October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Thank you to Telcion for sharing cybersecurity best practices for healthcare organizations.
By Lance Reid, CEO, Telcion Communications Group
LinkedIn: Lance Reid
LinkedIn: Telcion Communications Group
Protecting patient data is a non-negotiable priority for healthcare organizations. Yet, as cybersecurity breaches become more frequent and sophisticated, the stakes for healthcare IT security are higher than ever. Too many of us have seen firsthand just how vulnerable the healthcare sector is to cyberattacks, and the lessons we’ve learned are critical for anyone responsible for safeguarding sensitive data.
The True Impact of Healthcare Data Breaches
Let’s start with some numbers that should make you stop and think:
- 40,954,697 – the number of patients whose personal data was involved in a breach.
- 319 – the number of medical organizations that were breached.
- 8 – the number of organizations that were breached more than once.
And these are just statistics from the first half of this year. Even more alarming, a study by Vanderbilt University found that as many as 2,100 patients die each year because of security breaches, as patient care is disrupted by compromised systems.
Despite these numbers, many organizations still believe they are safe. The reality, however, is that most breaches occur at organizations with fewer than 1,000 employees. Hackers don’t care how big your operation is – they’re after your patients’ data, and a single click on a malicious email can bring down your entire system.
A Breach Is Just One Click Away
Several years ago, one of our hospital clients experienced a complete system outage. The issue? A security breach that compromised over 500 systems. At the time, security was simpler. Most organizations only relied on antivirus software and firewalls. However, this breach was far more sophisticated, and it took our team of engineers working around the clock to restore the hospital’s systems.
Since then, I’ve seen countless breaches – some lasting days, others lasting months. One organization was forced to operate on paper for six months because of a breach. These incidents reinforce the need for multiple layers of security to protect sensitive information and maintain patient trust.
Real-World Consequences
The consequences of breaches are real, and they go far beyond financial losses. In April of this year, UnitedHealth Group, one of the largest healthcare providers in the U.S., with 152 million customers, was breached. The hackers demanded a $22 million ransom, which UnitedHealth paid, but it didn’t stop the release of patient data on the dark web.
While large corporations often make headlines, it’s smaller organizations that are most vulnerable. Hackers know that smaller organizations may not have the resources or sophisticated security layers to fend off an attack. In fact, 91% of breaches are caused by email attacks. A single click from an unsuspecting employee can expose your entire system to a cyberattack.
The Challenge of Securing Your Organization
Building and maintaining effective security layers can feel overwhelming for many healthcare organizations, especially those with limited resources. However, the cost of doing nothing is far greater. The common thread among all breached organizations? They believed their systems were “good enough” – until they weren’t.
Healthcare organizations face increasing cybersecurity threats, and avoiding becoming another statistic is critical. It’s essential to have comprehensive, layered security solutions that are both robust and manageable. Healthcare providers are busy delivering patient care, which leaves little time to focus on cybersecurity. The goal is to make managing security as easy as possible.
By recognizing the importance of cybersecurity and taking proactive measures, healthcare organizations can avoid the devastating consequences of a data breach.