Are Healthcare Providers Under Siege From Ransomware?
by: Mack Jackson Jr.
Are Healthcare Providers Under Siege From Ransomware?
by: Mack Jackson Jr.
Healthcare businesses are, without question, threatened by ransomware. Hospitals have been the target of high-profile hacks in the United States in the past year, including an incident in which hackers held patient data hostage. This type of attack can have severe effects not only on the hospital but also on the patients. Patients’ lives can be jeopardized if vital data is encrypted or taken hostage.
Ransomware is not only a threat to healthcare institutions. Every organization with sensitive data is susceptible to ransomware assaults. However, the stakes are incredibly high in the healthcare industry, where lives may be at risk. Therefore, healthcare companies must be aware of the issue and take measures to protect their data.
In healthcare institutions, ransomware attackers often target a few specific elements. Electronic medical records are one (EMRs). These data sources frequently contain sensitive patient information and are housed on internet-connected servers. This sensitive information makes them an appealing target for ransomware attackers, who can encrypt the data and demand a ransom in exchange for its decryption.
Financial systems in hospitals are another regular target of hackers. These systems include essential financial information for hospitals and are typically connected to the internet. Attackers utilizing ransomware may encrypt this data and demand a ransom for the decryption key.
Lastly, ransomware attackers may target the email systems of hospitals. Because hospitals rely on email to communicate with patients, doctors, and other employees, this can be very disruptive. If ransomware attackers encrypt hospital email systems, patient care could be significantly disrupted.
Here are some critical areas where the healthcare industry has hardened its security posture to prevent and mitigate security risks.
1. Updating old legacy computer systems.
2. Implementing HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability ACT standards with cybersecurity.
3. Insider Threat Policy
4. Review all third-party medical devices connected to their network.
A few precautions can safeguard healthcare institutions from ransomware assaults. They must first guarantee their data is backed up and stored offline. Thus, even if ransomware perpetrators encrypt their files, they can still view unencrypted versions.
Second, healthcare institutions must educate their personnel on ransomware and how to identify assaults. Security education can assist in preventing attacks from occurring in the first place and educate personnel on what to do in the case of an attack.
Finally, healthcare organizations are evaluating their security posture with tools such as ransomware security software. This type of software tool is one of many that can identify and prevent ransomware attacks and aid in data recovery. By employing these and similar defensive procedures, healthcare organizations continuously keep one step ahead by completing a rapid digital transformation in protecting data assets.
Author:
Mack Jackson Jr.
Vanderson Cyber Group
702–868–0808