HIPAA Tip: Fight Back on Cyber Attacks
How Healthcare Organizations Can Fight Cyber Attacks
Cyberattacks come in many forms, from ransomware and phishing attacks to the theft of sensitive data and personal information of employees. Healthcare organizations need to strengthen their security posture with risk management plans, technology and educational training on cybersecurity awareness for all staff.
- Fight cyber attacks with three-pronged approach: risk management, technology, training
- Risk Management: Identify, manage, and mitigate risks through continuous monitoring
- Technology: Keep devices updated, implement EDR solutions, use encryption and firewalls
- Phishing Awareness: Train all staff to recognize red flags and report suspicious emails
- Outdated/unpatched systems are easiest targets for attackers
- Email phishing remains the most common cyberattack vector
Three Essential Strategies to Fight Cyber Attacks
To effectively fight cyber attacks, healthcare organizations must implement a multi-layered defense strategy. Each layer works together to create a comprehensive security posture that can withstand the sophisticated threats facing healthcare today. Organizations that successfully fight cyber attacks don’t rely on a single solution—they build defense in depth across their entire operation.
Strategy 1: Implement a Comprehensive Risk Management Plan
Risk Management Plan: How does your organization strategically identify, manage and mitigate risk? The process involves analyzing risks, from software or equipment failures to vulnerable systems (outdated, unpatched), and then implementing strategies to prevent them or lessen their impact, followed by continuous monitoring and review to ensure effectiveness and adapt to new challenges.
Strategy 2: Strengthen Security Through Technology
Strengthen Security Through Technology: Would you leave the doors to your home unlocked and go on vacation? Devices that are not up to date (patching), or end of life, are one of the easiest targets for threat actors to “get into” your network. Endpoint Detection Response (EDR) solutions, encryption for devices and emails, and additional licensing for Firewalls can build a stronger security environment.
Strategy 3: Combat Email Phishing Through Awareness Training
Email Phishing: Why is this still the most common cyberattack? All staff, management and owners must know the Red Flags in a phishing email. When an attempted email phish is sent, all individuals within the organization need to know whom to alert, or to contact the sender directly when in doubt of the legitimacy of the email.
Ongoing HIPAA Compliance Support
HIPAA compliance isn’t a one-time checklist. It’s ongoing, programmatic in nature, and requires demonstrated reasonable diligence to stay in good standing with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Anatomy IT can provide you peace of mind with our expert HIPAA compliance services. To learn more, contact us here.