A cyberattack on Ascension Healthcare in May 2024 encrypted thousands of computer systems, making electronic health records inaccessible. Critical diagnostic services like MRIs and CT scans were affected. According to the FBI’s IC3 report, the healthcare industry is the top victim of cyberattacks because it has valuable data and glaring security issues.
Despite strict security regulations and many government-enforced measures, cybersecurity threats in healthcare cause organizations to regularly lose data and money. Cyberattacks can quickly disrupt critical care, and only robust cybersecurity can protect sensitive health data and critical systems. Healthcare institutions that can’t identify and prevent common attack points, put patients’ health and safety at risk.
Our guide looks at the most common cybersecurity threats in the healthcare industry and how to overcome them.
Healthcare threats aim to damage systems, steal data, or disrupt computing. They can come from different sources, like hackers or untrained employees. By taking advantage of security weaknesses, loopholes, or vulnerabilities, these threats can negatively affect business operations. The major cybersecurity threats in healthcare are:
Healthcare institutions collect and store sensitive information, such as medical records and payment information. This information is highly valuable for cybercriminals due to its monetary value and high demand on the black market.
Stolen healthcare data can be used for financial fraud or identity theft. Cybercriminals know healthcare institutions are willing to pay a lot of money to regain their data and restore normal operations and use this to their advantage. The life-or-death nature of healthcare makes the industry a prime target for cyberattacks, which drives a profitable criminal enterprise.
The complex IT environment of the healthcare industry also makes it a prime target for cybercriminals. Hackers can exploit legacy systems, connected devices, and unsecure third-party vendor systems. Oftentimes, healthcare cybersecurity investments don’t keep up with technology advancements, leaving organizations underprepared for the latest cyber threats.
Cyberattacks have become increasingly sophisticated and widespread, and healthcare institutions must prioritize cybersecurity and make the right investments to protect their patients. Cyber threats are too damaging, so having a first line of defense is crucial.
Cybersecurity requires coordinating resources across different public and private stakeholders to mitigate risks and reduce the impact of a cyberattack. Healthcare providers must enforce data protection and access controls, increase security awareness training, and renovate their policies for HIPAA compliance.
The key to preventing cyberattacks is being proactive. Cybersecurity should be the backbone of everything—from remote access policies to software development. By adopting a prevention-first mentality, healthcare institutions can regain cybersecurity control.
The modern healthcare environment spreads across legacy systems, remote devices, and cloud storage services, so cybersecurity can be complex. That's where specialists like Atlas Systems can provide tremendous value. We integrate top-tier data security seamlessly, leaving you to focus on providing high-quality healthcare. You don't have to do it alone; let the experts do the work.
One cyberattack can completely wreak havoc on a healthcare institution. In 2021, a ransomware attack on Universal Health Services cost $67 million in lost revenue. All 400 locations came to a standstill for months. Without access to crucial information like patient history, healthcare facilities can’t operate. Let’s look at the most common cyber attacks on healthcare institutions.
Because hospitals are fast-paced environments, some employees don’t take time to make verifications before sending over important data. Cybercriminals often use email phishing to attack healthcare institutions. They use social engineering techniques to convince their victims to send over sensitive information that they sell or use for identity theft.
The HIPAA Journal reports that the healthcare industry experiences 1.76 breaches per day. While regulatory bodies have established stringent requirements for protecting patient information and health records, most healthcare establishments have difficulty implementing security controls. This allows hackers to access patient records and other critical data.
Because healthcare companies have very sensitive data on patients, they are prime targets for ransomware attacks. Hackers use malicious software, like a trojan worm, to lock computer files, preventing the owners from accessing them. They then demand "a ransom" to give back access to the data and lock it until they get paid. Ransomware viruses are so complex that only those who created them can remove them. The best way to deal with them is to prevent them before they happen. Most email phishing attacks almost always deliver these viruses.
This refers to a network of interconnected medical devices and applications that collect, exchange, and analyze data through online computer networks. They include wearable fitness trackers, smart pill dispensers, and sophisticated surgical robots. IoMT has revolutionized healthcare but has also exposed the industry to different cybersecurity risks.
This involves flooding a website or online service with lots of fake traffic to overwhelm the system and prevent legitimate users from accessing it. It’s like causing a traffic jam on a website. If this attack is launched against a critical website-based medical tool, it can have terrifying consequences. Most hackers usually request a ransom to stop the DDoS pings.
Cybercriminals who cannot breach secure healthcare systems may decide to target more vulnerable points in the supply chain. Some cyberattacks on healthcare institutions result from negligence by their third-party vendors. As more hospitals and clinics use the cloud for patient records, they don’t take time to ensure third-party providers implement mature security programs. Cloud computing is now a top security challenge in healthcare IT, and most organizations using a cloud system experienced a data breach in 2022.
Employees who don’t know how to identify and prevent potential cyberattacks can click on malicious links, putting patient privacy and healthcare systems at risk. They may unknowingly install malicious software on devices, compromising sensitive information or disrupting network operations.
Overcoming cyber threats in healthcare is crucial because a breach can compromise patient safety, disrupt vital medical services, cause huge financial losses, and erode public trust in healthcare systems. Prioritizing cybersecurity is a matter of both ethical and legal responsibility. Here are some ways to overcome cyber threats in healthcare.
Healthcare institutions must use attack surface monitoring solutions to protect themselves against data breaches. Aligning patient safety initiatives with cybersecurity helps protect their privacy. Also, it mitigates disruptions to ensure the effective delivery of high-quality care. Choose cybersecurity software that also covers your third-party vendor network so your suppliers can take measures to prevent data theft.
Start comprehensive training programs to teach employees to identify common cyber threats and practice safe online behavior. They should be able to recognize phishing emails, use strong passwords, and quickly report suspicious activity. Phishing emails are quite easy to detect since they come from similar addresses with the wrong domain name or bogus addresses. Simply checking the URL to ensure it’s legitimate should be common practice.
Using older software versions or failing to apply software updates can increase the risk of a cybersecurity incident. Security patches (software updates) fix security vulnerabilities in software. They “patch” a hole, preventing hackers or malware from exploiting your network. Healthcare organizations must update their systems with the latest security patches and apply strong authentication protocols to limit the spread of attacks.
Healthcare providers should encrypt all vital data to protect their assets from unauthorized access. Patient data, financial information, and other critical information should be encrypted. Encrypted data is nearly impossible for cybercriminals to decrypt, so encryption is a highly secure method for proactively mitigating data breaches. If encrypted physical devices are stolen, they pose very little risk. Asymmetric encryption (with a different key for the sender and the recipient) should be used for highly sensitive data.
HIPAA is a US federal law that protects patient health information and other sensitive data. It provides a security framework healthcare institutions must follow to meet basic security requirements for patient privacy and data security. Organizations that follow HIPAA’s cybersecurity standards establish a foundation for cybersecurity programs and minimize cyber risks. Becoming fully HIPAA-compliant significantly reduces your institution’s exposure to high-risk threats.
To address all potential cyber risks, healthcare organizations must do more than achieve HIPAA compliance. They must utilize other security frameworks to protect themselves against major threats. Frameworks like NIST CSF, ISO/IEC 27001, HITRUST CSF, and CIS help healthcare providers maintain strong security postures.
Third-party vendors in the supply chain who don’t meet basic security requirements or comply with HIPAA law pose a huge risk for healthcare institutions. If one service is attacked, the entire supply chain could be compromised. Healthcare providers should perform thorough vendor assessments during procurement to ensure their basic security controls are upheld through a service-level agreement (SLA). They should also track vendors to identify critical risks and notify them to address their security gaps.
Cyberattacks on healthcare organizations highly disrupt daily operations and the ability to provide timely and effective patient care. These attacks are now classified as “threats to life” crimes by the FBI and the Department of Justice as they pose serious risks to patient and public safety.
To prevent these threats, healthcare providers must adopt a proactive, integrated approach to security. Reducing risk, preparing for cyberattacks, and meeting regulatory requirements protects data and ensures continuity of quality patient care. Invest in a robust cybersecurity solution to mitigate immediate risks and strengthen future resilience.
Atlas Systems has deep industry expertise and enhances healthcare organizations’ cyber resilience to ensure rapid, infection-free recovery and safety of patient data. We protect your institution against ransomware, secure critical data, and ensure recovery into a clean environment - Contact us today!
Machine learning tools can analyze patterns within large datasets of healthcare information, identify inconsistencies, and correct errors before they impact clinical decision-making and patient care. They can perform data profiling, anomaly detection, and predictive modeling to flag critical risks and suggest corrective actions.
When busy or tired, people may misspell words and enter wrong medical codes or patient information, resulting in misdiagnoses, improper treatment plans, and even billing errors. Patient safety is compromised because unreliable data is used for decision-making.
Data duplication in healthcare records can result from human error, technical glitches, or lack of process standardization. It can compromise patient care and increase healthcare costs.
To ensure employees maintain high data quality standards, healthcare organizations should implement comprehensive training programs, standardize procedures, use technology effectively, promote a culture of accountability, and perform regular audits.