With cyber-attacks against healthcare organizations surging in recent years, security is more important than ever. But that doesn’t make it easy to implement. Unique challenges such as limited staffing and tight budgets make it incredibly difficult to protect sensitive patient data without compromising patient care.
The solution many organizations turn to is third-party cybersecurity services. These professionals tout themselves as experts who can prevent attacks and defend electronic protected health information (ePHI). But are they? And how do these services actually work?
Common Cyber Threats in the Healthcare Sector
While any cyber-attack can strike your healthcare organization, some are more common than others:
Ransomware
In 2024, it is estimated that at least 1,204 successful ransomware attacks took place across America and Europe. These are only the ones directly confirmed by victims – if we take threat actors at their word, the true number could be up to 5,000. This is easily one of the most common attacks experienced within the healthcare sector.
During a ransomware attack, your systems are locked or ePHI is stolen. Threat actors then demand payment in exchange for its safe return. They may also use double or triple extortion measures, such as threatening to release data. This strategy is highly effective in healthcare, due to the life-and-death nature of daily operations. Many providers cannot afford downtime, and will do anything to prevent it. This makes things easy for threat actors looking for quick money.
Social Engineering Scams
Social engineering attacks bypass technological defenses by manipulating human psychology to accomplish objectives. One of the most common examples of this is a phishing scam, where threat actors mimic a trusted entity (typically via email, phone, or SMS) to gain access to sensitive information or systems. Social engineering attacks can range from generic, wide-net scams to extremely targeted and convincing fraud.
Data Breaches
A data breach is when sensitive information is compromised, typically as the result of one of the other attacks on this list. It may be stolen, destroyed, held hostage (such as in a ransomware attack), or otherwise made inaccessible. Data breaches put your organization at a direct risk of compliance penalties, as you are required under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to protect ePHI.
IoT Vulnerabilities
Internet of Things (IoT) devices are becoming commonplace within healthcare organizations, due to their many use cases. But this also opens you to attack. IoT devices often do not have built-in security capabilities, making them an easy target for malware. This can be used as an entryway to your entire network.
Telehealth Attacks
After the pandemic in 2020, many organizations introduced more comprehensive telehealth services. The problem is that often, these were never properly secured. The priority of those installing these systems was to provide a fast, easy way for people to receive remote care. Because of this, many telehealth platforms can be easily compromised.
Insider Threats
Sometimes, the biggest threat comes from within your organization. Staff can compromise sensitive data for a variety of reasons. They may accidentally reveal information due to a lack of training, or intentionally leak ePHI out of anger. Either way, the result is the same.
Why Threat Actors Love Healthcare
There is a reason healthcare organizations carry such a large target on their backs. They’re goldmines for threat actors seeking sensitive information. These businesses handle an enormous amount of extremely delicate data, which is often left unprotected due to:
- Legacy Systems: Many healthcare organizations rely on outdated systems that lack modern security configurations.
- Budget Constraints: Budgets are often stretched to their limit, making it very difficult to justify additional investments.
- High-Pressure Environments: Staff have limited time on their hands, often lack training, and are ultimately more concerned with patient care than with phishing emails.
- Multiple Access Points: Healthcare networks have many entry points, due to the number of devices in use. Each of these can become an attack vector.
These factors make your organization an attractive target. Threat actors see you as low-effort and high-reward.
Real-World Case Studies
Here are some examples of real-life attacks against healthcare organizations within the last five years:
HCA Healthcare (2023)
In July 2023, HCA Healthcare reported a large-scale data breach affecting 11 million patients. Hackers gained access to an external data storage location, where they obtained patient names, appointment details, and contact information.
Scripps Health (2021)
San-Diego organization Scripps Health experienced a ransomware attack in 2021 that took systems offline for almost a month. They were ultimately forced to settle in court for $3.5 million dollars after furious patients launched a class action lawsuit.
CommonSpirit Health (2022)
In late 2022, CommonSpirit Health was struck by a brutal ransomware attack that impacted 164 hospitals across the US. It is estimated to have cost the company $160 million.
Change Healthcare (2024)
Change Healthcare experienced an attack in February 2024 after threat actors successfully breached an online portal. The organization paid the requested $22 million ransom, but did not regain all of their data. This incident may have affected up to 190 million users.
These are just some examples. The threat your organization faces is not exaggerated in the slightest. Healthcare companies are attacked every single day, and often lose millions of dollars in the process.
What Are Cybersecurity Services?
Cybersecurity services are when a third party helps you build, maintain, and reinforce your digital defenses. They may also assist with incident response and disaster recovery in the event that an attack does occur. They are typically offered by a managed security service provider (MSSP), and take the form of:
- Cybersecurity Consulting: Experts provide ongoing guidance outlining how you can improve your security posture and protect digital assets.
- Managed Cybersecurity Services: A more hands-on service, where your MSSP handles all elements of cybersecurity. This is sometimes referred to as “Cybersecurity-as-a-Service”. This may be all-encompassing, or be broken down into individual areas (for instance, managed network security services).
- Cyber Awareness Training: Professional training in effective security measures, proper data protection practices, and correct incident response procedures.
- Risk Assessment Services: Your MSSP provides risk audits, penetration testing, and vulnerability management strategies.
Some managed security service providers may offer all of the above, and some may specialize in one area.
Benefits of IT Security Services for Healthcare Providers
IT security services can provide a wide range of benefits:
Fewer Attacks
The biggest and most obvious benefit of information security services is that your organization will be safer. Advanced security tools and 24/7 threat monitoring drastically reduce your risk of experiencing an attack, preserving trust, financial stability, and business continuity.
Easier Compliance
By improving your defenses, you inherently achieve compliance with important regulations such as HIPAA. This reduces your risk of penalties. You can also use your contract as evidence of compliance activities in the event that a security incident does occur and your organization is audited.
Stronger Business Continuity
Many security services include backup and disaster recovery solutions, security operation centers (SOCs), or security information and event management (SIEM). These services help keep your organization operational even during an active cyber-attack, minimizing care delays and financial risk.
Less Strain on Staff
When an expert is handling cybersecurity, healthcare staff can focus on providing patient care. This helps manage their workloads, reducing strain and improving morale. Employees are also less likely to fall for a social engineering attack when they are rested and well-prepared.
Peace of Mind
Finally, a trusted security partner provides leadership with peace of mind. When your company is not in danger every single day, you have the freedom needed to pay more attention to strategic initiatives.
How to Find the Right Cybersecurity Partner
Not all cybersecurity services are worth your hard-earned money. Some may be subpar, others might just be the wrong fit for your specific needs. Either way, you need a process by which potential partners can be vetted out.
Here are some important things to consider:
- Communication: Your chosen MSSP should communicate quickly, clearly, and transparently. Consider how long it takes to get questions answered, or see movement on major tasks. They should feel like a present, proactive partner - not someone you need to constantly push in the right direction.
- Experience: Look for past experience. Check case studies, testimonials, and reviews to see what previous clients are saying about them. Choose an MSSP with at least a few years under their belt.
- Cost Effectiveness: Is it cheaper to hire this company than it would be to simply maintain your own in-house team? This is half the point of an MSSP. If they cannot leap this hurdle, then they are not the right choice.
- Industry-Specific Knowledge: Your MSSP should have a deep level of knowledge about your industry-specific challenges, compliance requirements, and needs. This will allow them to provide a more specialized service.
- Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Before committing, check SLAs to ensure that each of your needs will be met. They should clearly outline what will be provided and what you can expect.
- Scalability: Choose a partner who offers multiple service tiers. This indicates that they can scale their services as your business grows, keeping up with changing needs over time.
Signs That You Should Choose Someone Else
Just as there are green flags that indicate a good partner, there are also red ones that warn you to look elsewhere:
- Generic Solutions: If your provider attempts to suggest generic, one-size-fits-all security measures, this could mean one of two things. Either they don’t have the necessary specialized expertise to truly understand your organization, or they lack the time needed to give you the attention you deserve.
- No Social Proof: A lack of social proof such as testimonials and case studies might indicate inexperience.
- Limited Support Hours: In healthcare, IT issues rarely run on a traditional 9-5 schedule. Your MSSP shouldn’t either. If they only offer support during normal office hours, then they are not a good fit.
- Poor Documentation: In a field where compliance matters so deeply, thorough documentation procedures must be non-negotiable. Your MSSP should be able to demonstrate their activities when asked during an audit. If they cannot, they’re not a good partner for highly regulated fields such as healthcare.
- No Risk Assessment: A risk assessment should always be step one, as this allows the MSSP to understand which specific vulnerabilities need to be addressed within your organization. If they leap straight in without a plan or assessment, this indicates that they will rely heavily on one-size-fits-all measures, rather than tailored solutions.
Building a Strong Relationship with Your Provider
The moment you sign a contract is only the beginning. Your ability to develop a strong, lasting relationship with your provider is crucial to ensure a successful partnership. Here are some methods you can use to accomplish this:
- Set clear expectations on both sides, up front.
- Schedule regular reviews to evaluate their performance, their plans moving forwards, and whether they are still able to meet your needs.
- Share your plans for growth, so they understand which direction you’re heading in.
- Foster an environment of open communication.
- Address any issues promptly and respectfully.
These strategies will keep both of you in alignment with each other and with your overall business goals, ultimately improving the effectiveness of your cybersecurity services.
When It’s Time to Move On
Perhaps you already have an MSSP, but you’re unsure of where the relationship is headed long-term. These doubts are normal, especially as your business grows and the market changes. But it can be difficult to determine when it’s time to switch to a new provider. Here are some signs that your current partnership is reaching its end:
- Response times are slowing down, or communication is becoming poor
- You are experiencing security incidents that could have been prevented
- Your organization has scaled beyond the services your MSSP can offer
- Support has become reactionary, instead of proactive
- Regulatory authorities are starting to ask difficult questions that you can’t answer
If you are beginning to notice any of these signs, then it might be time to explore your options and begin considering other MSSPs.
FAQs
What Are the Most Common Cyber Threats Healthcare Organizations Face?
Some of the most common cyber threats you are likely to face include ransomware, phishing, insider threats, and IoT vulnerabilities. You are also at a high risk of compliance issues, due to the strict requirements you must abide by.
What Are Managed Cybersecurity Services?
Managed cybersecurity services are when you outsource digital defense to a third-party expert. This may include endpoint protection, consulting, cloud security, network security, threat intelligence, detection and response, and more.
How Do I Know if I’ve Found the Right Cybersecurity Service Provider?
You have found the right cybersecurity service provider if they communicate openly, are able to demonstrate past experience in your industry, and tailor their solutions to your precise organizational needs.
Can Cybersecurity Services Help Me Maintain HIPAA Compliance?
Cybersecurity services are an excellent tool for maintaining HIPAA compliance. Any additional security measures will inherently improve your compliance, as data protection is a core tenet of HIPAA. Hiring an MSSP also creates a paper trail that makes compliance activities easier to prove during an audit.
My Organization is Only Small - Can Cybersecurity Services Benefit Me?
Small healthcare organizations can certainly benefit from cybersecurity services. They are generally more cost-effective than maintaining an internal team, and provide access to far more advanced solutions than you would be able to source without assistance.
Your Technology Can Be Life-and-Death. Don’t Let It Fall to the Wayside.
Healthcare organizations ultimately exist to care for people. Today, a big part of that means protecting their sensitive personal information. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, in-house solutions simply won’t be able to keep up.
Specialized cybersecurity services fill this gap, defending you against attacks, preventing compliance issues, and ensuring continued patient trust. Remember to take your time finding the right partner, and work to maintain that relationship over time. You’ll thank yourself for it in the long run.
Ascentient specializes in helping healthcare providers thrive. We provide the tools you need to improve patient care without sacrificing profitability or security, ensuring more stable long-term growth. If you’re looking for new technology solutions, but worried about how it could impact operations, explore how to ensure a smooth cloud migration.