Healthcare: The Path of Least Resistance for Cybercriminals

The following is a guest article by Steve Gwizdala, VP of Healthcare at Ping Identity The healthcare security landscape has become an increasingly critical concern. According to the 2023 ForgeRock Breach Report, healthcare has consistently ranked as the most targeted industry by cybercriminals for the past five years. These relentless attacks come at a staggering cost, with the average healthcare breach reaching $10.93 billion according to IBM Security. The primary cause of breaches is unauthorized access. The 2023 Verizon Breach Report further highlights vulnerabilities with the healthcare sector, identifying web applications as the number one attack vector. This is largely due to inadequate authentication methods. Internal actors are the second-leading cause of breaches in healthcare. This is mainly due to misuse, such as unintentionally compromising consumer credentials, Personal Identifiable Information (PII), and Personal Health Information (PHI). The repercussions of healthcare breaches are far-reaching, encompassing financial losses, reputational damage, and legal liabilities for affected organizations. Most concerning, however, is the potential impact on patient health. The Ponemon Institute reveals that more than 20% of surveyed healthcare provider organizations report increased patient mortality rates following cyberattacks. Respondents also state that cyber attacks delayed procedures and tests and prolonged stays in healthcare facilities. Ransomware also leads to s...
Source: EMR and HIPAA - Category: Information Technology Authors: Tags: Ambulatory C-Suite Leadership Health IT Company Healthcare IT Hospital - Health System IT Infrastructure and Dev Ops LTPAC Security and Privacy 2023 ForgeRock Breach Report 2023 Verizon Breach Report CIBA Cybersecurity ForgeRock CI Source Type: blogs