The healthcare industry faces increasing cybersecurity risks, with the average cost of data breaches rising sharply. Phishing and stolen credentials are the most common attack vectors, often involving human error and social engineering tactics. Travis Gleinig, VP and CIO at United Methodist Communities, emphasizes that while technology is crucial, the real focus should be on the people behind the screens.
Many organizations lack comprehensive staff training, leading to a culture of vulnerability. AI-generated phishing emails pose a significant threat, rapidly increasing the sophistication and speed of phishing attempts. These emails can direct employees to professional-looking AI-generated sites designed to steal information.
Deepfakes can also make social engineering exploits more convincing. John DiMaggio, CEO at BlueOrange Compliance, explains that most cyberattacks aim to gain financial information or sensitive data. Hackers exploit weaknesses like system configuration settings or use the dark web to find passwords.
Once inside a network, they can gain domain admin access and move through the system to extract valuable data or plant ransomware. Senior care organizations can implement several measures to protect themselves:
1. Regular and comprehensive staff training on cybersecurity practices and awareness of common attack vectors.
Healthcare industry’s growing cyberthreat challenges
2. Fostering a culture where employees can promptly report suspicious activities or emails.
3. Implementing strong identity management practices to ensure only authorized individuals access sensitive information. 4.
Regularly updated training on recognizing and responding to phishing attempts. 5. Ensuring all system configurations are secure and up-to-date.
6. Specialized training for finance teams, as they are frequently targeted for their access to money. Organizations must also be vigilant about the rising costs associated with data breaches, which go beyond ransoms to include legal fees, remediation, and reputational damage.
Effective communication between IT teams and organizational leadership about the trade-offs between security measures and operational productivity is essential. Balancing cybersecurity with efficient workflow is a constant challenge, but with the right practices and awareness, senior care organizations can better protect themselves from evolving cyberthreats.
