Sponsored by Crothall Healthcare
A chilling reality for healthcare: Entrusted with life-saving data and technology, it simultaneously faces an onslaught of cyberattacks, particularly ransomware. This alarming trend was highlighted by ECRI in their recent report, ranking “Ransomware Targeting the Healthcare Sector” as the SIXTH most significant Healthcare Technology Hazard for 2024. According to a report by NBC Washington, an alarming increase in cyberattacks has been observed, with 60% of healthcare institutions falling victim to ransomware assaults within the past year. This stark reality underscores the critical challenge the industry faces in balancing its mission with the ever-growing threat of cybercrime. Due to their vulnerability and the valuable data they hold, healthcare organizations are often targeted by cybercriminals. A major challenge is the lack of robust cybersecurity measures, with many organizations prioritizing patient care over IT infrastructure.
As technology progresses, so do the methods of cybercriminals, making attacks increasingly dangerous. Data Breaches – Lead to identity theft through the theft of sensitive patient information. Ransomware – Disrupts operations by encrypting data and demanding ransom. Phishing – Gains system access through deceptive emails. Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks – Overloads IT systems and hinders critical services.
These attacks can bring hospital operations to a standstill, delay critical diagnoses, and put lives at risk. Data breaches can expose sensitive patient information, causing identity theft and reputational damage. Additionally, the financial impact is substantial – recovery costs and regulatory fines must be in the equation to understand the full impact.
The Threat Landscape and the Need for Enhanced Visibility
Inventory & Visibility. To counter these threats, a critical initial step involves gathering accurate information about all network-connected devices and employing advanced technology like protocol analyzers and deep packet inspection (DPI). Such tools enable the safe discovery and automatic categorization of IoT assets, services, connections, and apps, allowing for proactive risk management, resource optimization, and unprecedented security fortification.
Building a Fortified Defense. Keeping the business context top-of-mind, the best security leaders use risk assessments as a keystone for building out their security program strategy. The battle against cyberattacks requires constant vigilance and collaboration. Healthcare organizations must prioritize cybersecurity, integrating robust defenses, advanced visibility tools, proactive vulnerability mitigation strategies, and rapid threat detection and response measures. Don’t reinvent the wheel. There are many excellent resources to help guide a formal assessment of a cyber-risk posture. Consider adopting a cybersecurity framework like the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) to get a full picture of where your hospital or health system is today from a risk perspective and use that baseline to set priorities and strategies to fill in the biggest gaps first. The NIST CSF Framework focuses on five key functions:
- Identify: Regular vulnerability and risk assessments.
- Protect: Implement layered defenses such as firewalls, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and network segmentation protecting patients, guests, and caregivers.
- Detect: Monitoring tools and intrusion detection systems to identify suspicious activities through real-time analytics, stay vigilant, and proactively counter cyberattacks or other potential risks.
- Respond: Develop clear incident response plans in the event of a breach, bolstered by resources to resolve them quickly.
- Recover: Regular backups and tested restoration procedures.
Vulnerability Mitigation and Threat Detection: Prioritizing Resources and Quick Response
In an extensive landscape of interconnected devices, knowing where to focus your attention is crucial. Insight into the vulnerabilities that potential attackers are poised to exploit within your environment is paramount. By focusing your attention on the riskiest devices and areas of your environment, you can effectively manage and mitigate cybersecurity threats while optimizing resource allocation and budget. It’s a dynamic process that requires ongoing vigilance and adaptation to stay ahead of cyber adversaries.
For effective threat detection and incident response, establishing device behavior rules is crucial. These rules enable the swift identification of suspicious activities and misconfigurations. To protect against preventable cyber threats, create precise and efficient device behavior guidelines. This proactive approach allows for the early recognition of anomalies and precise error detection, fortifying your defenses and proactively stopping potential attacks.
Leadership, Collaboration, and Actionable Steps
Leadership in cybersecurity, ease of adherence to protocols, and recognizing the human factor in the cybersecurity chain are vital. Cybersecurity is a collective responsibility, and a sense of shared ownership is essential for patient safety and data protection.
Finally, in the dynamic landscape of connected medical devices, the commitment to robust cybersecurity goes beyond mere compliance; it becomes a clear demonstration of our dedication to patient trust and care excellence. As we collectively navigate these complex cyber challenges, our determination to innovate and collaborate paves the way for a future where we uphold the integrity of healthcare and the security of patient data as cornerstones. This journey is not just about countering threats, but also about fostering an ecosystem where security and healthcare advance together, always prioritizing and vigilantly protecting the health and well-being of our patients, which remains our foremost concern.
To help healthcare organizations improve their security posture and reduce their risk of cyberattacks, Crothall’s Healthcare Technology Solutions has developed CyberHUB, powered by Asimily’s AI-based risk management technology, a comprehensive connected device risk management solution. If you are interested in learning more about how Crothall can help you improve your healthcare security posture, please contact us today at Edward.Myers@crothall.com. We would be happy to discuss your specific needs and develop a solution that meets your requirements.
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Edward Myers, Crothall Healthcare Technology Solutions, National Director of Cybersecurity. (214) 784-5238