Healthcare cybersecurity: Diagnosing risks, prescribing solutions

Cybersecurity has become increasingly critical in the digital age, as organizations across all sectors face growing threats from cybercriminals. Imagine hackers breached a small healthcare practice through “phishing” – sending a scam email, and gaining access to sensitive patient data, including medical records. Now imagine Sarah Johnson, a 35-year-old teacher and a patient at this practice, had her identity stolen. The culprits used her information to order medications and file fraudulent insurance claims, causing Sarah immense stress and forcing her to spend countless hours resolving the fallout.

Cybersecurity challenges in healthcare are unique, due to the sensitive nature of patient data and the use of network-connected medical devices for launching “horizontal” attacks on other information systems. Cyber-attacks can severely impact personal lives – to the point of derailing them – and put patients at risk of harm. They can also shut down entire medical networks and, using “ransomware”, the operation of entire hospitals. That’s why cybersecurity is vital for healthcare organizations to protect patient wellbeing and privacy at all times.

To capitalize on the benefits of telemedicine and broader healthcare services, without jeopardizing the welfare of patients, healthcare cybersecurity must be a top priority. This article explores the importance of cybersecurity in healthcare and provides an overview of key concepts, risks, best practice and regulations. With actionable insights, healthcare providers can strengthen their defences against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

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What is healthcare cybersecurity?

Healthcare cybersecurity refers to the measures and systems that can be used to prevent cybercrime from happening. Healthcare cybersecurity solutions aim to perform two functions: protect the privacy and security of patient information while also maintaining the integrity and accessibility of critical systems and infrastructure that healthcare organizations rely on to deliver care and save lives. These solutions are crucial – both for building patient trust and ensuring compliance with healthcare cybersecurity regulations.

The scope of healthcare cybersecurity solutions is broad, ranging from basic practices such as staff training and regular software updates to more advanced measures. These include safeguarding connected healthcare devices and equipment (e.g. MRI machines, X-ray systems and Internet of Things devices) that are becoming integral to our healthcare networks.

Unveiling cybersecurity risks in healthcare

By definition, healthcare organizations rely on complex systems made up of many moving parts. This creates fault lines and weak points that cybercriminals can exploit. Some of the most common vulnerabilities include:

Legacy systems: Many healthcare institutions rely on outdated software and operating systems. These legacy systems contain loopholes that hackers can exploit to gain access.
Unprotected medical devices: Digitally connected medical devices like MRI machines and heart monitors can be hacked into, if not safeguarded with the proper protocols.
Human error: Healthcare employees may fall victim to phishing emails or other communication-based attacks, allowing hackers to infiltrate systems and steal data.
Third parties: Healthcare organizations share sensitive data with third-party vendors. If these vendors have poor cybersecurity, it can put healthcare data at risk.

These weaknesses expose healthcare organizations to a broad range of attacks, including malicious software, such as ransomware, or targeted fraud operations like phishing scams. It may feel as though threats are lurking everywhere at all times – an alarming prospect for the medical industry. However, there are several healthcare cybersecurity solutions that providers and their staff can consider to promptly reduce their exposure to cyberthreats.

Enhancing medical device security

Medical devices are a key enabler of telehealth, so their seamless and safe use is paramount. Infusion pumps, ventilators and patient monitors – amongst other devices – are vulnerable to cyber-attacks due to a number of factors.

Many devices run on outdated or unsupported computer operating systems that are susceptible to malware and hacking. If the data transmitted between these devices is not encrypted or is sent over unsafe networks, it could enable criminals to “eavesdrop”. Furthermore, healthcare providers don’t always observe adequate password protection or install the appropriate authentication mechanisms, enabling unauthorized access and control of devices.

Thankfully, all of the above points can be addressed with a range of solutions:

Implementing robust encryption tools, password protocols and access controls will go a long way to protecting data transmission and medical device security.
Performing regular and thorough cybersecurity risk assessments can help identify vulnerabilities.
Segmenting the network that supports medical devices, to isolate particular devices from the rest of the healthcare network, makes it easier to diagnose potential issues. It can also enable organizations to “quarantine” devices that are compromised to avoid criminals gaining access to the wider network.
Training staff on basic cybersecurity protocols protects devices, healthcare practices and patients.

Just as important as these specific action points, the healthcare sector, as a whole, must work together, along with policymakers and business innovators, to stay one step ahead in this rapidly changing landscape. Government regulatory agencies, for instance, are increasingly requiring evidence of cybersecure systems as a condition for device use within their jurisdiction, along with a management and surveillance plan once these systems are operational.

How to boost your healthcare cybersecurity

In order to address the vulnerabilities listed above, getting staff trained up on basic cybersecurity awareness is essential to strengthen first lines of defence. For example, are administrative staff and other employees educated on the top cybersecurity threats in healthcare? Even knowing the difference between ransomware and phishing can have a significant impact.

On the technological front, it’s important to look at the whole network of connected systems and tools that enable and support telehealth – from smart medical devices to the networks that connect them, servers that store confidential data, and software that helps everything to run smoothly. By adopting a holistic approach to network security that includes technology, people (e.g. training) and processes (e.g. how security is embedded in workflows), vulnerabilities can continue to be managed as the number of connected devices increases.

Thankfully, healthcare practices don’t have to overcome their cybersecurity challenges alone. They can consult external experts for guidance and support. Healthcare cybersecurity services offer tailored solutions to address the unique challenges faced by healthcare providers in protecting sensitive patient information and critical medical systems. These include:

Risk assessment: Monitoring systems and networks helps identify potential intrusions and attacks and form mitigation strategies. This can involve Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solutions, intrusion detection systems and managed threat detection services.
Incident prediction and response: Proactive probing like attack simulations can help anticipate attacks. In the event of a breach, foresight can significantly aid in containing and neutralizing threats. It is also important to create a cybersecurity culture where security is embedded at every echelon of an organization.
Policy and compliance: Healthcare organizations must comply with regulations at all times. Comprehensive policies that align with organization’s particular needs, while adhering to international and industry-specific requirements, ensure they can walk that fine line with confidence.

By leveraging healthcare cybersecurity services, healthcare providers can enhance their cybersecurity posture, mitigate risks, and uphold the confidentiality and integrity of patient data and critical healthcare systems.

ISO/IEC 27001 Information security management systems
ISO/IEC 27002 Information security controls
ISO/IEC 27701 Extension to ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27002 for privacy information management
ISO 27799 Information security management in health using ISO/IEC 27002

Healthcare cybersecurity best practices

So why haven’t all healthcare organizations done this already? At its core, the challenge of health cybersecurity lies in locking huge amounts of data in a secure vault while simultaneously maintaining a seamless patient experience – all in a rapidly evolving and nuanced regulatory environment.

To address this, healthcare organizations can explore a variety of options to bolster their cybersecurity apparatus. These include technological solutions like encryption, firewalls, intrusion detection systems and access controls, as well as institutional changes, such as implementing robust policies and training programmes to comply with existing healthcare cybersecurity regulations.

To ensure they join all the dots in their healthcare cybersecurity plan, leading healthcare providers know it’s crucial to examine their wider IT security strategy across all operational aspects. Numerous national and international standards are available to guide this process. ISO/IEC 27001 is an IT cybersecurity standard that lays the groundwork for an effective information security management system, while ISO/IEC 27002 provides a set of information security controls and implementation guidance. Together, these standards can help organizations protect their most important systems, while remaining agile and responsive in the event of an incident or data breach.

A vital component of any ISO/IEC 27001 strategy is the careful management of patient healthcare data and medical records. Enter ISO/IEC 27701, which empowers organizations to safeguard personal information through a robust privacy information management system. Complementing this, ISO 27799 provides customized guidance for applying ISO/IEC 27002 specifically to information security management within the healthcare sector.

Finally, cloud-based services and storage policies are a substantial part of any comprehensive security protocol. ISO/IEC 27017 offers enhanced controls for both providers and customers, defining roles and responsibilities to ensure cloud services uphold a level of security consistent with other components of the healthcare IT ecosystem.

Building a cybersecurity culture in healthcare

As with anything health-related, prevention is always the best strategy. Healthcare cybersecurity is about much more than investing in technology; it’s about empowering people to keep the safety of data front of mind. While training and awareness programmes are certainly a key part of this, healthcare organizations should not underestimate the power of leadership. Leadership plays a pivotal role not just in endorsing cybersecurity but in championing it – building a strong cybersecurity culture.

Because cybersecurity shouldn’t be an afterthought. Patients like Sarah shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of their data when they visit their physician. As patients, we understand the critical importance of cybersecurity in healthcare, and so, too, should our health providers. We should all be able to access healthcare with absolute certainty and confidence. For this to happen, cybersecurity must be woven into the very fabric of daily operations. Through concerted efforts and proactive communication, healthcare organizations can build a resilient cybersecurity culture that thrives not just within their own ranks, but throughout the entire industry.