The healthcare sector does not seem to be a main target of cybersecurity issues. However, it is the top target, and the ransomware attacks have seen a four-year surge of cyber incidents in 2024. The “State of Ransomware in Healthcare 2024” report by Sophos portrays the rise of attacks underscoring crucial vulnerabilities in the healthcare industry. It has exposed confidential patient data and resulted in noteworthy disruptions to operations.
Considering it as an issue that happened due to lack of proper cybersecurity testing, we have to know why healthcare is a target. Read this blog to also know how we can mitigate it moving on.
The Rise of Healthcare Ransomware Attacks
Sophos reported in its 2024 survey research that attacks especially involving ransomware in healthcare domains have increased dramatically. It is now even more common with sophisticated unethical activities. This year, healthcare organisations have become much more appealing to attackers since the data they own happens to be sensitive. Cybercriminals want hefty ransoms for which they do not gain access to data like patient’s information, treatment plans, or research data.
This increase can be ascribed to a number of things. The main reasons being the healthcare industry’s reliance on antiquated technology, the absence of robust cybersecurity safeguards, and the need to rapidly restore services. The use of digital settings without proper support systems and financial constraints make it difficult for healthcare organisations to purchase cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions. This leaves them more vulnerable to unauthorised attacks.
Key Findings from the Sophos Report
The Sophos report identified several alarming trends:
Increased Frequency: In 2024, there were a higher number of ransomware attacks on healthcare organisations than in the previous four years. Around 67% of healthcare providers reported to have faced ransomware attacks, a considerable increase from previous years.
Financial and Operational Impact: In the healthcare industry, the price of recovering from ransomware assaults is rising. According to the report, the typical cleanup cost for a healthcare organisation that has been attacked might amount to millions of dollars. In addition to monetary losses, healthcare providers also deal with reputational harm, postponed treatments, and subpar patient care.
Growing Sophistication: Attackers are growing increasingly inventive, employing double extortion tactics. In this case, they not only encrypt but also steal data, threatening to make crucial information public if the ransom is not paid. This makes it an issue if the healthcare organisation does not have a proper security system.
Delayed Recovery: The duration of time it takes for healthcare organisations to recover completely from ransomware attacks has increased as well. Some require weeks or even months to get back to normal, like only 22% of victims recovered within a week. This is a drop from the previous years. There could be disastrous repercussions from this delay, especially in the case of emergency services and crucial patient care.
Why Healthcare Is a Prime Target
The healthcare industry is an appealing target for ransomware operators due to its critical dependence on IT infrastructure. Electronic Health Records (EHRs), patient management systems, and telemedicine are crucial to daily operations. But, compared to the established digital systems, there is no proper cyber incident response team to handle issues.
The adoption of comprehensive security measures has lagged behind the push towards digital transformation. Particularly with the advent of telehealth, many continue to rely on antiquated systems devoid of contemporary cybersecurity defences. So a successful ransomware attack can damage a hospital’s functioning capability, forcing them to pay the ransom to avoid long-term delays to patient care.
The Human and Ethical Toll
Ransomware incidents in healthcare organisations cause more than just financial damage. They can have a direct effect on patients’ lives. System shutdowns can cause delays in surgeries, diagnostic tests, and routine care, resulting in poor health outcomes or even death. The ethical dilemma is paying the ransom to fix the immediate problem, as it also feeds the cybercriminal ecosystem, encouraging further attacks.
Moving Forward: Strengthening Defences
Healthcare organisations need to step up their defences as ransomware cases keep getting more frequent. The Sophos research shows us the necessity of taking preventative actions like:
Comprehensive Cybersecurity Training: Healthcare workers should be periodically taught to identify phishing efforts and other usual ransomware entry points.
Adoption of Zero Trust Architecture: By using a zero-trust strategy, access requests from both internal and external parties are verified before being approved.
Robust Backup and Recovery Systems: Regularly backing up essential data and having a validated recovery plan in place can help to reduce downtime and data loss in the case of an attack.
Conclusion
The startling increase in ransomware attacks targeting the healthcare industry in 2024 should serve as a reminder to businesses to give cybersecurity top priority. Healthcare facilities may safeguard patient lives and their own operations by identifying the threats and putting robust cybersecurity testing systems in place.
If you own a healthcare organisation, whatever the scale, and want to keep your company, workers, and patients safe, hire us. Cybernetic Global Intelligence can assist you in creating a properly secured IT infrastructure. Be digitally safe with us!
Connect with us through 1300 292 376 or contact@cybernetic-gi.com. To know more, visit www.cyberneticgi.com.