Cybersecurity Solutions for the Healthcare Sector

<p>Cybersecurity is critical in the healthcare sector. Almost half of all data breaches in hospitals and the wider healthcare sector are due to ransomware attacks, according to new research. Ransomware gangs are increasingly adding an extra layer of extortion to attacks by not only encrypting networks and demanding hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars to restore them, but also stealing sensitive information and threatening to publish it if the ransom isn't paid.</p><h2>Double Extortion in Cybersecurity</h2><p>This double extortion technique is intended as extra leverage to force victims of ransomware attacks to give in and pay the ransom rather than taking the time to restore the network themselves. For healthcare, the prospect of data being leaked on the internet is particularly disturbing as it can involve sensitive private medical data alongside other forms of identifiable personal information of patients.</p><p>Ransomware is now responsible for 46% of healthcare data breaches, according to an analysis by cybersecurity researchers at Tenable. More than 35% of all breaches are linked to ransomware attacks, resulting in an often-tremendous financial cost.</p><h2>How to Protect Your Healthcare Network</h2><p>One of the key methods for ransomware gangs gaining access to hospital networks is via known VPN vulnerabilities. The key way to protect networks from falling victim to ransomware and other cyberattacks is to apply patches when they're released, particularly those designed to fix critical vulnerabilities.</p><p>If the software solutions used by your organization are no longer receiving security updates, upgrading to one with an active support contract is vital. It is imperative that organizations identify assets within their environments that are vulnerable to months- and years-old flaws and apply relevant patches immediately.</p><p>With over 30 years of telecom and IT experience, we have several vendors that can help with cybersecurity solutions specifically designed for the healthcare sector. Call Applied Utility Auditors at (888) 208-0020.</p>