#CyberVulnerabilities

[likitakans]

Exposed: The Shocking Cybersecurity Challenges Plaguing Healthcare IT

The healthcare sector is at a crossroads in the current digital era due to both unprecedented cybersecurity threats and technological advancements. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are more susceptible to malicious attacks as a result of their growing reliance on digital technologies to manage patient records and optimize operations. In this blog post, we examine the severe cybersecurity problems that healthcare IT must solve and the reasons that they must be addressed immediately.

The Growing Threat Landscape

Cyberattacks on healthcare institutions are a harsh reality, not just a theoretical risk. The ramifications of these events can be disastrous, ranging from ransomware attacks that stop hospitals from operating to data breaches that expose private patient information. These attacks have become more frequent and sophisticated in recent years, revealing serious weaknesses in antiquated IT infrastructures and insufficient security measures.

Unique Vulnerabilities in Healthcare IT

Healthcare IT, in contrast to other industries, has particular vulnerabilities that make the risk environment worse. The massive amount of sensitive data kept in electronic health records (EHRs) is one of the main causes for concern. These records are highly sought after by cybercriminals who want to use or sell the financial and personal health information they contain on the dark web.

Furthermore, attackers have multiple entry points due to the interconnectedness of healthcare systems, which involve multiple devices and networks sharing information. Hospital networks are seeing an increase in the connectivity of medical devices, including MRI machines and infusion pumps, to enable real-time data collection and monitoring. Although this connectivity improves operational effectiveness and patient care, if these devices are not adequately secured, it also poses new cybersecurity risks.

Compliance and Regulatory Challenges

Healthcare businesses have to juggle a complicated web of laws and rules to ensure patient confidentiality and data security. Tight guidelines are in place to protect patient data, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). For IT departments, however, who are already overburdened with day-to-day operational demands, attaining compliance can be an overwhelming undertaking.

Mitigating the Risks

Addressing cybersecurity challenges in healthcare IT requires a multifaceted approach. First and foremost, healthcare organizations must prioritize cybersecurity awareness and education among staff at all levels. Training programs can empower employees to recognize phishing attempts, avoid malware infections, and follow best practices for safeguarding sensitive information.

Furthermore, implementing robust cybersecurity measures, such as encryption protocols, multi-factor authentication, and regular security audits, is crucial for fortifying defenses against potential threats. Investing in advanced threat detection technologies and establishing incident response plans can also help mitigate the impact of cyberattacks and minimize downtime during recovery efforts.

Looking Ahead

As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, so too must its approach to cybersecurity. Proactive measures, including ongoing risk assessments and collaboration with cybersecurity experts, are essential for staying ahead of emerging threats. By prioritizing cybersecurity as a fundamental component of healthcare IT strategy, organizations can safeguard patient data, maintain operational continuity, and uphold the trust of the communities they serve.

In conclusion, while the cybersecurity challenges facing healthcare IT may seem daunting, they are not insurmountable. By recognizing the unique vulnerabilities, adhering to regulatory requirements, and implementing robust security measures, healthcare organizations can strengthen their defenses and protect against potential threats. Together, we can ensure that patient information remains secure and healthcare systems remain resilient in the face of evolving cybersecurity risks.

[g33kxinc]

Cybersecurity blind spot: AI’s inherent vulnerabilities

Cybersecurity blind spot: AI’s inherent vulnerabilities

Cybersecurity is commonly regarded as the biggest strategic challenge confronting the United States. Recent headlines only confirm this trend, as every day seems to bring with it the announcement of a new vulnerability, hack or breach. Click here to view original webpage at gcn.com #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Cybersecurity #CyberVulnerabilities #SoftwareSecurity #ZeroTrust #ZeroTrustSecurity…

[myweddingsandevents]

Tweet from Senator Angus King (@SenAngusKing)

Senator Angus King (@SenAngusKing) Tweeted:

I took a page out of my friend @StephenKing’s book to share a nightmare with my colleagues in @EPWCmte. America’s cybervulnerabilities – especially for our water system – could lead to catastrophe if left unaddressed; we need to improve our cybersecurity, now. https://t.co/k23NcFqipX https://twitter.com/SenAngusKing/status/1417883624272273419?s=20

[pubalimukherjee]

Cyber security through encryption. http://www.top5life.com/cyber-security-encryption/#cybersecurity, #networksecurity, #encryption, #datasecurity, #digitalassets, #cybervulnerability #PrivNote #BoxCryptor #encrypt #cybercrime #technology #digitalization #digitalassets #Top5Life #aspectsoflife #onlinemagazine #cybersecuritythroughencryption #encryptyourdatanow #encryptsmartphones #encryptdesktop #Top5Lifetechnology

[inzeeweb]

Quite a hit to DJI drones and DJI products as a whole by the #USArmy. #CyberVulnerabilities http://pic.twitter.com/fzSjP7pDvW

— NickZ (@nickz) August 8, 2017

via Twitter https://twitter.com/nickz August 07, 2017 at 11:02PM

[fastercures]

Risk vs. Reward: The Growing Cyberthreat to Interconnected Health Care

by Mark Williams, Associate

As health care has become increasingly digitized, its vulnerability to cyberthreats has also increased. Kim McCleary, managing director, FasterCures, moderated a panel on this topic and noted that, in a recent survey, business leaders whose organizations were victims of cyberattacks compared the disruption to that of suffering a fire, flood, or other natural disaster. When we think of this vulnerability in light of our health-care data, the stakes could not be higher.

This vulnerability -- and what we can do about it -- was explored during the Milken Institute Global Conference panel “Hacks on Health Care: How to Make a Vulnerable Industry Cyber-Secure.” McCleary set the scene with the ransomware attack against Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, where hackers gained control of its medical records and information system. Administrators at the facility paid a ransom in order to restore the system so that they could continue to care for patients. In the meantime, surgeries were put on hold, ambulances were directed to other emergency rooms, and critical activities were jeopardized. McCleary observed that ransomware scenarios are playing out in “health-care settings all around the country every week.” In fact, within a few days of this panel discussion, the U.K.’s National Health Service and other health-care organizations were targeted in the worldwide ‘WannaCry’ cyberattack.

In another example of cybervulnerability, Mark Wilson of Blackberry told of how easy it was for a team of ‘white hat’ hackers to infiltrate a widely used medical device, a bedside medication pump, down to its “root level.” The hackers had complete control of the pump, and the only way to regain control would be to physically “pull it out of the person’s arm or turn the machine off.” What was alarming to all, especially the device manufacturers, was how quickly and easily hackers could compromise the device. Josh Corman of the Atlantic Council elaborated that medical device manufacturers had not previously anticipated potential cyberthreats to their products. As health care becomes increasingly dependent on technology, Corman said that “the promise and the peril” of medical devices is that, while they may improve the lives of patients, they “expose us to new types of accidents and adversaries.”

The nature of medical devices has dramatically changed in recent years; previously, medical devices were designed and built to stand alone. But now, according to Suzanne Schwartz of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), internet-connected devices include major pieces of capital equipment such as MRI scanners down to implanted devices like pacemakers. The question has become, how do we strike the right balance between risks and reward while encouraging innovation and technological advancement? Through actions to address medical device security, the FDA has been able to inform policy on what it expects to see from manufacturers to improve the security of devices, as well as post-market policies around what it wants to see across the lifetime of a device.

Health records, unlike other forms of personally identifiable information, have a high value on the black market that increases over time. As McCleary pointed out, you cannot change your health records like you can your credit card number. Kevin McDonald of Mayo Clinic added that it is prohibitively expensive for many health-care organizations to buy the tools necessary to become cybersecure because their operational capacity is lower than many major hospitals.

Compounding this issue is a severe security talent shortage in health care. As Corman notes, around “85 percent of modern health-care delivery organizations don’t have a single qualified security person” on staff. Organizations that have a security program, like Mayo Clinic, are unique; many medium, small, and rural hospitals do not have the resources for such programs. Moreover, even with a security staff, there is a severe legacy technology problem as many devices have old operating systems that are no longer supported by modern software, as we saw in the global WannaCry hack. In other words, as Corman explained, “you are defending things that are harder to make safe.”

Previous cases of health-care hacking have been limited to financial crime, but, he asked, “What happens when criminals use these vulnerabilities to harm human life? Anything that harms public trust in this technology could have untold consequences for a sector that represents one-fifth of the U.S. economy.”  

What could a set of solutions look like? White hat hackers continue to play a vital role by using their expertise to help organizations find the gaps in their security -- whether by hacking into a device or exposing physical security gaps by trying to gain access to hospitals’ IT systems. Wilson pointed to the rise in ‘cyber insurance’ across all businesses including health organizations. The panel discussed the danger of relying too heavily on insurance as a single protective strategy, noting that coverage would not likely extend to brand damage to the hospital, theft of intellectual property, or loss of life.  

McCleary asked panelists what action steps could the audience and wider society take to ensure that we are better prepared and protected. There was consensus around gaining knowledge of the issue, raising awareness, and starting conversations to help build a culture of safety. Cybersecurity is not just an issue of public safety, but also an issue with significant economic and national security implications.