scam is when an outsider tries to mislead healthcare personnel into divulging passwords or personal information that can be used for malicious purposes. These cyberattacks, generally considered social engineering, are usually launched through email.
Scammers often send employees emails acting as higher-ups in the organization. They would claim that the employee must update their login information to continue accessing the system and ask for details that eventually grant them access.
Healthcare companies must train their employees to recognize phishing emails to reduce the chances of getting scammed. Phishing attacks put patients at risk and cause healthcare organizations to violate HIPAA compliance, which can lead to lawsuits and financial losses.
3. Malware and Ransomware
Malware and ransomware are arguably the most common cyberattacks, yet several healthcare providers still fall victim to them. Organizations with poor security practices can easily infect their devices with malware through direct exposure or third-party applications.
While malware can corrupt your system and steal your data, ransomware can create more significant problems for the organization. A successful ransomware attack can delay or completely disrupt healthcare operations, putting patients at risk while affecting organizational efficiency and productivity. Using multi-factor authentication can improve security by restricting access to data and applications.
A Final Word on Improving Healthcare Data Security
Cybercriminals spend every waking moment devising new strategies to compromise security networks. Healthcare organizations must match their efforts by ensuring they have the latest cybersecurity solutions to protect their patients and networks from attacks.
Conducting risk assessments is an excellent first step toward mitigating data breaches. By monitoring vulnerabilities, organizations will better understand which areas cyberattacks will likely penetrate. Consequently, they can implement security controls better suited to responding to such attacks.
The best defense is to be prepared to handle any attack thrown at your network. Improve your risk management strategy to learn about existing threats and how to manage them. Create an information security program to ensure all employees know your organization's cybersecurity strategy. Building a culture of cybersecurity can powerfully impact your organization's cybersecurity approach.
