put healthcare in a better position
Improving the security posture of healthcare providers is a major challenge, but it is not impossible. It starts with managing the vast attack surface that modern healthcare providers operate under.
“To strengthen cyber resiliency, healthcare organizations must adopt a zero trust security model,” David explains.
This approach emphasizes strict identity verification and access controls.
By implementing Zero Trust principles, healthcare providers can ensure “least privilege” access to users, devices, and applications, reducing the number of entry points into the broader network and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data. Risk is reduced.
“Effectively tracking employees and non-employees means ensuring that these identities are centrally and intelligently managed. Technologies such as identity security allow organizations to We now have complete visibility into what is being compromised and can manage access rights while ensuring sensitive data is protected,” says Greg.
But just as the medical sector provides assistance, such as blood diagnostics, to external solution providers, they should do so for security as well.
“Healthcare companies must work closely with security professionals to operationalize non-employee risk management processes,” Greg explains.
With the rapid growth of AI, this is becoming increasingly important. These experts can help healthcare organizations not only understand emerging risks, but also find ways to implement them to their benefit.
“Investing in advanced threat detection technologies, such as AI-driven analytics and machine learning, is also essential,” David explains. “These tools help identify and mitigate threats in real time. Having good information about the activities of potential threat actors is critical to anticipating and preparing for specific threats. .”
However, many challenges remain and perhaps the sector needs to make some strides before it can survive.
Protect more than just your physical health
UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty told a U.S. government committee after the hack that ransomware attackers gained access to internal networks through servers that lacked multi-factor authentication (MFA), leading to brute force attacks and credential compromise. explained that it has become vulnerable to This is how ransomware affiliates infiltrated your network.
This lack of basic cyber hygiene is not entirely unique to the healthcare sector, but it's a good place to start.
“Strengthening healthcare cybersecurity requires a focus on getting the basics right, not just emerging technologies,” says David. “AI-driven analytics, machine learning, and advanced threat detection systems offer great potential for real-time monitoring and proactive prevention, but it’s important to start with robust patch management.”
The cybersecurity challenges facing the healthcare sector are significant, but not insurmountable. While the industry grapples with legacy systems, budget constraints, and an ever-expanding digital footprint, there are solutions to poor cyber posture.
The prescription is updating internal systems, applying new technology, and a culture that values digital hygiene as much as hand-washing.
The road ahead may be difficult, but with concerted effort and a commitment to continuous improvement, the healthcare industry can prepare for a future that protects itself and its patients from more than just physical harm.
