As the healthcare industry continues to navigate what we hope is the near end of the pandemic, it’s becoming increasingly clear that it’s dealing with a cybersecurity emergency as well. With frontline healthcare personnel working around the clock to care for a never-ending wave of COVID-19 patients and IT departments scrambling to support those who’ve transitioned to WFH since the pandemic began, healthcare has quickly become a favorite target for cybercriminals looking for quick infiltration and large payouts. More worrisome, the security threat shows no signs of slowing down as the pandemic recedes.
In particular, government officials have highlighted the growing ransomware threat this past year — encouraging hospitals and other public health organizations to take immediate precautions against attacks. And their attempts to instill urgency are not misplaced. Healthcare continues to be targeted at a far greater frequency than other industries. Furthermore, the fact that ransomware attacks have shown their ability to limit or completely shut off access to critical care for patients in need, means healthcare organizations often feel like they have no choice but to pay a ransom once a breach has been disclosed.