The Critical Diagnosis of Healthcare: Cybersecurity Hygiene as the Solution

The urgency of cybersecurity in the healthcare sector has never been more apparent. As the industry most susceptible to cyber threats and a prime target for malicious actors, healthcare is currently experiencing a surge in cyber assaults. When hospitals fall prey to ransomware, the stakes are not only data-related but also involve patient lives reliant on critical treatments. Consider the scenario where an attack disrupts emergency care, delays surgeries, or exploits a cancer patient’s private health records for blackmail. This daunting reality depicts how cybercriminals are exploiting individuals in need of medical attention. Healthcare has accounted for 17.8% of all breach incidents and 18.2% of damaging ransomware events since 2012¹, surpassing sectors like finance, government, and education.

This notable escalation in attacks underscores one critical aspect: inadequate cybersecurity hygiene is the root cause, and the repercussions of ignoring these vulnerabilities are catastrophic. Enterprises that overlook fundamental cybersecurity protocols such as software updates and network security measures are leaving their systems vulnerable to malicious entities. What’s more, these risks are not just theoretical but materialize through frequent breaches that result in tangible harm.

The vulnerabilities in healthcare

While numerous sectors endure financial and reputational detriments due to cyber breaches, healthcare faces a significantly graver peril. Hackers are aware that they are not merely targeting data or systems; they hold something immensely valuable at ransom: human life itself. The healthcare domain stands uniquely vulnerable to cybercriminals for various reasons. Firstly, the industry’s dependence on interconnected systems supporting everything from patient records to life-supporting equipment creates an extensive attack surface. Moreover, healthcare systems often house sensitive personal data, making them alluring targets for data theft and extortion.

An incident like the ransomware assault on CommonSpirit Health in October 2024¹ resulted in hospitals having to defer medical procedures and redirect urgent care, significantly jeopardizing patient safety​. Another disconcerting case was the security breach at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in November 2024, where criminals manipulated patients by threatening to leak their confidential health information.

The deficiencies in healthcare systems are exacerbated by negligent cybersecurity hygiene.

Delving into the connection between hygiene and breach occurrences

An in-depth examination of 1,454 harmful ransomware occurrences from 2016 to 2023² provides essential insights into the association between poor cybersecurity hygiene and the prevalence of attacks. The study reveals that organizations rated D or F encounter a 35-fold higher occurrence of destructive ransomware incidents compared to those with A ratings. This stark contrast underscores the significance of upholding robust cybersecurity practices.

Cybercriminals zero in on systems with vulnerabilities in rudimentary areas like unpatched software, insecure network services, and unencrypted web transactions​. These loopholes serve as convenient points of entry for attackers, enabling them to compromise critical systems and, ultimately, blackmail organizations with ransomware.

Enterprises practicing good cybersecurity hygiene — those routinely addressing vulnerabilities, fortifying their networks, and encrypting sensitive communications — are substantially less prone to breaches. Nonetheless, numerous healthcare institutions fall short of upholding these standards, rendering them ideal prey for malevolent entities.

The Ramifications of Negligent Cybersecurity Hygiene

In an environment where patient well-being hinges on the functionality of healthcare systems, the implications of inadequate cybersecurity can be life-threatening. Destructive ransomware incidents, which encrypt systems and incapacitate operations, pose grave risks. For hospitals, downtime could signify the disparity between life and death for patients in dire need of critical healthcare services.

The data underscores the fallout of disregarding fundamental cybersecurity protocols. According to Mastercard, healthcare organizations graded D or F encounter 16.6 times more breach events than A-rated organizations¹. These entities not only open themselves up to more frequent attacks but also confront more severe consequences, such as the inability to dispense care during critical junctures.

How to Enhance Cybersecurity Hygiene

Optimizing cybersecurity cleanliness in healthcare transcends mere reactionary measures to cyber assaults – it involves a proactive approach to preemptively addressing vulnerabilities. Presented below are pivotal approaches that healthcare establishments can embrace:

1. Sustained surveillance

Continuous monitoring of cybersecurity hygiene is imperative. Entities should routinely audit their networks to pinpoint vulnerabilities and promptly apply necessary remedies. This encompasses the importance of monitoring risks associated with third-party engagements, given that healthcare systems frequently integrate with external agencies whose security routines might not align with the requisite standards. Each third-party entity linked digitally to a healthcare system represents a potential risk and should undergo evaluation.

2. Round-the-clock security operations

Since ransomware threats can materialize at any moment – even during weekends and holidays – healthcare establishments must uphold 24×7 security operations². Surprisingly, 46% of ransomware incidents are recorded during the Friday-Sunday period², a time when several organizations have decreased cybersecurity personnel. Public holidays are also a prime target for malevolent actors; hence it is advisable to bolster staff numbers rather than scale them down during such periods.

3. Management of third-party risks

Given the interconnectedness prevalent in healthcare, third-party suppliers often form a vulnerability entry point. Cyber offenders leverage weaknesses in suppliers, partners, and diverse third-party entities that might possess feeble cybersecurity fortifications. Healthcare setups need to meticulously assess their suppliers’ cybersecurity protocols to ensure compliance with stringent protective measures and sustain continual surveillance to spot budding vulnerabilities.

Assessment of vendors associated with third-party providers is equally pivotal. Although this may appear labor-intensive, the right solution can rank risks based on critical issues rather than consolidating all threats together. Precision in reporting plays a pivotal role, and the ability to promptly communicate risk evaluations and corrective measures to vendors is crucial.

4. Routine updating and encryption

Safeguarding software through consistent updates is a rudimentary yet integral cybersecurity practice. Healthcare entities must accord priority to fixing software vulnerabilities and fortifying network services like Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), a common target for cyber intruders. Moreover, transmitting sensitive data over secure, encrypted communication channels is indispensable to impede unauthorized access.

5. Preparing for incidents and recovery

Emphasis should be placed on preparedness. Healthcare setups must maintain well-crafted incident response plans that are periodically rehearsed and updated. This encompasses implementing backup strategies to ensure swift restoration of essential data and systems during a ransomware incident. Having these frameworks in place minimizes operational downtimes and mitigates the potential ramifications of cyber onslaughts.

Exploration: The impact of Mastercard Cybersecurity’s RiskRecon TPRM tool

Mastercard’s RiskRecon TPRM solution assumes a pivotal role in uplifting cybersecurity cleanliness across various sectors, including healthcare. Through continual monitoring and in-depth evaluations of third-party risks, RiskRecon furnishes healthcare entities with the requisite insights to elevate their security posture and tame risks.

By assigning cybersecurity hygiene ratings ranging from A to F across diverse domains such as software patching, network filtration, and web encryption, RiskRecon aids organizations in pinpointing vulnerabilities and prioritizing areas necessitating improvement. This pre-emptive approach substantially reduces the likelihood of falling prey to breaches or malevolent ransomware attacks.

Furthermore, the RiskRecon platform enables healthcare organizations to gauge their security performance against industry counterparts, thereby fostering perpetual enhancement and accountability.

Backed by its profound understanding of the digital ecosystem processing a staggering 143 billion transactions annually, Mastercard boasts exceptional precision in assessing and safeguarding digital realms.

The trajectory ahead: Reinforcing cybersecurity in healthcare

The escalating cyber menace hovering over the healthcare realm demands an immediate and concerted response. Organizations cannot defer action until an assault transpires; they must assume a proactive stance on cybersecurity cleanliness.

While the endeavor might appear formidable, data gleaned from Mastercard’s research unequivocally underscores how robust cybersecurity cleanliness substantially reduces the odds of a successful breach. Healthcare setups need to invest in apt tools, methodologies, and affiliations to armor their systems and guarantee seamless provision of indispensable services sans disruptions.

Mastercard’s RiskRecon delivers the necessary arsenal to healthcare entities for bolstering their cybersecurity stance and safeguarding their clientele. By leveraging real-time evaluations and exhaustive cybersecurity hygiene ratings, RiskRecon equips healthcare organizations and their suppliers to temper risks and avert ransomware assaults.

For further insights on fortifying your organization against ransomware, download the complete ransomware dossier or opt for a demo request to delve deeper into Mastercard’s Cybersecurity services.

About Author

AndyC

Andy Curtis is an award-winning security consultant, researcher and public speaker. He has been working in the computer security industry since the early 1990s, having been employed by state and federal government, leading healthcare and banking providers across three continents. He has given talks about computer security for some of the world’s largest companies, worked with law enforcement agencies on investigations into hacking groups, and is a regular voice on TV and radio explaining IT security threats.

See author's posts