How to protect a hospital from a ransomware attack?
More than half of healthcare institutions have experienced at least one failure or disruption to the continuity of their IT infrastructure. Most of…
More than half of healthcare institutions have experienced at least one failure or disruption to the continuity of their IT infrastructure. Most of these disruptions, however, were caused by ransomware attacks. Following the pandemic, which led to an increasing number of healthcare facilities using remote solutions and storing patient data on servers, the threat of cyberattacks has become increasingly widespread. Find out how to effectively protect a hospital from a ransomware attack.
Ransomware – what is it?
Ransomware is malicious software that prevents users from accessing files and systems on a device. Cybercriminals use it to extort ransom payments. Their targets are most often large institutions, but not exclusively – small and medium-sized businesses, educational institutions, government and military organizations, and healthcare providers are increasingly being targeted as well.
Unfortunately, hospitals and other healthcare organizations are being attacked more and more frequently. This is because patient data stored in healthcare systems is particularly valuable, as human lives may depend on access to these systems. As a result, criminals may find it easier to pressure organizations into paying the demanded ransom.
For example, in 2021, nearly 300 healthcare facilities in the United States were targeted by ransomware attacks. In the largest incident of this kind, more than 600,000 patient records were exposed. A similar situation occurred in France, where cybercriminals demanded $10 million to restore the encrypted files. The healthcare facility refused to pay, which resulted in patient data being published on the cybercriminal organization’s website.
Importantly, even after paying the ransom and theoretically restoring the systems, many of them still do not function properly. As much as 40% of resources may be permanently lost, which can have tragic consequences. Furthermore, in as many as 95% of healthcare facilities, essential systems cannot be restored within the required timeframe after an outage.
How to protect against a ransomware attack?
In 2021, more than 350 electronic services were available in Poland’s public healthcare system. Interestingly, nearly 30 million Poles used these solutions – more than 75% of the country’s population! This is why properly securing data and effectively managing IT technologies is so important.
To properly protect a hospital against a ransomware attack, it is worth investing in qualified IT specialists, appropriate security software, and properly secured cloud services. For example, Cloud4You offers cloud solutions and IT support tailored to healthcare facilities, which can help significantly increase the security of hospital data.
As experts in cybersecurity and cloud services, we present several tips that can help you protect a hospital against an attack.
Regular backups
Regularly creating backups is the foundation of data protection. It helps minimize losses resulting from a ransomware attack. A properly prepared backup allows the facility to restore operations relatively quickly, even in the event of data or IT infrastructure damage.
Fortunately, healthcare organizations are becoming increasingly aware of the risks and the need to back up their data. In 2019, backups were performed on average every 205 minutes, while two years later this interval had decreased to 121 minutes.
How can you perform backups effectively? The 3-2-1 rule works well here. It means that you should keep at least three copies or replicas of your data, using two different technologies or storage media, with at least one copy stored in a location separate from the others. You can also use a Backup as a Service (BaaS) solution and entrust the backup process to an experienced provider.
Preventive security measures
To properly protect a hospital against ransomware, the local network should be properly configured and secured, and employees should be aware of potential threats. It is also worth investing in technologies that enhance security. For example, Cloud4You offers properly secured cloud services, data backup creation and storage, as well as other cybersecurity and IT support services that can help protect your organization against attacks.
Post-attack response
The most important aspect of responding to an attack is to remain calm while also acting quickly. The first step is to check whether patient data is secure and whether it is available in backups. It is also essential to restore critical systems as quickly as possible, especially those on which patients’ lives may depend. At Cloud4You, we also offer Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS), which can help you quickly recover data and restore the operation of critical systems.
Summary
Patient data security should be a priority for every healthcare facility. At a time of increasing ransomware attack risks, particular attention should be paid to IT infrastructure security and staff training.
If you are still looking for support in protecting your hospital against ransomware attacks, contact us. As an experienced provider, we can provide you with all the solutions you need to protect your hospital and its data from cybercriminal activity.
