Why is the healthcare sector becoming more susceptible to cyber attacks?

Introduction

We hear about cyber attacks almost every single day, but did you know that the healthcare industry is a prime target for these attacks?

Several cyberattacks on healthcare systems had been reported in the past year alone. Broward Health in Florida reported a breach in their systems in January of 2022 that may have affected over 1.3 million people.

While the healthcare industry has been making more efforts to shield themselves against cyber attackers, it still remains a very susceptible target for cybercriminals. Let us see why that is.

Why is cybersecurity in healthcare not as robust?

One might wonder, why would cybercriminals want to attack hospitals and clinics? Is it because patient data is extremely valuable, or because they are easy targets? Both are valid reasons for malicious actors to place their attack.

Healthcare companies have not been spending a lot of time or resources to secure their data in the past. They often use outdated systems that make their stored information vulnerable to attacks. In all fairness, many attackers aren’t necessarily demonstrating highly sophisticated schemes. They’re simply exploiting weaknesses that healthcare organizations haven’t addressed. Since these companies don’t have defensive measures set up, they become easy targets.

Here are some other reasons why the healthcare sector is being targeted by cybercriminals –

Access to Patient Data

Hospitals and clinics are required to maintain a detailed record of their patients, including the patients’ confidential data and medical histories. If malicious actors gain access to this data, they can sell it quickly in return for quite a lot of money. Many healthcare institutions are not aware of safe methods to secure all their information, making it easier for attackers to snoop in the system and steal the data.

Vulnerable Medical Devices

Modern medical technology plays a very important role in healthcare – X-rays, defibrillators, MRI machines, are critical in patient care. These machines are designed to fulfill very specific purposes, and data security is hardly a concern. Medical devices provide easy entry to attackers into the hospital database. Although these devices may not store information themselves, attackers can leverage these devices to launch an attack on another server that holds valuable information. Besides, the number of medical and technical devices used in a hospital is very high, and it becomes difficult to manually monitor the security of each device.

Easy Remote Access

To provide the best care for patients, the healthcare industry needs a collaborative working environment. This involves healthcare professionals often working remotely and accessing patient information from different devices. Connecting to the hospital server remotely from an unknown device is unreliable, as it carries the risk of compromising the entire system. Apart from that, hospital workers are often unaware of basic cybersecurity practices, and they might not be able to tell if there is any unusual activity going on.

Usage of Outdated Technology

Since the advancements in medical technology, few aspects of the healthcare industry have not kept up with the trends. Meaning, they are using outdated systems and devices. This might be because they have limited budgets, or the employees are hesitant to learn new technology. New technologies have introduced added security features, and failing to adopt those new methods, the healthcare companies become more vulnerable to getting attacked.

What is the impact of these attacks?

Cyber incidents can hugely impact patient care and operations, which leads to an increase in patient mortality rates.

In a study conducted by Ponemon Institute, it was found that in more than 20% of healthcare organizations that were surveyed, increased patient mortality rates were reported after experiencing a cyber attack. The most common consequence reported was a delay in procedures and tests.

Apart from impacting patient care, cyber attacks can prove to be expensive for these healthcare organizations.

How can cyberattacks on the healthcare systems be prevented?

When patient data is entered in the system of a healthcare organization, it becomes the responsibility of the organization to secure the information. While a lot of these hospitals and clinics are not equipped to handle cyber threats, they must prepare themselves accordingly.

Here are a few ways in which cybersecurity in healthcare systems can be practiced –

• • Regularly updating healthcare system software and devices will ensure that the security of the devices is maintained, thus reducing the risk of data breaches.
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• • Healthcare organizations must invest in cybersecurity solutions, and deploy frequent training and random penetration tests, to secure any vulnerabilities.
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• • Providing training to the staff to educate them on basic cybersecurity measures is equally necessary. They must be able to recognize the threats, and take immediate preventive steps.
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• • Risk-based authentication policies must be implemented when unknown devices try to gain remote access to the servers. This makes risk analysis easier, based on factors such as device location, identification, etc.
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• • One fundamental way in which healthcare systems can prevent cyber attacks, is by introducing a robust cybersecurity culture in their organization. It involves ensuring the implementation of strong passwords and two-factor authentication procedures.
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Conclusion

Patient care is one of the most crucial professions of them all. When opting for healthcare, patients are entrusting these organizations with providing the best solutions for them. Cyber attacks hinder the ability of healthcare professionals to provide the best care. It is therefore necessary for the healthcare industry to evaluate their threats, and take proper cybersecurity measures to avoid heavy expenses, or compromise patient care.