Managing Healthcare Cyber Threats In Medical Practices

Summary: This article explores why your medical practice cannot afford to fall victim to cyberattacks. Learn what you can do to protect patients’ private data and your medical devices that are at risk of being attacked. In addition to patient data, practice employee data and practice financial accounts are also at risk and require the same proactive protection.

Healthcare records are one of the biggest payoffs in cybercrime. For skilled hackers, patient healthcare data is one-stop shopping for identity theft and financial fraud. Very few records are as detailed as patient data. They include personal information beyond medical data, such as names, addresses, social security numbers, health history, radiologist scans, emergency contacts and financial data. Also, once the practice’s network is hacked, all connected medical devices, smart environmental (HVAC) equipment, refrigeration and heating devices, MRIs, CAT scans and x-ray machines are all vulnerable endpoints through which cyber thieves may breach the system. Therefore, securing medical devices is integral to a healthcare cyber security plan.

In addition to patient data, practice employee data and practice financial accounts are also at risk.

Medical and Dental Practice Cybersecurity

As healthcare industry data has become digitized and available through local intranets and the internet, the number of potential healthcare cyber threats to practices has skyrocketed. The most common threats include:

• Phishing Attacks – Phishing attacks use deceptive tactics to trick users into believing they are communicating with trusted sources. They count on users not paying close attention to detail and their natural inclinations to impulsively click on links without thinking or to download attachments without first ensuring they are from trusted parties. Clicking and downloading on a malicious link allows malware to invade computer networks and connected devices.
• Ransomware Attacks – Ransomware is perhaps among the most terrifying and potentially devastating cyberattacks. Using malicious software, bad actors encrypt the practice’s data and then demand a ransom (in untraceable cryptocurrency) to decrypt the data. Generally, the ransom demand must be paid by a specific deadline, or the ransom amount is doubled, then doubled again and so on. After paying, the data may or may not be restored to usable condition, and it may be sold repeatedly on the dark web. As medical and dental practices depend on their computer networks for so many things, a ransomware attack is immediately crippling to their operations. Practices are driven to prompt action because of the urgent need to restore access to their data and protect patient privacy. That is why healthcare network security for medical offices is a top business priority.
• Malware – Malicious software or malware, comes in many forms, including viruses, trojans and worms. Malware can slow down or, in some other way, disrupt a practice’s computer network and all connected devices. Some malware collects keystrokes and will record any new password changes.
• DDoS Attacks – DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks employ techniques to overwhelm a website or network with so much bogus traffic that authorized users and patients cannot access it.
• Insider Threats — We want to trust our staff to do the right thing. However, users with legitimate access to your practice’s network can intentionally steal or accidentally expose sensitive data to cybercriminals. Untrained employees are the weakest link in cyber security, with over 90% of cyberattacks starting with an employee clicking on a malicious link.
• APT Attacks – (Advanced Persistent Attacks, or Advanced Persistent Threats) APTs allow hackers to breach a practice’s network and launch prolonged and undetected cyberattacks.

Internet of Medical Things Security: Securing Medical Devices

Internet of Medical Things (IMoT) security includes all smart devices connected to a medical or dental practice’s network. IMoT security is often overlooked because the expansive use of smart technology is still relatively new to medical and dental practices. Every device connected to your network is a vulnerable endpoint and expands the network attack surface area, even when not actively being used. HVAC systems, refrigeration units, intelligent vacuums, cameras, printers, and many other devices must be addressed to secure medical devices adequately. The rule is “If a device is connected to your network…it must be assessed and addressed.” IMoT cyber security is an essential layer in healthcare cyber threat management.

Medical and dental facilities cannot take data breaches lightly. Active steps are needed to defend against and prepare for eventual cyberattacks. Some steps require the knowledge and experience of cyber security experts. Other steps can be incorporated into everyday tasks by your staff. The main components of robust medical and dental practice cybersecurity are:

• Professional IT Technology – It is vital to Use updated and professionally configured firewalls, antivirus software with live SOC monitoring and other intrusion detection methods. Cyber security technicians can also verify that IMoT security is addressed.
• Daily Secure Backups – Daily secure backups can save the day in the event of a cyberattack. Clean, secure backups can get your practice’s computer system up and running, even during a ransomware attack. Once a cyber security expert has safely cleared the malware, files can be uploaded, and productivity is restored.
• Security Awareness Training – All staff (including management and clinicians) must be trained to detect phishing attempts and other attack methods visible at the user level. Medical office IT security training for employees is essential to maintaining a secure network.
• Password Managers – All password credentials should be unique, multi-charactered, complex, changed periodically and stored by a password manager. Password managers help control which employees have access to accounts and can be used to quickly remove access when an employee is offboarded. Password lockers will alert you when one of your passwords has become part of a known data breach and needs to be changed.
• Multi-Factor Authentication – Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds another critical layer of security to logging into your system, emails and other password-protected platforms. MFAs require confirmation of user identity through another device, sending a temporary code to be retrieved and entered by users. MFAs may also use facial, fingerprint or optical recognition. This step requires a few additional seconds when logging in but adds tremendous protection to accounts.
• Strict Access Management – Access to sensitive or HIPAA-protected private medical data and patient information should be controlled based on the data needed for the roles performed. Only those needing access to perform their specific job should be able to log in to an account.
• Incident Response Planning – Chaos rules during a cyber attack. Cyber security professionals can help devise a written plan for how your practice and employees will respond to a cyber attack. The goal is for everyone to know their roles so that your breach can be mitigated with the least disruption to the practice. Having a plan and a trusted partner in place will speed response and recovery.
• Cyber Insurance – Consider a cyber liability policy to help cover some of the expenses of an attack. Attack costs may include IT response, file recovery, forensic costs, legal costs, notification costs, ongoing consumer and employee lawsuits, regulatory fines and more. The average ransomware attack in 2023 cost $165 per record compromised and did not include the actual ransom payment, which is typically in the hundreds of thousands.

Managing Cyber Threats: Key Takeaways

Managing healthcare cyber threats is a best practice for compliance and risk reduction in every medical and dental practice. Protecting patients and their private data is legally mandated, and compliance is essential. Working with IT cyber security experts to lock down your data is the best way to be protected and prepared for any cyber event. Failing to protect patient and employee personal and private data can expose your practice to devastating financial loss and reputational harm. Take steps to improve cybersecurity for your medical practice and manage cyber risk. It is far more expensive and time-consuming to recover from a cyberattack than to prevent one.