Medical institutions must have strong cybersecurity healthcare. There are various reasons why this industry is the biggest target for cyberattacks. Read on to find out more.
The methods that hackers use have grown both in number and complexity. Thus, organizations are more susceptible to cyberattacks which may compromise confidential patient data.
However, the busy nature of the healthcare industry means healthcare staff doesn’t have the time and resources to educate themselves about cyber threats. Furthermore, they think that the potential disruption brought by a complete overhaul in online security is too big to handle.
Yet, it’s imperative for all medical institutions to have strong cybersecurity healthcare. Listed below are the main reasons why healthcare is now the biggest target for online attacks.
Private patient information is worth a lot of money to attackers
Hospitals store a massive amount of patient data. Hence, it is their responsibility to protect their patients’ personal records. Hackers will do everything to steal those confidential data as such information is worth a lot of money and can be sold easily.
Negligence in cybersecurity healthcare may result in huge financial penalties. Various regulating bodies impose hefty fines to organizations for a data breach. Moreover, ransomware is rampant. It is where a hacker encrypts an organization’s database. The hacker demands a ransom, usually in bitcoin, in exchange for the decryption of the database.
The factors mentioned above are real and an alarming thought for the healthcare industry. Investing in security measures like multi-factor authentication is far less than the pay-out from ransomware or similar attacks.
Medical devices are an easy entry point for attackers
The innovation in healthcare technology has brought immeasurable benefits. Medical devices now play a critical role in modern healthcare. However, they have also opened up more entry points for attacks. That is because these devices are not made with security in mind.
Hackers are aware that medical devices don’t contain any patient data. Yet, hackers view these devices as easy targets. These devices don’t have the security found on laptops and computers.
Hackers may use these medical devices to launch an attack on a server holding valuable information. Moreover, they may also use such devices to install costly malware. The key here is to secure network devices wherever possible.
Healthcare staff aren’t educated in online risks
Medical professionals have undergone a lot of training. Yet, their hectic schedule hinders them from educating themselves in online threats. Moreover, factors such as budget and resources mean it’s simply not possible for all staff to be fluent in cybersecurity best practices.
The interface of cybersecurity solutions must be simple. Furthermore, medical staff needs a secure network that is easy to access. Cybersecurity solutions like SSO and MFA are easy to use and add extra layers of security.
Smaller healthcare organizations are also at risk
Hackers often attack large organizations. Yet, this doesn’t mean that smaller healthcare organizations are safe. They are also targets due to their smaller security budgets. This makes it easier for hackers to infiltrate their systems.
Effective cybersecurity solutions have become a must for all sizes of healthcare organizations. That is because they’re all in charge of sensitive patient data.
