Cybersecurity in Healthcare

Introduction to healthcare cybersecurity

The increasing digitalization of healthcare has made cybersecurity a top priority for protecting sensitive patient information. With cyber threats growing more sophisticated, healthcare organizations face escalating risks to patient safety, operational efficiency, and data integrity.

In the first half of 2024 alone, 387 data breaches involving 500 or more records were reported to the HHS’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), marking an 8.4% increase from the previous year. This highlights the growing urgency for robust cybersecurity measures in the healthcare sector.

This article explores the critical importance of cybersecurity in healthcare, the most common threats facing the industry, and best practices for strengthening defenses against these growing risks.

What is healthcare cybersecurity?

Healthcare cybersecurity refers to the practices and technologies designed to protect healthcare systems, patient data, and medical devices from cyberattacks. As healthcare becomes more reliant on digital tools and interconnected systems, the need to protect sensitive information is paramount. Ensuring this security is essential not only for maintaining privacy but also for safeguarding patient safety and ensuring the seamless operation of healthcare services.

Key elements
To effectively protect healthcare organizations, cybersecurity efforts must focus on several critical areas. These key elements serve as the foundation for securing systems, data, and devices within the healthcare ecosystem.

• Securing electronic health records (EHRs): EHRs contain sensitive patient information, including medical histories, diagnoses, medications, and personal identifiers. Protecting these records from unauthorized access, data breaches, and cyberattacks is a cornerstone of healthcare cybersecurity.
• Protecting medical devices and IoT systems: Many modern medical devices, from infusion pumps to imaging machines, are connected to networks for real-time monitoring and diagnostics. These Internet of Things (IoT) devices can become entry points for cyber threats if not properly secured.
  
• Safeguarding patient data from unauthorized access or breaches: Healthcare organizations must implement strong access controls, encryption, and monitoring systems to prevent unauthorized access to patient data, maintain patient trust, and ensure compliance with regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

Common cybersecurity threats in healthcare

Some of the most common cybsecurity threats to the healthcare idustry include:

Ransomware attacks

Ransomware attacks have become one of the most disruptive threats to healthcare organizations. Cybercriminals encrypt critical systems and data and then demand a ransom for their restoration. In 2024, 67% of healthcare organizations were hit by ransomware attacks, a concerning rise from 60% in 2023.

The impact of a ransomware attack extends far beyond lost data—it can disrupt patient care, delay diagnosis, and halt medical procedures, ultimately putting patient health at risk. The resulting downtime can cripple daily operations, leading to canceled appointments, delayed treatments, and compromised healthcare delivery.

Phishing attacks

Phishing attacks are effective in healthcare because they take advantage of human mistakes. Cybercriminals craft deceptive emails that trick employees into clicking on malicious links or downloading infected attachments. Once they steal login credentials, attackers can gain unauthorized access to security systems, VPNs, and other critical environments, posing as legitimate users. This type of attack allows cybercriminals to remain undetected while navigating internal systems, making it easier for them to cause widespread damage, access sensitive patient data, and disrupt operations.

Insider threats

Insider threats occur when employees or contractors gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or misuse it for malicious purposes. While external attacks often grab the spotlight, the risk from insiders is growing rapidly. In fact, internal actors are responsible for 70% of healthcare breaches, which highlights the critical need for healthcare organizations to monitor and secure their internal systems. These threats can be particularly damaging, as insiders often have trusted access to systems, making their actions harder to detect.

Medical device security

Vulnerabilities in connected medical devices are an increasingly common entry point for hackers. As more devices—from hospital asset tracking systems to healthcare wearables—become networked for real-time monitoring and diagnostics, they create potential weaknesses in healthcare systems. If not properly secured, these devices can be exploited by cybercriminals to gain access to critical networks, putting both patient safety and data security at risk.

How to improve cybersecurity in healthcare

As healthcare organizations continue to evolve digitally, cybersecurity must shift to a strategic priority. It’s not just about securing the perimeter anymore; that’s a given. The real challenge lies in addressing the deeper, more nuanced vulnerabilities—both human and technological—that continue to slip through the cracks. To truly safeguard sensitive data and critical systems, organizations need a strategic, holistic approach that addresses both human and technological risks.

Here’s how to move beyond the basics and start building a stronger, more resilient cybersecurity framework:

Employee training

One of the most effective ways to combat cybersecurity threats in the healthcare industry is through regular employee training. With healthcare staff often being the first line of defense, it's crucial they can recognize phishing attempts, suspicious emails, and other cyber threats that prey on individuals. By training employees to identify and respond to potential attacks, organizations can reduce the likelihood of successful breaches. Notably, studies show that cybersecurity awareness training can lead to a 70% reduction in security-related risks. This makes security awareness training an indispensable part of the security strategy.

Endpoint protection

With the rise of connected medical devices and IoT systems in healthcare, securing endpoints is a critical priority. Organizations need endpoint detection and response (EDR) to actively monitor, detect, and respond to threats in real-time across the healthcare environment. EDR provides healthcare organizations with the ability to identify suspicious activity on everything from hospital workstations to life-saving medical devices, preventing attackers from exploiting vulnerabilities and infiltrating critical systems.

Data encryption

Encrypting sensitive patient data is a fundamental component of healthcare cybersecurity. Whether the data is in transit, moving across networks, or stored at rest in databases, encryption ensures that unauthorized individuals cannot access it. Strong encryption protocols help maintain patient privacy and compliance with regulations like HIPAA, while also providing an additional layer of protection against data breaches and cyberattacks.

Network security

In the healthcare industry, protecting networks is vital to defending against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. By implementing firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and secure Wi-Fi protocols, organizations can create a robust defense against unauthorized access and potential breaches. These defenses act as barriers, blocking unauthorized access and minimizing the risk of breaches. A well-secured network limits the ability of attackers to exploit vulnerabilities and ensures that healthcare operations continue smoothly and patient data remains protected.

Incident response plans

Even with strong preventive measures in place, cyberattacks can still happen. The key to minimizing damage and ensuring continuity in healthcare services lies in how quickly an organization can respond. A solid incident response plan outlines the necessary steps to isolate affected systems, communicate with stakeholders, and restore critical data—all while minimizing disruption to operations. Speed is crucial: the faster an organization can contain an attack, the less impact it will have on patient care and overall healthcare delivery. An effective plan helps reduce the long-term consequences of an attack and ensures healthcare services remain uninterrupted.

Healthcare cybersecurity best practices

To stay ahead of evolving cyber threats, healthcare organizations must adopt best practices that address current security risks and help security teams anticipate future risks. Some of the key elements of a strong, proactive cybersecurity strategy include:

Conduct risk assessments

Regular risk assessments are a critical part of a proactive cybersecurity strategy in healthcare. These assessments help security teams identify a wide range of security risks—vulnerabilities in systems, gaps in processes, and human factors that could be exploited by attackers. By continuously evaluating the organization’s threat exposure, teams can prioritize remediation efforts based on the severity and potential impact of each risk. This strategic approach ensures that critical security gaps are addressed first, reducing the likelihood of exploitation. Risk assessments also provide valuable insights into emerging threats, allowing healthcare organizations to stay ahead of cybercriminals and implement preventive measures before risks materialize.

Adopt Zero Trust Architecture

Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is a security framework based on the principle of "never trust, always verify." Zero Trust assumes that threats can exist both inside and outside the network, requiring that every access request be continuously validated, authenticated, and authorized, regardless of its origin. This approach segments access to sensitive data and systems based on strict policies and real-time analysis, which ensures that users and devices are verified at every stage of interaction. By adopting ZTA, healthcare organizations can minimize the risk of insider threats and unauthorized access, as well as enhance data protection and reduce the potential attack surface across their environment.

Secure remote access

With the rise of telehealth services and an increasing number of healthcare workers operating remotely, securing remote access has become a critical component of healthcare cybersecurity. Utilizing virtual private networks (VPNs) encrypts data in transit, which safeguards sensitive patient information from being intercepted over unsecured networks. Enforcing multi-factor authentication (MFA) ensures that only verified users can access critical systems—an essential layer of protection against credential theft. Additionally, implementing network access control (NAC) can further restrict access based on device compliance, ensuring that only secure, authorized devices connect to healthcare networks. Collectively, these measures reduce the risk of cyberattacks that target remote access points.

Implement strong identity protection

Protecting identities is a critical component of any healthcare cybersecurity strategy. Applying strong identity protection practices provides enhanced control over who can access critical data and systems, reduces the risk of insider threats, and helps prevent unauthorized access from both external and internal sources. Implementing robust identity protection measures, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), ensures that only authorized users can access sensitive systems and data. Additionally, applying the principle of least privilege (PoLP) ensures that individuals only have access to what they truly need for their role, which limits the potential damage in case of a breach.

Maintain regular updates and patching

To prevent the exploitation of known vulnerabilities, it’s essential to keep all software and devices up to date. Regular updates and patching ensure that security flaws are addressed in a timely manner, which is vital for reducing the window of opportunity for cybercriminals to exploit weaknesses. This practice helps protect internal and connected systems from potential cyberattacks.

Collaborate with experts

Partnering with cybersecurity firms like CrowdStrike enables healthcare organizations to leverage advanced security solutions and expert knowledge. These partnerships bring in specialized expertise to enhance threat detection, response, and prevention strategies, empowering healthcare providers with the strategies and solutions to stay protected amid an increasingly complex and sophisticated cyber threat environment.

Conclusion

In a highly interconnected healthcare landscape, cybersecurity is a critical component of patient care and operational resilience. Protecting patient data is paramount for maintaining trust and confidentiality, as well as ensuring that healthcare services can continue without interruption. With regulatory requirements like HIPAA demanding rigorous data protection measures, the stakes have never been higher.

As cyber threats continue to evolve, healthcare organizations must be proactive in implementing comprehensive security strategies. This includes everything from regular risk assessments and employee training to advanced technologies like EDR, data encryption, and robust identity safeguards. By leveraging modern solutions and adhering to best practices, healthcare providers can significantly reduce their cyber risk.

Ultimately, a forward-thinking approach to cybersecurity is essential for safeguarding sensitive information, maintaining uninterrupted operations, and upholding the highest standards of patient care. Healthcare organizations that invest in and prioritize robust cybersecurity measures will be better equipped to navigate the complex security terrain and ensure the safety and integrity of their critical systems.