By Usman Choudhary, General Manager, VIPRE Security Group
LinkedIn: Usman Choudhary
LinkedIn: VIPRE Security Group
Healthcare data security is among the most pressing challenges in today’s interconnected world, primarily because digital transformation exposes sensitive patient information to the risk of breaches and cyberattacks.
While driving significant improvements in patient outcomes, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are introducing complexities to data security, and cybercriminals are exploiting it for sophisticated and targeted attacks, creating heightened urgency to protect sensitive data.
Protecting Healthcare Data: Why It Matters
Breaches are incredibly devastating for health systems. Beyond financial losses and reputational damage, each incident potentially disrupts patient care. For instance, cyberattacks on the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) recently disrupted more than 800 planned surgeries, delayed 700 outpatient appointments, and diverted the donations of 18 organs to alternative hospitals.
In 2024, Change Healthcare in the United States experienced a debilitating ransomware attack that compromised the personal information of more than 100 million people. The breach affected health insurance details, medical information, billing, claims, payment data, and personal identifiers, such as Social Security numbers and driver’s licenses. Cyber crooks gained access through stolen credentials for a Citrix remote access service lacking multifactor authentication. This incident disrupted insurance claim processing and exposed patient data, leading to significant operational challenges across the healthcare sector.
Additionally, Ascension Health Alliance and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center experienced cyberattacks, resulting in significant disruptions and delays in healthcare services. Each incident underscores healthcare institutions’ vulnerability to cyber threats and highlights the need for better, more robust cybersecurity measures for all in the sector.
Healthcare is attractive because of the volume and sensitivity of the data handled. Recent data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights revealed that over 113 million healthcare records were exposed or stolen in 2023, more than doubling the figures from the previous year.
Navigating HIPAA Compliance in a Challenging Environment
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates strict security measures to protect electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI). Organizations must implement safeguards to ensure data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Noncompliance with HIPAA can result in significant penalties, including fines reaching millions of dollars.
Cybercriminals’ increasing use of AI has made compliance and data security more complex, but organizations can adopt innovative solutions to meet these challenges. Cybercriminals are leveraging AI to conduct more advanced attacks. Below are three key threats and the solutions designed to mitigate them:
Automated Phishing Attacks
AI allows attackers to craft highly personalized phishing emails, increasing the likelihood of success. These messages can evade traditional detection systems and trick users into revealing sensitive information or clicking malicious links.
Solution: Advanced email security solutions use AI and machine learning to analyze and block phishing attempts. Features like dynamic link analysis protect against threats by scanning links at delivery. Tools like outbound email security add another layer of protection by ensuring sensitive data isn’t sent to unauthorized recipients and providing real-time training for employees.
AI-Powered Ransomware
AI makes ransomware attacks more precise and effective. Attackers can identify critical systems, deploy evasion techniques, and automate attacks for maximum impact.
Solution: Behavior-based endpoint security solutions detect suspicious activity, such as sudden file encryption or unauthorized access. Automated response capabilities isolate affected systems and prevent the spread of ransomware — some solutions include rollback features to recover encrypted files and minimize downtime.
Vishing (Voice Phishing)
Vishing attacks use AI-generated voices to impersonate trusted individuals, tricking victims into divulging sensitive information. This tactic has significantly increased, with millions of people falling victim annually. A staggering 68.4 million Americans lost money to vishing in 2023, up 23% from 2022. Threat actors affiliated with the ransomware gang ALPHV recently used this technique to launch an attack on the MGM Resorts service desk.
Solution: Comprehensive security awareness training equips employees with the ability to recognize, respond to, and mitigate vishing attempts. Employees can better protect sensitive information and prevent fraudulent activities by understanding the techniques used in these scams.
Securing the Future of Healthcare Data
Safeguarding healthcare data requires a proactive approach. Solutions that combine AI-driven threat detection, training, employee education programs, and regulatory compliance are needed for securing sensitive information in the healthcare system.
By staying ahead of emerging threats, healthcare organizations can continue leveraging technology to improve patient outcomes while ensuring robust data security.