The increasing digitalization of healthcare has transformed the industry, offering numerous benefits such as improved patient care, streamlined operations, and enhanced data management. However, this shift also brings significant cybersecurity risks, particularly as the stakes for patient care and safety are high. Hence, with sensitive patient data now stored and transmitted electronically, the healthcare sector has become more vulnerable to cyberattacks that may result in extended care disruptions and huge financial losses.
While cyberattacks may occur anytime, system upgrade periods typically offer extended periods and unique opportunities for attacks. During these upgrades, risks such as data exposure, credential leaks, and compliance violations become more pronounced. Cybercriminals exploit these opportunities to access confidential information, disrupt operations, and cause financial damage.
To mitigate these threats, healthcare institutions must implement robust cybersecurity measures. This includes encryption of patient data, strong access controls, regular security audits, and comprehensive employee training programs. Consequently, healthcare providers can better protect sensitive patient information and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.
The Rising Cybersecurity Threats in Healthcare
As the healthcare industry has grown in recent decades in its use of data to make healthcare services more efficient, the industry has become a prime target for cybercriminals who see high value in stealing patient data. The value of patient data is reflected in the sensitive personal and financial information contained in the data maintained by the recordkeepers in the industry. Patient data has become arguably more lucrative on the black market than other stolen data types.
Information leaks for patients or other healthcare industry data leaks have become more rampant due to the system’s heavy reliance on vulnerable or outdated technology and infrastructure. Legacy systems, often used by many service providers in the healthcare industry, are not typically optimized for industry-specific needs or evolving cyber threat trends in mind. This implies that data breaches may be common with healthcare industry data.
In situations where healthcare organizations decide to migrate to modern systems, the transitioning process may result in security gaps that create unique opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit. Also, in the migration process, sensitive personal data may be lost (temporarily or permanently), and employees may be unfamiliar with the new configurations and protocols, inadvertently causing vulnerabilities that may be exploited by hackers.
Major Cybersecurity Risks in Healthcare System Upgrades
Some of the major cybersecurity risks facing the healthcare industry during system upgrades include the following:
Data Breaches: The Costliest Threat
One of the most significant risks faced in healthcare system upgrades is a data breach. PII, otherwise called Personally Identifiable Information and PHI (Protected Health Information) are invaluable to criminals. Cybercriminals may purchase PHI and PII for huge fees for use in fraud, identity theft, medical identity fraud, and other malicious activities. Examples of PII and PHI include data from hacked credit card details, online banking logins, and PayPal accounts.
No small number of high-profile healthcare data breaches have occurred. In some instances, ransomware attacks have exposed millions of patient records, leading to huge financial losses and reputational damage. The financial consequences of data breaches include the cost of notifying affected persons, legal settlements, and implementing stronger security measures, which may add up to massive financial losses.
Credential Stuffing Attacks
Although credential stuffing attacks are prevalent in certain industries such as retail and e-commerce, travel, and telecommunications, cybercriminals are starting to use them in healthcare industry attacks to gain unauthorized access to systems. These cybersecurity attacks often involve the use of automated bots to attempt thousands of logins using breached or stolen credentials.
The risk of this attack in the healthcare industry is increased due to the industry’s use of third-party software, which introduces another vulnerability area that may be exploited by hackers. Some healthcare systems use third-party applications to cater to patient management or billing. If account owners use the same access credentials for other critical service applications within the healthcare system, getting access to such credentials exposes the system to cyberattacks.
Ransomware & Malware Attacks
The healthcare industry is not left out of the ongoing wave of ransomware attacks. This type of attack spreads through unpatched systems and email phishing, where unsuspecting staff click malicious links or download infected attachments.
Once inside the network, ransomware encrypts critical files, rendering patient records and essential systems inaccessible until a ransom is paid. Ransomware attacks can be severe, potentially causing care disruptions, compromised medical records, and financial losses.
Some notable ransomware attacks on the healthcare industry in recent times include the attack at UnitedHealth-owned Change Healthcare and Ascension, one of the largest non-profit health systems in the United States. The attack on Change Healthcare caused the failure of critical payment systems and impacted millions of American citizens. The Ascension attack caused electronic health record outages and ambulance diversions.
Preventing Cybersecurity Breaches When Upgrading Systems
Cyber threats are not only becoming more common in the healthcare industry; they are also getting more sophisticated. To combat this worrying trend and keep above emerging threats, especially during system upgrades, healthcare organizations must consider adopting the following measures:
Conduct a Thorough Security Audit Before Upgrading
One way of preventing cybersecurity breaches when upgrading systems is to conduct a thorough security audit before any upgrade. This may be achieved by identifying vulnerabilities in legacy systems by examining outdated software, hardware, and configurations. Next, test for misconfigurations, unpatched software, and outdated encryption protocols to ensure all security measures are up-to-date. Finally, to ensure no stone is left unturned, evaluate vendor security standards for any third-party tools to ensure they comply with the industry’s best practices.
Strengthen Access Controls and Authentication
Strengthening access controls and authentication is essential to preventing cybersecurity breaches during system upgrades. To implement this, enforce MFA (multi-factor authentication) for all users to create an additional layer of security beyond traditional passwords. Then, implement RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) to limit system access based on users’ roles and responsibilities. Finally, regularly rotate and update employee credentials to ensure that any compromised credentials are quickly rendered useless.
Encrypt Data and Secure Network Infrastructure
To prevent cybersecurity breaches, consider encrypting patient data at rest and in transit. This helps to ensure that sensitive information remains confidential. Also, use firewalls and intrusion detection systems (IDS) to monitor network activity for suspicious behavior and potential threats. You should also segment networks to isolate sensitive data from public-facing systems to increase cybersecurity, reducing the risk of exposure in case of a breach.
Keep Systems Updated & Patch Vulnerabilities
Cybercriminals often exploit outdated software, making it important to apply patches as soon they are released by software makers in order to close security gaps. To make this process easier, consider automating security updates where possible to ensure timely application and minimize the risk of human error. Additionally, replace legacy systems that no longer receive vendor support, as they pose significant security risks.
Train Employees to Recognize Cyber Threats
You can prevent cybersecurity breaches by ensuring that your employees are trained to recognize and mitigate cyber threats. By implementing regular phishing simulations and security awareness training to help employees identify and avoid malicious links and emails, you may save your organization from potential financial loss. Educate staff on proper data handling practices and cybersecurity hygiene, such as recognizing suspicious activity and reporting potential threats. Furthermore, enforce strong password policies by discouraging password reuse and requiring complex passwords that include a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters.
Developing a Cyber Incident Response Plan
Regardless of all proactive measures that may be employed, you may still fall victim to cyberattacks due to human errors and other factors. This is why developing a cyber incident response plan (CIRP) is critical. You may begin by establishing protocols for detecting, containing, and responding to cybersecurity incidents. These protocols must outline the specific steps for identifying breaches, isolating affected systems, and implementing remediation measures.
As part of the CIRP, appoint a dedicated cybersecurity response team to act immediately after an attack, ensuring rapid and coordinated responses. Ensure that the team is trained to handle various incident types and can maintain clear communication with the relevant channels.
Additionally, ensure compliance with data protection laws such as HIPAA and GDPR during the recovery process, as adherence to these regulations is essential for protecting sensitive information and avoiding legal repercussions.
Conclusion
A Proactive Approach to Healthcare Cybersecurity
The healthcare industry continues to play an important role in society, and ensuring the cybersecurity of the organizations and data in the industry is critical even as cyber threats continue to evolve. To adopt a proactive approach against cyber threats, healthcare providers must integrate robust security controls into system upgrades from the outset. This includes investing in encryption, access controls, and regular security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities. Equally important is ongoing employee training to ensure staff may recognize and respond to potential threats.
Furthermore, conducting regular security audits is essential to identifying and addressing vulnerabilities promptly. By doing this, healthcare organizations can build resilient defenses against potential data breaches, and governments can ensure more efficient patient care pathways.
This article was written for WHN by Ben Hartwig, Web Operations Executive at Infotracer.com. Ben takes a wide view from the whole system. He is a security enthusiast and authors guides on the entire security posture, both physical and cyber. Ben enjoys sharing the best practices and does it the right way!
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN does not agree or disagree with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement.
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