A data breach is when unauthorized individuals gain access to sensitive, protected, or confidential data. This can involve personal information, financial records, intellectual property, or any data meant to be kept secure.
Breaches can occur in various ways, including hacking, insider threats, or accidental exposure due to inadequate security measures.
Related: Understanding and managing a HIPAA breach
Common causes of data breaches
A research study on healthcare data breaches revealed the following as causes of data breaches:
- Hacking and cyber attacks: Cybercriminals use sophisticated techniques to exploit system vulnerabilities in healthcare networks. These attacks often involve complex infiltration methods designed to bypass security systems. The attacks frequently utilize tools such as malware, ransomware, and phishing techniques to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.
- Insider threats: Healthcare organizations face risks from employees and contractors who have legitimate access to sensitive information. These threats can manifest through intentional data theft or unintentional exposure through negligence. The combination of authorized access and potential malicious intent makes insider threats particularly challenging to prevent.
- Phishing attacks: Attackers create deceptive emails or messages that appear legitimate to healthcare staff. These communications are designed to manipulate recipients into revealing sensitive information or credentials. Once obtained, this information provides attackers with authorized access to healthcare systems and data.
- Weak security practices: Organizations often fail to implement adequate security measures to protect sensitive healthcare data. This includes the use of weak passwords and insufficient encryption protocols. The continued use of outdated software creates additional vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit.
- Lost or stolen devices: Healthcare providers frequently use portable devices such as laptops and smartphones that contain sensitive patient information. When these devices are lost or stolen, unauthorized individuals may gain access to confidential healthcare data. The mobility of these devices increases the risk of physical theft and subsequent data breaches.
Go deeper: Healthcare data breaches: Insights and implications
Impact of data breaches
According to the same study, the consequences of a data breach can be severe and far-reaching.
Financial Impact
Healthcare data breaches are significantly more expensive than breaches in other industries. The average cost of a data breach in 2019 was 92 million, while healthcare industry breaches typically cost 6.45 million. The cost per breached healthcare record was $429 in 2019, showing a consistent increase over previous years.
Organizational consequences
Organizations face multiple challenges after experiencing a breach. These include legal penalties for failing to protect sensitive data, particularly if they are subject to regulations like HIPAA. They must also handle costly patient protection services and mandatory reporting requirements. Organizations often experience operational disruptions and strain on their resources following a breach.
Reputational damage
Data breaches can severely damage an organization's reputation and erode trust with patients and stakeholders. This loss of trust can lead to decreased patient confidence and potential loss of business opportunities, affecting the organization's long-term sustainability.
Patient impact
Individuals whose data is compromised may become victims of identity theft, leading to both financial and personal hardships. The exposure of sensitive medical information can have lasting consequences for patients, potentially affecting their privacy, financial security, and personal well-being.
Regulatory consequences
Healthcare organizations may face significant regulatory consequences, including investigations, fines, and penalties for non-compliance with data protection regulations. They may also be required to implement additional security measures and undergo regular audits to prevent future breaches.
Related: The impact of HIPAA violations on patient care
How cyberattacks can disrupt healthcare services
Preventing data breaches
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) guide on protecting sensitive and personal information from data breaches suggests the following :
- Backup management: Organizations must maintain offline, encrypted backups of their data systems. These backups should be tested regularly to ensure their effectiveness. Backup procedures need to be conducted on a consistent schedule. Encrypting the backups will also protect the offline backups from ransomware variants attempting to locate and compromise accessible backups.
- Incident response planning: Organizations should create and maintain a basic cyber incident response plan for emergencies. This should be accompanied by a comprehensive resiliency plan. A clear communications plan must be established to manage crisis communications. All plans should specifically include detailed response and notification procedures for ransomware incidents.
- Vulnerability management: Companies need to actively mitigate internet-facing vulnerabilities in their systems. Regular vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify potential weaknesses. All software, operating systems, applications, and firmware must be updated regularly. Devices should be properly configured with appropriate security features such as passwords. Any unused ports and protocols should be disabled to reduce potential attack surfaces.
- Remote access security: Organizations must implement best practices for Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) usage. Networks should be audited for systems using RDP. Unused RDP ports must be closed to prevent unauthorized access. Account lockouts should be enforced after failed login attempts. Multi-factor authentication should be applied to all remote access. All RDP login attempts need to be logged for security monitoring.
- Phishing prevention: Strong spam filters should be enabled to reduce exposure to phishing attempts. Organizations must implement cybersecurity awareness training programs. Employees should receive specific guidance on how to identify and report suspicious activity.
- Cyber hygiene practices: Antivirus and anti-malware software must be kept current with the latest updates. Application allowlisting should be implemented to control software usage. User and privileged accounts need to be limited through strict access controls. Multi-factor authentication should be employed across all possible services. Organizations should follow CISA's Cyber Essentials guidelines for best practices.
- Data protection measures: Organizations must maintain awareness of what personal and sensitive information is stored on their systems. Data storage should be limited to necessary business operations. Unneeded data must be properly disposed of to prevent exposure. Physical security best practices should be implemented alongside digital measures. All sensitive information should be encrypted both at rest and in transit. Firewalls must be implemented for network protection.
- System security: Organizations should avoid storing sensitive data on systems that face the internet. Any laptops containing sensitive data must be encrypted for protection. Employees need proper training on physical security measures. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate sensitive systems from potential threats.
Related: Tips on proactive data breach prevention for small healthcare practices
FAQs
Why are healthcare data breaches particularly costly?
Healthcare data breaches are costly due to the sensitive nature of the data involved, such as personal health information. The costs include regulatory fines, legal fees, patient notification and protection services, and potential loss of trust and reputation.
How does network segmentation help in preventing data breaches?
Network segmentation involves dividing a network into smaller, isolated segments to limit access to sensitive data. This helps contain potential breaches by preventing unauthorized users from accessing critical systems and data across the entire network.
Read more: Lateral movement explained: How hackers navigate networks undetected
How does application allowlisting contribute to data security?
Application allowlisting restricts systems to running only pre-approved and trusted applications. This limits the risk of malware execution, as unauthorized applications, including potentially malicious ones, are blocked from running on the system.
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