Healthcare cybersecurity: protecting patient data from the latest threats

What is healthcare cybersecurity?

Healthcare cybersecurity protects sensitive patient data and ensures uninterrupted healthcare services. Protecting electronic health records (EHRs), medical devices and network infrastructures from cyber threats requires a blend of strategies, technologies and policies.

Healthcare institutions are critical infrastructure in our society. The lives of many patients depend on the continued operation of hospitals, clinics and laboratories. These institutions also handle vast amounts of sensitive information. Keeping this data confidential is not just a regulatory requirement but also a foundation of patient trust.

At large healthcare organizations, Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and dedicated Information Security teams are responsible for managing cyber risks. These professionals, often holding certifications like CISSP, CISM and HCISPP, develop comprehensive security policies, implement advanced technologies and conduct regular training.

Smaller to medium-sized healthcare organizations often face unique challenges in implementing robust cybersecurity measures. Since these organizations may not have dedicated cybersecurity professionals, healthcare cybersecurity responsibilities often fall to general IT teams. 

These teams often rely on external consultants or managed security service providers (MSSPs) to fill expertise gaps and build a comprehensive healthcare cybersecurity program. However, limited resources and budget constraints can pose significant barriers to effective cybersecurity implementation. 

The current state of cybersecurity in healthcare

Cyber attacks on healthcare facilities have grown exponentially, posing a significant threat to patient data and healthcare operations. In 2023 alone, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) received 725 data breach reports, with over 133 million records exposed. 

Healthcare organizations are particularly vulnerable due to the critical nature of their data and operations. The vast amounts of valuable PHI and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) stored by these organizations attract financially motivated cybercriminals. Nearly two-thirds of healthcare cyber attacks exposed sensitive personal details, while over half of such incidents led to the theft of critical medical information, posing a significant threat to patient safety and trust.

The consequences of cyber threats on healthcare organizations can be severe. Disclosure of sensitive information can lead to legal action, disruption in operations and steep fines. Attackers, aware of these high stakes, increasingly target the healthcare sector.

Despite the importance of cybersecurity, many healthcare organizations struggle to protect patient safety and sensitive data from sophisticated threats. Over half of healthcare organizations lack in-house cybersecurity expertise, and 41% say they have insufficient budgets to defend against modern cyber attacks. 

As new technologies are integrated into the operations of healthcare facilities, legacy systems often remain in use, introducing potential vulnerabilities. The constant introduction of new devices, digitization of records and cloud migrations further complicate security efforts. 

Additionally, healthcare organizations increasingly rely on connected devices to provide care. From medical equipment to security systems around hospitals, Internet of Things (IoT) devices with poor security defenses can be exploited by attackers as entry points to an organization’s network.

Cybersecurity threats targeting healthcare organizations

The healthcare sector has a large attack surface due to a mix of legacy and new technologies, fragmented cybersecurity measures and interconnected healthcare institutions. This provides threat actors with multiple ways to access healthcare environments. Here are the most common healthcare cybersecurity threats: 

Ransomware attacks

Ransomware emerged as the biggest threat to healthcare organizations. In ransomware attacks, threat actors gain access to healthcare networks through phishing emails, malicious attachments or exploiting software vulnerabilities. Once inside, the malware spreads, encrypting data and locking users out of critical systems. 

The attackers then demand a ransom, threatening to delete or leak the data if the ransom is not paid. In some cases, even after a ransom is paid, the attackers may engage in double or triple extortion, selling the data on the Dark Web or using it for identity theft or fraud. 

Exploited vulnerabilities

The number of zero-day attacks in the healthcare sector almost tripled in 2023, making it one of the most common initial access vectors. Cybercriminals exploit weaknesses in outdated or unpatched systems to gain unauthorized access. These vulnerabilities can lead to unauthorized access to patient data, disruption of medical services and potential manipulation of medical devices, posing significant risks to patient safety.

One of the most significant public extortion campaigns started with a zero-day vulnerability in the MOVEit file transfer software. The June 2023 MOVEit attack impacted thousands of organizations, including healthcare institutions, and compromised the sensitive personal and medical data of millions of individuals. 

Phishing

Phishing continues to be the leading cause of healthcare cyber attacks, accounting for 73% of breaches. Business email compromise typically starts with an email disguised as typical business communications urgently requesting the recipient to open an attachment or follow a provided link. Following this request often leads the user to compromise login credentials or install malware.

Modern phishing threats can be highly sophisticated and difficult to spot for untrained employees. Some malware strains can hijack and replay older email threads from known senders, increasing the chances of a user clicking on the attachment. Others use generative AI technologies like Chat GPT to craft convincing emails that manipulate users into believing the email is legitimate.

Cloud vulnerabilities

The shift to telemedicine has accelerated the adoption of cloud services in healthcare. While cloud services offer scalability and convenience, they also introduce new vulnerabilities. Cloud vulnerabilities can arise from misconfigurations, lack of complete visibility, and unaccounted use of cloud platforms, which provide cybercriminals with entry points to access sensitive data.

These vulnerabilities allow attackers to exploit weaknesses in cloud environments. Once inside, they can move laterally within the cloud infrastructure, accessing PHI, personal data and other critical information. This can lead to widespread operational disruptions and compliance violations.

Supply chain attacks

Healthcare organizations operate in interconnected systems, with many entities, such as clinics, hospitals, insurance companies and third-party providers, sharing access to data. This complex environment creates multiple points of potential vulnerability, making the healthcare sector the most affected by third-party attacks. 

Third-party attacks exploit the established relationships between healthcare providers and vendors to steal sensitive information or gain unauthorized access to their systems. These attacks can be difficult to detect as they occur outside the organization’s network, resulting in widespread data breaches that severely impact patient safety and trust.

Healthcare cybersecurity regulations

Compliance with cybersecurity regulations is not just a legal requirement but a crucial step for healthcare organizations to protect patient data and avoid fines. In the United States, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) are the two main healthcare cybersecurity regulations requiring healthcare organizations and their business partners to protect the privacy and security of health information and outlining rules for data handling and breach notifications.

HIPAA sets national standards for protecting health information. It requires healthcare organizations to implement administrative, physical security and technical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI). HIPAA also mandates regular risk assessments, workforce training and incident response plans to address potential breaches.

HITECH Act expands on HIPAA by promoting health information technology, particularly EHRs. It also introduces breach notification requirements, mandating organizations to notify affected individuals and the HHS after a data breach.

Beyond the U.S., healthcare organizations may be required to comply with regional cybersecurity regulations:

• The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) mandates that healthcare organizations in Canada protect personal information by adopting appropriate security measures. It also requires organizations to report breaches that pose a significant risk of harm to individuals and to keep detailed records of all breaches.
• The Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2) aims to enhance cybersecurity across the European Union by requiring healthcare institutions to implement robust security measures, conduct regular risk assessments and report cybersecurity incidents to national authorities.
• The Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Essential 8 outlines eight essential mitigation strategies to help organizations, including healthcare institutions, protect against cyber threats. These strategies include application whitelisting, patching applications and restricting administrative privileges.

How to protect your healthcare organization from cyber attacks

Protecting your healthcare organization from cyber threats requires a proactive and comprehensive approach. Here are several key practices to improve your security posture and protect sensitive data.

1. Reframe cyber risk as business risk

Cybersecurity can directly affect patient safety and the operational stability of healthcare institutions. The disruption caused by cyber attacks can cost healthcare institutions $1.3 million per incident, while the cost of data breaches reaches a staggering 10.93 million. 

It’s necessary to treat cybersecurity as a fundamental strategic priority linked to your risk management strategy. Integrating cybersecurity into your business risk management framework helps prioritize investments in security technologies, policies and training programs. This involves aligning cybersecurity goals with business objectives and engaging senior leadership in cybersecurity discussions. Doing so can create a culture where cybersecurity is seen as a shared responsibility across all departments, not just an IT issue. 

2. Conduct regular phishing and security awareness training

Since phishing remains one of healthcare’s most common attack vectors, an effective security awareness training program is essential. Regular training that includes real-world examples can help employees recognize phishing attempts and other social engineering tactics. Ensuring your team is well-trained and vigilant reduces the risk of successful phishing attacks and enhances your organization’s security posture.

3. Implement regular patch management

Regularly updating and patching your systems is critical to prevent attackers from exploiting known vulnerabilities. A robust patch management program ensures that all software and hardware are kept up to date with the latest security patches and updates. 

As new vulnerabilities are discovered every day, it’s critical that your patch management program has a structured process to identify, prioritize, test and deploy the most critical patches across your entire IT environment. This strategy can help effectively leverage your cybersecurity resources while reducing the risk of cybercriminals gaining access through unpatched vulnerabilities.

4. Establish backup systems

Reliable backup systems and services can speed up your recovery from cyber attacks. Regularly backing up your data ensures that you can restore critical information quickly in case of a breach. 

It’s not enough to have backups – you must regularly test your restoration and recovery procedures to ensure they work effectively in real-world conditions. Testing these procedures helps identify potential weaknesses and improve your recovery time.

5. Establish Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) rules

With the increasing use of mobile devices in healthcare, establishing strong BYOD rules and controls is essential. Policies that require strong passwords, regular updates and limited access to corporate assets can help protect sensitive data on mobile devices. These measures can help reduce the risk of data breaches from lost or compromised devices and improve healthcare network security.

6. Require encryption of stored data

Requiring encryption for stored data is a critical practice for protecting sensitive information. Encrypting data ensures that even if your employee’s devices are lost or stolen, the data remains unreadable and secure. To further strengthen your security posture, encryption should be implemented as part of a comprehensive data protection strategy alongside other security measures like access controls and regular monitoring.

7. Integrate cybersecurity with physical security

Cybersecurity attacks do not always originate remotely. Unauthorized access to restricted areas, in-person computer tampering and server room breaches are also potential gateways for perpetrators to initiate cyber attacks. To help reduce your cyber risk, physical security technologies, such as hospital security cameras and access control, should be integrated to monitor, prevent and track cyber threats.

The healthcare sector is facing a growing number of sophisticated threats from ransomware, zero-day vulnerabilities, supply chain risks and cloud misconfigurations. To prevent disruptions in patient care and secure sensitive data, healthcare security leaders must prioritize comprehensive cybersecurity programs. By understanding the latest threats and adopting proactive practices like regular training, patch management and data encryption, healthcare organizations can significantly improve their security posture. 

Leveraging trusted solutions for security is a critical step in managing healthcare cyber risks. Pelco helps put your business ahead of cyber threats by taking a proactive approach to cyber risk management and enabling you to facilitate rapid response. Learn more about Pelco’s security solutions designed to help protect your patients’ data from the latest cyber threats.