Network Security

Cybersecurity monitoring is essential for every business to have, no matter the size, as every company must be prepared to defend against malware, hackers, cyber threats, and data breaches. Monitoring serves as a means to detect breaches in near real time and collect logs for further investigation. In the event of a data breach, the logs can be used as forensic evidence.  Cybersecurity monitoring also satisfies compliance for HIPPA and Department of Financial Services (DFS) laws.

One specific industry that is a common target for cyber threats and data breaches is the healthcare industry. Hackers tend to frequently steal patient records at an alarmingly high rate as it is one of the most profitable forms of private data that hackers can profit from.

Hospitals and sole practitioners are becoming increasingly susceptible to online attacks and compromising confidential patient data mainly because they host a lot of internet-connected equipment that cannot be secured with traditional endpoint solutions. Not to mention that long and busy days mean healthcare staff do not have the time and resources to stay educated on the latest threats to devices. This is where IT specialists are able to step in to protect healthcare hardware against attacks.

Effective cybersecurity solutions have become a must for all healthcare organizations, no matter the size, as they are all in charge of sensitive patient data. Keeping network devices secure wherever possible helps to limit the damage that could be caused by an attack on medical devices. The number of devices used in hospitals and doctors’ offices makes it hard to stay on top of security. However, healthcare organizations have a responsibility to keep up on the latest online threats to keep their patient data secure. Thus, it’s important for any healthcare organization to take a proactive approach against ransomware by investing in preventive measures and allocating a budget to invest in an IT company for cybersecurity monitoring.

Numerous ransomware attacks were reported against the healthcare industry in 2019 around the country, including Olean Medical Group and Seneca Nation Health System in Salamanca, New York, which caused the healthcare facilities to temporarily lose access to their computers and electronic health record systems.

Protect Your Healthcare Business with Security Information and Event Management

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) is the core technology behind cybersecurity monitoring. SIEM is a specific platform that centrally collects, analyzes, and reports data from multiple devices on your network. Through an advanced correlation engine, it is able to proactively identify security events not otherwise detected by separate security technology. The analysis capabilities of SIEM systems can detect attacks not discovered through other ways. SIEM products can even stop detected security breaches, assuming an attack is still in progress.

When such events are identified, SIEM reports the incident to whoever is responsible for response and remediation. Outsourcing your monitoring to an IT company that specializes in cybersecurity monitoring is the best way to handle events that were identified by your SIEM, including investigation and vetting false positives. Thus, a 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC) like Keyskeya Technology gives organizations the security benefits without costly expenses or headaches.

The health care industry has become reliant on the digitization of data to maintain and share patient information. In addition to the benefits derived from healthcare technology, the rise of digitization in healthcare has brought an unintended side effect – vulnerability of viruses, malware, and hackers to healthcare data. Thus, it’s crucial to protect patient health records and other data from these threats with cybersecurity monitoring.

Healthcare data has become a growing target for hackers as more of it is generated and made exposed via data sharing and through medical devices that communicate with hospital systems. For that reason, it is critical for all healthcare professionals and administrative staff to understand the importance of cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity threats to healthcare organizations and patient safety are real. Such cyber-attacks expose sensitive patient information and lead to substantial financial costs to regain control of hospital systems and patient data. From small sole practitioners to large hospitals, cyber-attacks on healthcare records and medical devices have infected even the most hardened systems. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), nearly one million new pieces of malware are created each day.

Cybersecurity Tips from AMA

The AMA is spreading awareness of cybersecurity and has developed tips on how physicians can protect their computers and network to keep patients’ health records and other data safe from cyberattacks.

• To protect against malware ensure that your software and server operating systems are regularly patched and updated.
• Create one Wi-Fi network for your practice and another for your patients. For example, practice and practice guest. Make sure to use different passwords for each.
• Create and enforce a workplace policy requiring strong passwords. For example, using at least eight characters with a mixture of letters, numbers, and symbols. Change the password every 90 days at a minimum.
• Encrypt and password-protect mobile devices, including cell phones, tablets, and laptops.
• Make sure to use the most current version of the web browser software (e.g., Internet Explorer and Chrome) and enable automatic updates if possible.

Given the increasingly widespread nature of cyber-attacks, it is imperative that the healthcare industry makes cybersecurity a priority and makes the investments needed to protect its patients. Cybersecurity requires coordination of resources across a number of public and private stakeholders, including hospitals, IT vendors, medical device manufacturers, and governments (state, local, and federal) to mitigate the risks and minimize the impacts of a cyber-attack. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Health Care and Public Health (HPH, Health Sector, Health Care Industry) sector are said to be working together to address these challenges.

Cybersecurity is a Priority for Patient Safety

If physicians are not securing their data with cybersecurity technologies, they risk theft, the loss of private patient information, and loss of access to critical medication lists, diagnoses and lab results. HIPAA compliance is not enough to protect patient records that’s why cybersecurity is crucial. But physicians don’t have to figure out how to protect the records on their own. They can rely on IT and cybersecurity companies for network and system security.

Keykeya Technology offers cybersecurity solutions for HIPAA Compliance. We use state-of-the-art remote access, and system monitoring software to continuously manage our clients’
network to eliminate costly disruptions, data loss, and cyber threats. Our 24/7 Security Operations Center provides threat monitoring and response services and is 100% U.S based. Give us a call (866)-560-9690 so we can get started on protecting your healthcare records with our KeyTech Cybersecurity Services.