Cybercriminals have always found the healthcare sector to be a lucrative target. Cybercriminals continue to discover methods to exploit healthcare cybersecurity policies, whether it be high-value patient data or a low tolerance for downtime that could interfere with patient care. Cyberattacks on healthcare providers have increased by 55 percent in recent years, creating a massive market for hackers and turning the healthcare sector into a gold mine.
If healthcare providers don't take the necessary steps to secure their network, cyber-attacks will continue to damage the industry. Let's look more closely at the difficulties the healthcare sector is currently experiencing and how some cybersecurity services might help to enhance your cybersecurity health.
The healthcare sector faces increased cybersecurity challenges due to its growing reliance on technology for day-to-day operations. You can defend your company against present and potential threats by being aware of these issues. The healthcare sector needs to be mindful of the following major cybersecurity issues:
1. Internal Threats
Data encryption and zero-trust access procedures are essential to the security of sensitive patient data and data protection since insider threats are the reason for this. Despite being a disturbing concept, not all cybersecurity issues can be linked to employee carelessness. Disgruntled workers may intentionally expose patient information or profit from the black market. Due to the demand for protected health information, cybersecurity solutions in San Diego for healthcare are receiving so much attention and funding. Employees with malevolent intent hold the key to exposing your company to several risks since they may be familiar with network configuration, vulnerabilities, and access codes.
2. Ransomware and Malware
Ransomware affects computers, systems, and files until the victim company pays a sum of money to the criminals. Most ransomware attacks begin with the victim clicking on a malicious link, reading a fraudulent advertisement, or opening a phishing email with a malicious attachment.
Your company could lose time and money if you unintentionally fall victim to these traps and fail to use Cybersecurity Solutions. Critical operations and procedures are slowed down or rendered unusable when ransomware enters your network until the ransom has been paid to the threat actor. Ultimately, this wastes money that could have been invested in new technology or raised the bar for patient care.
3. Cloud Threats
Due to the ease of data retrieval and the increased security around patient information, many healthcare providers are converting to cloud-based data storage solutions. Sadly, not all cloud-based solutions adhere to HIPAA regulations. Well-known services do not meet HIPAA's data security, privacy, and sovereignty requirements, making them prime targets for cyber attacks.
In addition, some firms may not encrypt data before sending it to and from the cloud, which can further create space for intrusion. To avoid this, enterprises should adopt a private cloud or an on-premise data center responsible for safeguarding and encrypting data.
Read more Know The 4 Benefits Of Cybersecurity Services In San Diego
Strengthening Your Cybersecurity Initiatives
Enough knowledge can assist prevent Cybersecurity threats at any level since knowledge is power. So let's examine how your company may strengthen its cybersecurity initiatives to guarantee that sensitive data is always correctly maintained and secured.
1. Safeguard Devices
Organizations must support various protective measures and encrypt data to ensure information security as the healthcare industry grows increasingly tech-savvy and reliant on mobile and tablet devices.
2. Keep Your Passwords Secure
Make secure passwords, then routinely update them. For example, strong passwords often have 12 to 14 characters and combine capital letters, symbols, numerals, and lowercase letters. Establishing a solid framework is the first step in maintaining excellent password hygiene; therefore mandates frequent password updates and ensures staff members are aware of the differences between strong and weak passwords.
Wrap Up!!
Healthcare providers must become more aware of the critical cybersecurity situations and prepare accordingly. Fusion Factor helps to stay conscious, alert, prepared, and quick to respond are the only way to mitigate security risks and threats. It's not easy, but staying committed to keeping your security posture strong for an extended period will be rewarding for a robust healthcare ecosystem. Get in touch with us to know more about our services.