If you think hackers are only interested in heavyweights like Target and eBay, think again. Healthcare data is a prime target for cybercriminals looking to access information. One of the threats facing the healthcare industry (and others) is ransomware, which to many is ranked among the greatest threats out there. It’s estimated that there are around 4,000 ransomware attacks daily, and the reason so many are directed at healthcare facilities is because of the way they handle their files — just about everything a hacker wants can be found, which makes this industry a target for ransom.
Generally, hackers demand Bitcoin as payment as it can’t be traced. And providers are paying up, because if they don’t their medical data is lost to them, leaving them helpless and, in some cases, without the means to effectively treat their patients.
The Internet of Things (IoT) isn’t helping, either. In fact, many hackers find their way into a system through devices, such as radiological equipment, that are connected to the system via the internet. Hackers can go directly after the device infrastructure and get what they need to render the provider helpless.
Making Protection Count
So, how can you protect your system and your patients’ data? If you don’t have the processing power for a next generation firewall, you might be leaving yourself open to attack. Processing power is also what’s needed for today’s advanced security strategies, so you could be stuck with yesteryear’s strategies if you don’t find a way to upgrade.
Utilizing a regional security hub is one way to beef up your firewall for added protection. The perk is that you can maintain your existing appliances. However, this solution usually involves cloud-based firewall solutions.
It’s not likely that the use of IoT will decrease as we continue to technologically evolve. However, we can take a look at how we digitize and make sure we’re doing it safely, and that it only occurs if it benefits the patient and our ability to maintain the proper security protocols.
At TeleConsult, we are the cybersecurity experts that can protect your company network. We’re helping scale back the billions of dollars in remediation costs that too many organizations are paying today. It doesn’t matter the type or size of network you have or how you’re connected to everything around you — we can find the solutions that will offer the ultimate protection. Contact us today to learn more.