Amidst this flurry of high-profile attacks comes National Cyber Security Awareness Month; a poignant reminder that, for hospitals and healthcare providers, cyberattack prevention and business continuity is truly a matter of life and death. Over the course of the pandemic, we have seen ransomware and phishing attacks against healthcare institutions — viewed by cybercriminals as vulnerable and profitable targets — dramatically skyrocket. But where, in an ever-evolving threat landscape, should healthcare organizations focus their attention?

The Duesseldorf University Clinic in Germany was hit by a ransomware attack last week that forced staffers to direct emergency patients elsewhere. The cyberattack “crippled the entire IT network of the hospital." As a result, a woman seeking emergency treatment for a life-threatening condition died after she had to be taken to another city for treatment, according to several outlets. 

In late February 2020, news broke in the United States that the once faraway threat of a “novel coronavirus” had spread to U.S. soil. As COVID-19 case numbers in major cities grew, stay-at-home orders were put in place, businesses closed, restaurants shifted to take-out only, and retailers adopted curbside service. All of this took place to slow the spread of COVID-19.  Meanwhile, however, hospitals remained open — accepting new patients at the direction of the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and working diligently to adhere to new safety guidelines. During virus, or any pandemic outbreaks, we are acutely reminded of our essential frontline healthcare workers, the critical need to enhance their overall safety, security, and to be as efficient as possible when communicating vital information.

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