This year has seen a significant increase in healthcare cyberattacks, with over 100 million people falling victim to data breaches, doubling last year’s count of 44 million affected individuals. While many hospitals are ill-prepared to combat these attacks, Oren Koren, co-founder and chief product officer of cybersecurity startup Verti, believes there are proactive measures that can be taken to bolster defense mechanisms.
According to Koren, cybersecurity has evolved from a niche interest to a profitable industry, driven by advanced persistent threat (APT) groups’ activities and nation-state espionage. The advent of hacker groups extorting ransom from healthcare organizations eventually led to the emergence of ‘cyberattack-as-a-service’ (CaaS), a criminal business model offering on-demand hacking services for a fee. This illicit marketplace has empowered a wider range of threat actors to execute sophisticated cyberattacks, contributing to the surge in complexity and scale of these incidents.
Koren emphasizes the significance of virtual patching as a principal defense tactic against cyber threats. With the recognition that hospitals are constantly vulnerable and unable to patch at-risk systems daily, embracing virtual patching becomes imperative. By enabling rapid vulnerability mitigation without relying on traditional patching processes, healthcare institutions can augment their existing cybersecurity defenses and fortify their security posture.
Moreover, Koren advises caution when considering cloud migration, highlighting the necessity of adequate manpower and expertise. While the allure of cloud services may be tempting, hospitals must assess their preparedness for such a transition. Understanding the intricate configurations and security implications of cloud infrastructure is essential, necessitating the presence of trained cybersecurity experts and potentially increasing cybersecurity staff and budget. Additionally, scrutinizing third-party partnerships is crucial to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Our Perspective
As a prominent digital consulting company, Pinnacle Digital Advisors recognizes the urgency for innovative and consumer-friendly solutions to combat the escalating threat of healthcare cyberattacks. The need for proactive security measures and strategic defense mechanisms is palpable, aligning with our ethos of empowering organizations with resilient digital safeguards.
Pinnacle Digital Advisors
This article originally published: [https://medcitynews.com/2023/12/cyberattack-hacker-healthcare-ransomware-hospital/]