5 Cybersecurity Risks in Healthcare

Healthcare cyber security is important and subject to stringent data privacy regulations, like HIPAA. Storing, organizing, and accessing sensitive protected health information (PHI) comes with a host of potential risks, so it is vital that healthcare organizations steward, protect, and pay proactive attention to different cybersecurity risks in order to fight against bad actors.

Here are five cyber security risks your healthcare clinic can look out for as you strive to protect your patient data.

People

People are the main problem when it comes to cyber breaches. Whether that be a new employee without cybersecurity training, unsecured software and hardware, or a lack of technical hygiene, people are the most vulnerable links in your cybersecurity strategies. Healthcare organizations, in particular, are prone to phishing attacks from hackers. They will usually send an important looking email, requesting personal information like a phone number or a password verification link. They can also have you download files with software that will give them access to patient’s private information. It’s extremely important that during the onboarding process of new employees, you train them to use difficult passwords, keep PHI secured, and be on the lookout for suspicious emails.

Weak Passwords and Communication

A lot of the time, people don’t see the importance of having strong passwords and MFA. Improper training and communication of expectations regarding the protection of patient data is a major cyber risk for healthcare organizations. When breaches do happen, make sure to communicate with them immediately. It’s not something you avoid and hope it handles itself. Typically, bad actors will hold patient data for ransoms, and it can be extremely damaging. Take measures now to make sure your employees are informed of the risks.

Poorly Allocated Budget

There are many instances where healthcare clinics won’t give much budget for cyber security measures since resources are scarce. Finances can be a challenge, but preventive measures must be taken to protect your patients. Spend a little extra money on software or outsourcing IT help so you can better steward the data entrusted to you.

Legacy Technology

This comes hand in hand with minimal resources dedicated to IT. Due to the advancement of technology that we see, legacy technology can create a vulnerable environment for hackers to exploit. Bad actors will specifically target those infrastructures that still implement old software and hardware, and with limited monitoring capabilities these breaches can be harder to catch. Take the time to investigate newer and better tech so you can protect your patient's data..

Larger Attack Surface

This is the area that is most overlooked when it comes to reasons for defense. Bad actors target your clinic's data because of how massive it is. Often smaller breaches are overlooked. This is the danger since a lot of the time businesses think “Couldn’t possibly happen to me” and sideline these issues. When it comes to PHI, you have to be extremely cautious.

Conclusion

Healthcare clinics are at risk for data breaches just like any other organization, and it's your responsibility to protect it. Take care to train your employees well, teach them how creating hefty passwords better protects, allocate sufficient resources, get rid of any legacy technology incapable of updating, and be aware of the danger bad actors poise to your clinic. As you consider your clinic and the needs, schedule a call with our consulting team to understand how to better protect your client's data.