Cybersecurity for Healthcare

Healthcare Cybersecurity

Healthcare cybersecurity is of critical importance today for any organization in the healthcare industry. HIPAA, the HITECH Act and PHI regulations for healthcare privacy and security require strict control over patient information and enforce significant penalties when violations occur. Unfortunately for healthcare organizations, a medical records breach can happen all too easily, whether due to an inadvertent internal data leak or a malicious external attack.

Organizations everywhere are taking greater pains to ensure healthcare cybersecurity as the value of healthcare data has risen dramatically and attackers seek to monetize healthcare data. From protection against ransomware and spear-phishing to measures that prevent malicious or accidental data leaks, organizations require comprehensive solutions for IT security in healthcare that can help to protect patient data, reputation and the bottom line. 

Cyber Threats to Healthcare

Healthcare providers face threats from all angles - patient data is a lucrative target for hackers, and with the rise of electronic medical records (EMRs) it has become highly accessible. Healthcare institutions need a resilient cybersecurity solution that takes the burden of protection off their staff, who need to concentrate on treating patients.

Common cyber threats for the healthcare industry include:

• Medical Records Breaches
• Phishing
• Malware
• Ransomware
• Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)

Why is Cybersecurity Important in Healthcare?

Patient data is a valuable commodity on the black market. In addition, hackers know that healthcare institutions cannot afford downtime at the expense of patient care. For their part, healthcare institutions need a complete security strategy that includes defenses across their perimeter, awareness training for staff and a business continuity plan that ensures attacks do not cause downtime.

What Makes Cybersecurity in Healthcare Challenging?

The stakes are so very high.

Digital patient records

Patient and hospital data is increasingly stored, shared and analyzed electronically. That creates a large attack surface for cybercriminals with many points of entry.

Downtime is not an option 

For healthcare institutions, a ransomware attack is a life-and-death matter. They need speedy resolution, which often means paying the hacker to eliminate the threat. 

Ransomware attacks

Four out of five healthcare institutions have been affected by ransomware attacks. And the threat is growing. 

Patient priority

Healthcare workers have one priority: treating patients. They're not IT professionals, so they need a security partner that takes the headache out of email, data and ransomware protection.

Impact of Data Breaches on the Healthcare Industry

The consequences of a data breach in healthcare are far-reaching, with serious implications for both patient safety and organizational trust.

• Reputation Damage: A breach of protected health information can erode trust in an organization, damaging its reputation and driving patients to competitors. Trust is paramount in healthcare, and once lost, it can be difficult to regain.
• Financial Consequences: The financial impact of a data breach is staggering. Aside from the fines imposed for noncompliance with regulations like HIPAA, a healthcare provider may face lawsuits from affected patients, as well as the costs associated with investigating and mitigating the breach.
• Operational Disruption: Healthcare data breaches can disrupt normal operations, especially if critical systems are taken offline during an attack. This downtime can affect the delivery of care, and in severe cases, even result in life-threatening delays in treatment.
• Regulatory and Legal Penalties: Healthcare organizations that fail to protect patient data face hefty fines. A breach not only violates privacy regulations but can also result in increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies, impacting the organization’s ability to function.

Best Practices for Cybersecurity in Healthcare

To mitigate the growing risks and ensure robust protection, healthcare organizations should adopt these best practices:

1. Adopt a Comprehensive Security Strategy: Healthcare organizations need a layered approach to cybersecurity that includes firewalls, email security, encryption, and endpoint protection. A multi-faceted strategy ensures multiple points of defense against evolving threats.
2. Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular audits to evaluate the effectiveness of security measures and identify potential vulnerabilities. This proactive approach helps organizations address weaknesses before they are exploited.
3. Encrypt Sensitive Data: All sensitive patient data, including emails, files, and communications, should be encrypted to ensure it is protected during transmission and storage.
4. Employee Training and Awareness: Healthcare staff must be educated on the importance of cybersecurity, especially in relation to phishing attacks and secure handling of patient data. Regular training ensures that staff are equipped to recognize potential threats.
5. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA is an essential security measure to prevent unauthorized access to systems. By requiring more than one form of verification, organizations can add an extra layer of protection for sensitive patient data.
6. Backup and Recovery Plans: Establish robust backup systems and disaster recovery plans to ensure that patient data can be quickly restored in the event of an attack, particularly ransomware.
7. Third-Party Risk Management: As many healthcare organizations rely on third-party vendors, it’s crucial to assess the security measures in place for each vendor and ensure they comply with the same stringent cybersecurity practices.

The Mimecast Cybersecurity Solution for Healthcare

The Mimecast cybersecurity solution for healthcare helps providers and other institutions achieve greater security and resilience by blocking threats that can lead to ransomware attacks, patient data breaches and other disruptions that put care at risk. With Mimecast, healthcare companies can:

• Prevent email-borne ransomware infections and other advanced attacks.
• Protect clinicians from being targeted with malicious URLs or attachments.
• Encrypt mail messages and share attachments securely.
• Get continuity so email works even during an outage.
• Reduce cyber risk by improving security awareness.
• Block malicious or inappropriate web activity.

Explore how Mimecast can protect your organization, or request a demo.