It has become increasingly apparent in the past few years that technology has played a significant role to assist hospitals and patients in managing their interactions. This is at a time when healthcare systems are stretched to their limits. HMIS has been concerned with the issue of cyber security for quite some time. The use of Health information technology (HIT) in hospitals has made it possible for them to synchronize patient information safely and securely.
Cyberattacks are no longer a thing of the past for organizations. A resilient business with superior risk management separates it from a data breach business.
Many techniques can be used to ensure resilience, including meticulous calculations of all potential risks and implementing control measures to mitigate them if necessary.
As a result of healthcare cybersecurity, services that protect patients' data and privacy from cyber threats and attacks are being adopted by healthcare organizations around the globe.
A crucial factor for the success of healthcare is the safety of patient information, which means that all stakeholders must take every precaution to ensure that patient information remains sensitive. There is no doubt that healthcare cybersecurity threats extend internally and externally, which is why it is imperative to realize this.
There has been a rapid evolution of hacking tactics used to exploit population fears. This was done to use the panic during the pandemic. Keeping up with the ever-evolving threats, especially in the healthcare sector, is made possible by cybersecurity best practices.
The absence of a secure cybersecurity framework invites unwanted cyber threats, which can put the hospital and its patients at risk in terms of both financial and clinical risks. Cyber frauds, malware and ransomware attacks, phishing attacks, and other cyber scams are a few of the most common threats facing the healthcare industry.
A Review of Common Health Cyber Risks
As part of the healthcare system, hospitals also store patient health records that contain sensitive information.
In addition, they received a large payment from the company. A cybercriminal who wants to steal money from a patient's account is eager to obtain payment details from the patient's account. They use them for identity theft and financial fraud, which enables them to steal money from the patient.
Fraudulent emails
As the name suggests, phishing refers to a process in which a threat actor appears as a legitimate entity or individual. This can trick you into divulging confidential data to them. To get access to your network, the attacker manipulates you into opening malicious content downloaded to your computer, tricking you into giving them access to your network by clicking on the content. When this type of writing is done, it will usually evoke the fear of missing out (FOMO) and a sense of urgency.
Healthcare organizations likely receive a tremendous amount of emails and messages since they cater to the public. There are many ways threat actors can pose as prospective patients or business partners to launch phishing attacks against them.
Attacks by ransomware
It is well known that ransomware encrypts your computer and locks you out of your network in an attempt to take control of the system. They intend to encrypt your files in a way that makes them inaccessible without the key to decrypt them. You will then be asked to pay them a ransom to regain access to your system.
Because healthcare organizations possess ransomware-sensitive data, they are prone to ransomware attacks. In most cases, attackers would prefer to pay up than allow their confidential information to be compromised or exposed.
Increasing Supply Chain Vulnerability
Attacks on supply chains may come from any one of the multiple areas that are part of and contribute to it. Health insurance companies work with a wide range of suppliers and partners who provide them with products and services that enable them to operate effectively. Several third parties have been granted authorization access to their network so that they can make their operations seamless.
Health organizations can do one of the most important things to stay on top of these threats. Getting your healthcare system's cybersecurity up to speed is essential if you want to ensure its integrity.
1. Staff Cyber Security Training
A robust technical control system can make it much more challenging for unauthorized people to gain access to your systems which is why it is beneficial to put in place such controls. Social engineers circumvent system safeguards by using phishing and spoofing. These tactics take advantage of users' lack of security awareness. All employees are required to undergo cybersecurity training so they know what to do to prevent data loss or theft.
2. User Access Controlled
Hackers are often pictured congregating in dark underground rooms and huddled close together when hacking.
Your systems are constantly penetrated and decrypted to compromise your privacy. There are, however, some exceptions to this rule, such as most successful attacks coming through a system's front door i.e. by attempting to access the system through an authenticated user account. You need to define the different roles each employee within your organization plays. This will enable you to create a system access control policy that is feasible to implement within your organization. This information should already be available in the human resources department.
3. A Depth Approach to Security
A security software maker cannot guarantee 100 percent that their application will prevent hacks with their application for the duration of its use. There are several levels of security that you need to have, and that's why you need them. Getting around one will not give an attacker access to your data, even if they manage to circumvent one successfully. There are several security measures you can take to keep intruders out of your network. These measures include a firewall, an anti-virus program, and a whitelist of approved applications.
Since this is the same as the different forms of security you might install in your own home, it does not seem a big deal that there are different types of security. Lighting, door locks, alarms, security cameras, guard dogs, and security guards are some of them that can be installed to improve security around homes.
4. Recovery of Lost Data
Among the reasons why cyberattacks are carried out is the theft of personal data, which is a common occurrence. An infection caused by a virus as well as a DDoS attack can cause disruptions to your work. While DDoS attacks and malware infections have the potential to corrupt your data and render it unusable, they aren't likely to overtly steal information. The loss of your data is much more devastating than having it accessed unauthorized by someone else. As with hackers gaining access to patient data, it can not only damage your reputation, but it can also cripple your operations to the extent that it can bring down your entire company and public image.
