Cyber attacks have become increasingly sophisticated over the last decade, especially in the healthcare sector.
The COVID-19 epidemic has created new cyber risks for the healthcare industry. In addition to the already grave circumstances faced by the healthcare industry owing to COVID-19, the pandemic has made the data and systems involved in healthcare a direct target or incidental victim of cyber threats. Malicious actors are capitalizing on the outbreak with phishing attempts and ransomware assaults. Not to mention, COVID-19 has left hospitals and other health centers vulnerable because both clinicians and the management have had to redirect their attention and resources towards handling this unprecedented emergency and its after-effects. In light of this, using advanced technologies to identify and mitigate cyber risks is becoming increasingly imminent in the healthcare sector.
In this blog, we will discuss some of the cyber threats that healthcare organizations have started facing in the age of COVID-19, how you can protect patient data in a digital setting, what measures you can take to protect medical devices and IoT in the healthcare environment, and why you should build a culture of cybersecurity awareness and training for your healthcare staff.
But first, let’s understand what makes the healthcare industry a prime target for cybercriminals.
Why Are Cyber Attacks So Common in the Healthcare Sector?
Cyberattacks targeting the healthcare sector are not new; health data offer some of the most detailed personal profiles that can be found, making them a prime target for fraud, identity theft, and credit card scams.
Ransomware assaults and attempts at data mining have increased significantly over the past few years; hospitals may be more willing to pay up because there is a life-or-death rush to get medical systems back up and operating as soon as possible. Additionally, the healthcare sector lags far behind other industries in cybersecurity due to obsolete software, a lack of digital awareness among staff, and a lack of laws and enforcement.
Now, how has COVID-19 led to an increase in opportunities for criminal activities in the healthcare industry? Owing to the disheaval brought about by the pandemic, attackers have found new ways to increase their use of social engineering and phishing techniques, capitalizing on people’s worry and fear of the coronavirus or posing as reliable organizations to solicit donations for COVID-related causes. Theft of personally identifiable information, ransomware, business email compromise, account takeovers, and other cyber-enabled financial crimes have also increased. Furthermore, even though our healthcare professionals have been caring for COVID patients while frequently being overworked and preoccupied, they have been disproportionately targeted by cybercriminals.
The greater problem, however, is the sudden shift in the industry towards more remote treatment modalities in the COVID-19 era. While more advanced technology has enabled healthcare professionals to handle the rising demand and cater to patients’ regular needs more safely, it has led organizations and health centers to loosen standards to meet physician demands and enable more telehealth offerings. This resulted in deploying new technological platforms, some of which posed greater security threats.
In addition, more providers were teleworking due to offices being closed and people being advised to stay at home to stop the spread of COVID-19. This necessitated the use of unsecured WiFi and a deficiency of workplace virtual private networks (VPNs), resulting in the growth of cybercrime targeting the healthcare industry. Besides this, using gadgets outside the workplace’s safety has also increased. Many breaches have occurred in the days after the pandemic kicked in owing to staff members misplacing assets, failing to secure devices that access private medical information, disregarding security or HIPAA guidelines, or accidentally delivering protected health information (PHI) to the wrong end-user.
Different Kinds of Cybersecurity Risks That Have Started Plaguing the Healthcare Industry Post COVID-19
The healthcare sector has witnessed a surge in cybersecurity risks post COVID-19 for two reasons: adopting digital technologies and remote healthcare delivery models.
Here are some prominent kinds of cybersecurity risks that have started plaguing healthcare organizations since the start of Covid-19:
Vulnerabilities Related To Telemedicine
As telemedicine platforms are widely used, there are now more cybersecurity threats to be aware of, such as data breaches, unauthorized access to patient information, and telehealth fraud. Cybercriminals take advantage of telemedicine software flaws such as inadequate authentication procedures, unencrypted data transmission, and insecure connections, allowing them to obtain sensitive medical data as more patient consultations occur remotely.
Ransomware Attacks
Owing to the instability and resource shortage caused by the pandemic, the healthcare industry has emerged as a popular target for ransomware assaults.
Ransomware attacks disrupt healthcare operations by encrypting important data and demanding money in exchange for the decryption keys. These assaults underscore the significance of strong cybersecurity defenses and incident response procedures by posing risks to healthcare organizations, such as downtime, delayed patient care, and large financial losses.
Data Privacy Concerns
The swift shift towards telecommuting and telehealth services has sparked worries over data security and adherence to laws like GDPR and HIPAA in the age of COVID-19. To detect and reduce potential privacy breaches, healthcare organizations must establish strong access controls, guarantee safe patient data storage and transfer, and carry out frequent audits and risk assessments.
Phishing and Social Engineering Crimes
Cybercriminals have started using the uncertainty and fear surrounding COVID-19 as a springboard to target patients and healthcare professionals with phishing attacks and social engineering frauds.
Malicious emails, texts, or phone calls masquerading as government agencies, healthcare authorities, or reliable organizations are frequently used in these attempts to fool people into sending sensitive information or clicking on harmful links. Due to the pandemic’s greater reliance on digital communication channels, patients and healthcare personnel need to be more aware of cybersecurity risks and receive cybersecurity training.
Supply Chain Risks
The pandemic has caused disruptions in the global healthcare supply chain, which has resulted in a lack of vital medical supplies and equipment. Cybercriminals target vendors, supply chain partners, and outside service providers connected to healthcare organizations to exploit these vulnerabilities. Supply chain assaults pose serious hazards to patient safety and data security since they can lead to compromised systems, data breaches, and malware infiltration into healthcare networks.
Following this, let’s understand how you can secure patient data in a digital setting (since the adoption of digital technologies is expected to persist in the post-pandemic era).
How To Manage the Security of Patient Data?
Amid the COVID-19 epidemic, managing patient data security in a digital environment necessitates a multimodal strategy that tackles numerous cybersecurity issues and risks.
The following are some crucial strategies you can employ in your healthcare organization:
- Establish Robust Access Controls: Limit who has access to patient data by applying least privilege and role-based access controls (RBAC). Ensure that important information is only accessible to authorized workers, and periodically check and adjust user rights to thwart unwanted access.
- Encrypt Patient Data: Encrypt patient data while in transit and at rest to prevent unwanted access and interception. Use robust encryption methods and protocols, particularly when transferring data over open networks or storing it on cloud-based platforms, to protect the confidentiality and integrity of patient information.
- Secure Telehealth Platforms: Choose communication tools and telehealth platforms that put security and adherence to laws like HIPAA first. To safeguard patient data during virtual consultations and remote healthcare delivery, use encryption, multi-factor authentication, and secure communication protocols.
- Conduct Regular Risk Assessments: To find weaknesses and openings in security measures, conduct risk assessments at short intervals. Evaluate the security posture of medical devices, networks, and digital systems and rank remediation efforts according to the seriousness of hazards discovered.
- Implement Endpoint Security Solutions: Install endpoint security tools, such as intrusion detection systems, firewalls, and antivirus software, to safeguard the devices that access patient data. To stop vulnerabilities from being exploited, ensure endpoints are routinely updated with the newest security patches and configurations.
- Monitor and Audit User Activity: Track user activities to spot suspicious behaviors and increase incident reaction time. Logging and monitoring systems should be put in place to monitor access rules. Conduct routine audits of network traffic, system activity, and access logs to spot possible security lapses and ensure security guidelines are followed.
These tactics can help healthcare organizations effectively manage the security of patient data in a digital setting, reduce the risks associated with cyber threats, and guarantee the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of healthcare services in the face of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to the healthcare industry.
That’s not all, though. Data is not the only thing vulnerable to cyber threats; medical devices and IoT systems are, too. In the following section, we will discuss what measures you can take to protect your medical devices and IoT systems in your healthcare organization.
What Measures Can Protect Your Medical Devices?
Similar to data, safeguarding your medical devices requires a proactive and multi-layered approach that addresses the unique cybersecurity challenges associated with these interconnected technologies.
Here are some key strategies you can employ in your healthcare organization:
- Implement Network Segmentation: Segment the network to separate medical devices and Internet of Things systems from other areas, like guest and administrative networks. This may prevent possible breaches and restrict the spread of malware and illegal access to vital systems.
- Update and Patch Frequently: Ensure medical IoT systems and equipment are routinely updated with the newest firmware and security patches. Cybercriminals may exploit software or firmware flaws to access a device without authorization or interfere with its normal operation.
- Stabilize the Authentication Mechanisms: Use robust authentication techniques, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) or biometric authentication, to confirm user identities when they access medical equipment or Internet of Things systems. This improves sensitive data security by thwarting unwanted access.
- Encrypt Data Both at Rest and in Transit: To prevent tampering and interception, encrypt data being transferred between IoT systems and medical equipment. Moreover, encrypt data on devices and cloud-based platforms to guarantee privacy and security—even if the device is misplaced or stolen.
- Implement Robust Access Controls: Use least privilege and role-based access controls (RBAC) to limit access to medical equipment and Internet of Things platforms. Restrict access to authorized users exclusively and periodically evaluate and adjust permissions according to duties and job roles.
- Monitor and Audit Device Activity. Implement logging and monitoring tools to monitor user behavior, network traffic, and system events on medical devices and Internet of Things systems. In addition, look for unauthorized access or unusual activity and act quickly to address any possible security concerns.
These measures can help healthcare organizations protect patient safety and data integrity in the COVID-19 era, reduce the risk of cyberattacks, and strengthen the security posture of medical devices and IoT systems.
Lastly, every healthcare organization relies on a large, not primarily technologically inclined staff. This makes it extremely essential to educate them and raise awareness regarding how cyber attacks can dismantle their routine work and cause the organization to suffer in more ways than one. Let’s discuss why you should build a culture of cybersecurity awareness and training for your healthcare staff.
Why Should You Educate and Train Continuously Your Staff To Recognize Cyber Risks ?
To reduce the escalating dangers of cyberattacks in the healthcare industry, it is crucial to cultivate a culture of cybersecurity awareness and provide healthcare workers with training. Because they manage so much sensitive patient data, healthcare organizations are often the focus of cyberattacks.
Teaching employees about incident response procedures, threat detection techniques, and cybersecurity best practices can eventually enable them to identify and mitigate possible hazards. Establishing a culture of cybersecurity awareness also encourages employees to follow established security policies and procedures and to take a proactive approach to security. In addition to strengthening the organization’s overall security posture and enhancing resilience against cyber threats, this also helps secure patient data and confidentiality and reduces the possibility of expensive data breaches or disruptions to healthcare operations.
Cybersecurity and Compliance with Akitra!
Establishing trust is a crucial competitive differentiator when courting new SaaS businesses in today’s era of deepfakes, data breaches, and compromised privacy. Customers and partners want assurances that their organizations are doing everything possible to prevent disclosing sensitive data and putting them at risk, and compliance certification fills that need.
Akitra offers an industry-leading, AI-powered Compliance Automation platform for SaaS companies. With its expertise in technology solutions and compliance, Akitra is well-positioned to assist companies in navigating the complexities of compliance and assisting in using automation tools to streamline compliance processes and put in best practices for cybersecurity posture. In addition, Akitra can provide invaluable guidance in implementing the necessary frameworks and methodologies that prevent malicious agents from manipulating sensitive information using AI technologies like deepfakes.
Using automated evidence collection and continuous monitoring, together with a full suite of customizable policies and controls as a compliance foundation, our compliance automation platform and services help our customers become compliance-ready for security standards, such as SOC 1, SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, ISO 27701, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, ISO 9001, ISO 13485, ISO 42001, NIST CSF, NIST 800-53, NIST 800-171, NIST 800-218, NIST AI RMF, FedRAMP, CCPA, CMMC, SOX ITGC, and more such as CIS AWS Foundations Benchmark, Australian ISM and Essential Eight etc. In addition, companies can use Akitra’s Risk Management product for overall risk management using quantitative methodologies such as Factorial Analysis of Information Risks (FAIR) and qualitative methods, including NIST-based for your company, Vulnerability Assessment and Pen Testing services, Third Party Vendor Risk Management, Trust Center, and AI-based Automated Questionnaire Response product to streamline and expedite security questionnaire response processes, delivering huge cost savings. Our compliance and security experts provide customized guidance to navigate the end-to-end compliance process confidently. Last but not least, we have also developed a resource hub called Akitra Academy which provides easy-to-learn short video courses on security, compliance, and related topics of immense significance for today’s fast-growing companies.
The benefits of our solution include enormous savings in time, human resources, and cost savings, including discounted audit fees with our audit firm partners. Customers can achieve compliance certification fast and cost-effectively, stay continuously compliant as they grow, and become certified under additional frameworks from our single compliance automation platform.
Build customer trust. Choose Akitra TODAY!
To book your FREE DEMO, contact us right here.
