Healthcare cybersecurity is a critical aspect of protecting sensitive medical information and ensuring the integrity and availability of healthcare systems. With the increasing digitization of healthcare data and the common use of personal health information, cyber security in healthcare industry is facing growing challenge. As threats evolve, so must the healthcare cybersecurity solutions used to protect patient data and maintain the integrity of healthcare systems.
Healthcare CyberSecurity
The healthcare industry is no stranger to cyberattacks. Hospitals, especially due to their large assets, are frequent targets. Preventing files and systems from being accessed until the attackers receive a payment.
Paying the cyberattack ransom, however, is actually not recommended as it only encourages more attacks of this type. However, whether the ransom is paid or not, there is a risk of the data never being recovered (Ransomware Facts). The fact that the industry is so nonchalant about healthcare cybersecurity means that they are at serious risk…
First and foremost, healthcare cybersecurity is paramount. The healthcare sector encompasses a wide array of organizations engaged in the most crucial, intricate, and data-intensive operations, all revolving around our well-being. As such, healthcare industry obtains highly unique, significant data. The value of the data within the healthcare and public health sector, which is largely personal health information (PHI), can sell for over 100x more than personally identifiable information (PII) on the black market. Making this sector an attractive target for bad actors.
Healthcare Organizations also need to comply with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). To ensure protection of patient’s data and privacy.
Today, the healthcare industry, hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories and more, are benefiting from a close relationship with technology, thanks to all the advantages it has provided. However, this means greater risks of cyberattacks occurring (CyberSecurity Threats in Healthcare).
Does the Healthcare Industry have Healthy Cybersecurity?
Data breaches can have serious consequences, including financial losses, damage to reputation, and potential legal ramifications (Fight back against data breaches). In the realm of healthcare cyber security, the year 2018 witnessed 365 data breaches, averaging to one breach per day. These incidents laid bare over 13 million records, highlighting the sector’s vulnerability (Cases Currently Under Investigation).
The health sector is also vulnerable to malware attacks, especially those of ransomware attacks, which make up 39% of malware related attacks. Ransomware attacks will encrypt the target’s data until a payment is made. Whereby the decryption key still only might be provided. In 2020, nearly half of all healthcare data breaches were attributed to malware attacks, as reported by the HHS Office of Information Security’s “2020: A Retrospective Look at Healthcare Cybersecurity.”
Rogue devices are becoming an increasingly used attack tool. Due to their invisibility to security software since the attack occurs on the Physical Layer. Spoofed peripherals attached to an organization’s network or endpoint can perform data theft and manipulation actions. Enabling data withdrawal or malware installation.
Network Security and Rogue Devices
In the domain of healthcare cybersecurity, rogue devices are peripherals that malicious actors have manipulated to act with malicious intent. They have the ability to carry out various types of malware attacks, including malware attacks, and data breaches. The previously mentioned weaknesses of critical infrastructure can all be exploited by rogue devices. Making them a useful attack tool for criminals, but a dangerous enemy for the victim. Most importantly, these devices not only look genuine to the human eye but also go unseen by security software solutions. Which simply identify them as legitimate human interface devices (Hacked Device), such as a mouse or a keyboard. Therefore will not raise any EPS/EDR alerts. Network breach tools and spoofed devices attacks (spoofed laptops) occur on the Physical Layer (Layer 1). Which the existing security software, mainly network access control (NAC) and intrusion detection systems (IDS) does not cover.
Insider Cyber Threats
Certainly, there is a potential for employees to engage in harmful activities, such as insider threats. The main cybersecurity risks in healthcare come from employees accidentally increasing risk to attacks or inadvertently starting them. Malicious actors often exploit social engineering techniques. Taking advantage of the lack of training, leading many employees to accidentally fall prey to these tactics. Consequently, attackers can embed rogue links and websites within phishing emails, and when clicked, initiate the download of malware onto the endpoint.
Key Aspects of Healthcare Cybersecurity
Data Protection: Ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive patient information, often governed by regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA Security Rule).
Network Security: Implementing robust measures to secure networks, prevent unauthorized access, and detect and respond to any suspicious activities (Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices).
Endpoint Security: Protecting individual devices (computers, smart phones, medical devices) from malware, ransomware, and other cybersecurity threats.
Access Control: Restricting access to sensitive information based on roles and responsibilities, and ensuring that only authorized individuals can access patient data.
Incident Response: Establishing protocols to respond effectively to cyber security incidents, including data breaches or other security breaches.
Security Training and Awareness: Educating healthcare staff about cyber security best practices, recognizing phishing attempts, and promoting a culture of security awareness.
Regulatory Compliance: Adhering to relevant regulations and standards, such as HIPAA, which set guidelines for protecting patient health information.
Sepio’s Healthcare CyberSecurity Solution
Sepio’s Asset Risk Management (ARM) platform provides comprehensive visibility and control over hardware assets. By leveraging unique physical layer hardware fingerprinting technology, Sepio detects and mitigates rogue devices. Ensuring organizations have full visibility of all hardware devices, from endpoints to connected devices (IT/OT/IoT).
With predefined granular policies, Sepio enables compliance, regulation, and best practices. Offering a fast and easy setup without the need for baselining or whitelisting.
Protect your healthcare organization from cyber threats with Sepio’s asset risk management innovative solution. Gain control over asset risks, detect known and shadow assets, and prioritize risk mitigation. By embracing Sepio’s Asset Risk Management platform, you fortify your ability to protect patient data, guarantee operational continuity, and stand robust against the ever changing landscape of healthcare cybersecurity challenges.
See every known and shadow asset. Prioritize and mitigate risks.
Talk to an expert. It will help you understand how to use Sepio’s patented technology to gain control of your asset risks.
Learn more about Healthcare CyberSecurity:
- IoT in Healthcare
- CyberSecurity Threats in Healthcare
- Connected Healthcare Devices
- Asset Risk Management for Healthcare
