In our increasingly digital world, healthcare providers face unique challenges related to cybersecurity. This week, a large healthcare provider was the latest victim of a cyberattack, one that, despite their early detection and immediate response, still managed to disrupt its operations and delay patient care. (You can learn more about the incident here.)
Unfortunately, incidents like this won’t be the last. The immense amount of private data that healthcare practices big and small possess makes them a favorite target of threat actors. As the risk of cyberattacks on healthcare practices continues to escalate, all of us in the healthcare sector must work ever harder to stay ahead of bad actors. Here, we show you where healthcare practices are most vulnerable and what you can do to better safeguard yours against attempted attacks:
Common but Crucial Vulnerabilities
Patient Privacy and Data Security:
- Healthcare practices handle sensitive patient information, including medical records, personal identifiers, and billing details. A breach can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, compromised patient trust, and more.
- Watch Out For: Weak access controls, unencrypted data, and inadequate security protocols.
Operational Disruptions:
- Cyberattacks can disrupt clinical operations, affecting patient care delivery. Ransomware attacks, for instance, can lock critical systems, rendering them unusable until a ransom is paid.
- Watch Out For: Suspicious network activity, unexpected system slowdowns, and unauthorized access attempts.
Financial Impact:
- Recovering from a cyberattack can be costly. Expenses typically include those for incident response and system restoration, plus legal fees and potential fines for non-compliance with data protection regulations.
- Watch Out For: Budget constraints that compromise cybersecurity investments.
Medical Device Vulnerabilities:
- Many medical devices are now connected to networks, making them susceptible to attacks. A compromised device could impact patient safety.
- Watch Out For: Unpatched or outdated software on medical devices.
Healthcare Supply Chain Risks:
- Third-party vendors and suppliers play a crucial role in healthcare. Their security practices directly impact the overall ecosystem.
- Watch Out For: Weak vendor security assessments and insufficient contractual obligations.
Best Practices for Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare practices have always had reasons to worry about potential threats when it comes to their protected information. However, the dangers they face in the current environment are now significantly more sophisticated — and more costly. Here are six ways you can help bolster your practice’s cybersecurity:
Implement Security Awareness Training:
- Training your staff provides greater return on investment than any other security initiative.
Require Multi-Factor Authentication:
- All methods of remote access to sensitive data (patient records, employee information, etc.) need to be protected by MFA.
Verify Backup Position & Ensure Recoverability:
- Create a backup solution that meets your recovery timelines.
- Test and validate your backup process proactively. (i.e., Don’t wait until you need it.)
- Secure your backup architecture.
Failing to maintain even one of these areas can incur a significant cost if an incident requiring backups occurs.
Consider Cyber Liability & Crime Insurance:
- Cybersecurity is not only an IT issue; it is an practice issue.
- Cyber insurance is a cost-effective way to mitigate the financial cost of a breach.
- If your practice is hit by a major breach without cyber insurance in place, your practice is at risk of bankruptcy.
- Fully understand your cyber-insurance provider’s requirements to ensure your eligibility is valid and you can receive payment for a claim.
Conduct a Security Audit, Vulnerability Assessment & Pen Test:
- Identify areas that need improvement and put them on your cybersecurity roadmap to ensure improvements are prioritized and implemented as resources and time permits.
- As your security posture improves, so, too, should the depth of your assessments.
Establish Policies & Procedures (Acceptable Use, HR, HIPAA, and Governance Policies):
- Document and formalize your practice’s security objectives.
- Ensure that you implement what you define.
- Do not let your policies sit on a shelf and lose relevance/integrity.
It is imperative that today’s healthcare providers recognize that cybersecurity is not an optional add-on but an integral part of your operations. By prioritizing security measures, you can protect patient data, maintain continuity of care, and uphold trust within your community. Vigilance and proactive efforts are fundamental in this ever-evolving threat landscape.