We hear about data breaches and cyberattacks all the time, but are you aware that the healthcare sector is currently the top target of these attacks? While healthcare companies have been making significant efforts to protect themselves from cyberattacks, it’s still an industry that remains open to more threats. So, why is it a bigger target for cyberattacks than other industries? Let’s take a look at the reasons below.
Private Patient Information Is Worth Loads of Money
The patient information stored in a hospital’s database is truly valuable. When you look at the amount of information collected and the number of people who require healthcare, it is easy to see why the healthcare sector can be a lucrative target for hackers.
Patients have their entire medical history stored in their hospital records, including their most recent scans, prescriptions and ids, and it is all stored in an easily accessible way. On top of this, a lot of healthcare companies are not aware of how to securely store this information.
Medical Devices Are Accessible Easily
There are a few downsides to innovations in healthcare technology these days, including vulnerabilities to cyberattacks. You see, medical devices are not made with security in mind. They could be used to launch attacks against other network devices or install ransomware on other systems when connected to a hospital’s network.
Hackers know that medical devices don’t have any patient data themselves. However, they see them as an easy target, and their lack of security leaves them vulnerable to attack.
Staff’s Remote Access
Taking a multidisciplinary team approach makes a lot of sense in the healthcare industry, where units collaborate to provide the best solutions for patients. Many healthcare professionals work from different locations, often from home or another area. Adding to this, staff members often work from a number of devices, including ones that do not necessarily remain secure all the time.
Connecting to a network from an unsafe device is risky, not only because the device could be compromised, but also because an entire network can be infiltrated should it be exposed to any other device, even one with seemingly good security.
A risk-based authentication system allows organisations to manage risk by assessing it, checking factors such as the user and their location and more. The system also flags unusual activity so that sensitive information is never exposed to any unsafe devices.
Secure Your Network Today
The healthcare sector is being attacked on an almost daily basis by hackers or other malicious individuals. These attacks are mostly small, but some of them are large enough to make news headlines for several weeks. No matter how big or small these attacks are, they are a cause for worry, considering that there are many confidential data in the health care sector. By knowing the reasons why the healthcare sector is seen as an easy target, you’ll be able to create solutions to prevent attacks from happening in the first place.
Do you need help with cyber security? FraudWatch is a leading digital brand protection company that can help clients from different sectors, including healthcare, to protect their organisations against malware, spyware and other cyber attacks. Contact us today!