16 Healthcare Cybersecurity Companies
The healthcare sector is one of the most targeted by cybercriminals due to its vast attack surface and plenty of sensitive data. Cyberattacks against healthcare organizations frequently result in significant financial losses for the organizations involved; in the last In two years, the cost of a data breach has increased by 42%. With an average cost of over US$10 million per incident, the healthcare sector continues to have the highest data breach costs of any business.
A new age of digital innovation has emerged in the ever-changing field of modern healthcare as a result of the confluence of medical services and technology. But it has also brought with it new difficulties that call for creative approaches to solving them.
We examine sixteen of the top cybersecurity firms in the healthcare sector because it is one of the industries most often attacked by cybercriminals. With their wide range of goods and tactics, these organizations demonstrate an unshakable dedication to combating the serious risks that the digital healthcare industry faces. The businesses we've featured do this via creative thinking, unwavering dedication, and a thorough comprehension of the unique difficulties in this industry. The sixteen organizations we've covered are essential to this ecosystem because they provide protection against web threats and peace of mind in a world that is becoming more linked by the day. Their efforts are essential to guaranteeing that healthcare and technology integration continue to benefit everyone to the greatest extent feasible while never sacrificing privacy or safety. We will discuss 16 healthcare cybersecurity companies in this post, along with a host of other health cybersecurity-related subjects.
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How to Choose the Best Cybersecurity for Healthcare Industries?
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Is Cybersecurity Important for Healthcare Industries?
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How do Healthcare Cybersecurity companies protect patient data?
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What are the Cybersecurity Challenges the Healthcare sector faces?
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Which Cybersecurity companies specialize in protecting medical devices?
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How do Healthcare Cybersecurity companies ensure compliance with HIPAA?
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How do top Healthcare Cybersecurity firms prevent ransomware attacks?
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What criteria should Healthcare organizations use when choosing a Cybersecurity provider?
1. Zenarmor
Zenarmor is a cybersecurity solutions provider. With capabilities
including content filtering, threat identification, and web and application access management, the company's solutions offer enterprise-grade network protection. Its solutions provide real-time security measures and are intended to be readily implemented on any network.
Previously, it was called Sunny Valley Networks. It is headquartered in Cupertino, California, and was established in 2017. Zenarmor may be immediately installed on any healthcare cybersecurity system with network connectivity because of its appliance-free, all-in-one, all-software, lightweight, and straightforward architecture.
Healthcare cybersecurity enterprises can quickly safeguard settings as small as home networks or grow to multi-cloud deployments thanks to lightweight and powerful appliance-free technology that enables fast firewall launches on demand. It's as simple as opening an app.
The packet inspection core from Zenarmor is strong enough to defend against encrypted attacks, yet it's so small and agile that it can even be used in contexts with limited resources. All security controls are processed once via Zenarmor's single-pass design. Zenarmor is a cloud-based management system that gives you command over all network installations and rules. It must thus be applied to cybersecurity in the healthcare industry.
Advanced security rules are your defense against the unknown, whether it's new attack paths, malware strains, or zero-day vulnerabilities. Zenarmor offers premium services that provide you access to state-of-the-art security features to keep your company ahead of cybercriminals. Zenarmor's cutting-edge security capabilities, which include deep packet inspection, AI-driven protections, and real-time threat intelligence, are formidable in the field of healthcare cybersecurity.
The Advanced Security Rules from Zenarmor, which are part of its premium subscription plan, are a powerful tool in the fight against online dangers. Healthcare cybersecurity firms are empowered by these regulations to strengthen their defenses with all-encompassing security measures:
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Real-Time Threat Data: By offering real-time threat data, the Advanced Security Rules make it possible to automatically prevent new attacks. Your network will continue to be robust and secure thanks to this proactive strategy.
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Filtering malicious and phishing servers: Zenarmor is excellent at removing phishing and malicious servers, providing defense against viruses, phishing outbreaks, and new malware. This watchful attitude guarantees that even the most recent dangers are successfully neutralized.
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Blocking Dynamic, Recovered, or Newly Registered DNS Websites: Your security against several attack vectors is strengthened by Zenarmor, which blocks access to freshly registered, recovered, or dynamic DNS sites, so preventing hackers from entering your system.
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Stopping DNS Tunneling: The avoidance of DNS tunneling, a complex tactic used by threat actors to avoid discovery and breach networks, is one of the advanced security techniques.
2. CrowdStrike
By defending healthcare systems against cyberattacks, CrowdStrike frees up organizations to concentrate on providing high-quality patient care. The solution from CrowdStrike guarantees that data is safe and secure while functioning flawlessly across several devices and places. Their solution guarantees strict security across all endpoints, regardless of the devices being utilized or the staff's geographic location. Expanding remote operations requires this degree of flexibility and response to the variety of access sources.
With the most cutting-edge cloud-native platform in the world for
safeguarding endpoints, cloud workloads, identity, and data -all crucial areas of organizational risk- the world's leading cybersecurity company has completely redesigned contemporary security. CrowdStrike offers full turnkey services and scalable cloud-native technologies to safeguard endpoints from any location. The cloud-native Falcon platform effortlessly supports organizations' quick shift to telemedicine and a remote workforce by integrating threat intelligence and response services.
Additionally, its solutions reduce expenses to assist organizations in meeting their financial obligations. Customers of CrowdStrike reduce their IT security expenses by 30% on average. The Falcon platform integrates threat information, visibility, prevention, and detection across servers, virtual desktops and servers, containers, and public clouds. Additionally, CrowdStrike's strong focus on threat detection and response forms the basis of its product.
Their technology aims to promptly identify any attacks and initiate countermeasures. This strategy, which greatly reduces interruption and potential service harm, demonstrates their dedication to maintaining safe, smooth, and effective healthcare operations.
3. GE HealthCare
The headquarters of the international American health technology corporation GE HealthCare Technologies, Inc. are located in Chicago, Illinois. Through its Edison intelligence platform, data analytics, apps, and services, GE HealthCare, a worldwide leader in medical technology and digital solutions, empowers physicians to make better, quicker choices.
With more than 50,000 workers worldwide and more than a century of experience in the healthcare sector, the company is at the heart of an ecosystem that is working to improve patient outcomes, digitize healthcare, increase productivity, and advance precision health for patients, providers, health systems, and researchers worldwide.
The business is divided into four divisions: pharmaceutical diagnostics, which produces contrast agents and radiopharmaceuticals; medical imaging, which includes molecular imaging, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, women's health screening, and X-ray systems; ultrasound; and patient care solutions, which focus on remote patient monitoring, anesthesia and respiratory care, diagnostic cardiology, and infant care. Hospitals and health networks are the company's main clients.
The business has operations in over 100 nations. Major regional offices of GE HealthCare are located in Bangalore, India; Helsinki, Finland; Kraków, Poland; Budapest, Hungary; Yizhuang (suburb of Beijing), China; Hino & Tokyo, Japan; and Buc (suburb of Paris), France.
Through the 24/7/365 risk management offered by its Skeye cybersecurity solution and the security included in its products and services, GE Healthcare assists healthcare organizations in protecting their data, systems, and devices so they can take advantage of every connected care opportunity.
4. Palo Alto Networks
Palo Alto Networks assists global healthcare organizations in preventing cyberattacks and safeguarding patient information so they can concentrate on improving patient outcomes and experiences.
Palo Alto Networks protects personal health information (PHI) by implementing strong cybersecurity solutions. PHI is one of the most sensitive data collections in the healthcare sector. It includes private and sensitive information, and its breach might have serious repercussions for the patient as well as the healthcare professional.
In order to provide timely updates and defense against new attack vectors, Palo Alto Networks continually analyzes and tracks emerging cyber threats, placing a high priority on threat intelligence and research. Even as the rate of change quickens, the world leader in cybersecurity is coming up with new ideas to facilitate safe digital transformation.
Palo Alto Networks' suite of products aims to enhance and fortify the security of existing infrastructure, enabling healthcare providers to innovate while effectively ensuring patient and data protection. To help guarantee consistent patient data protection, Palo Alto Networks' cloud-delivered security automates threat analysis and update deployments.
Palo Alto Networks' ability to offer a unified security platform that combines several security components into a seamless and streamlined solution is another important asset. By using this method, companies may better understand their security posture and react to security problems.
5. Trend Micro
Trend Micro Inc. is a Japanese-American provider of cyber security software. The company distributes its research and development among 16 facilities on every continent, with the exception of Antarctica. The business creates enterprise security software for networks, endpoints, servers, containers, and cloud computing environments. Customers of VMware, Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform may benefit from automated protection with its cloud and virtualization security products.
Healthcare organizations may enhance security before, during, and following an attack with the aid of Trend Micro security products, a pioneer in cloud and business cybersecurity. Using vintage and/or contemporary systems, Trend Micro offers insight into cybersecurity risks and threats in hospitals across IT, OT, and communication technology (CT) settings. With a low total cost of ownership (TCO) for security operations, its unified cybersecurity platform spanning IT, OT, and CT offers protection, detection, and response to address cyber events and lessen alert fatigue for security teams.
6. Check Point
Check Point provides one of the most comprehensive cybersecurity solutions for healthcare IoT. With clinical domain experience, Check Point continuously reduces IoT attack surfaces and stops IoT-related threats in a manner that is simple to scale and doesn't interfere with vital medical procedures.
Check Point's complete healthcare cyber security solution improves security and lowers costs by blocking threats across networks, the cloud, mobile endpoints, and the Internet of Things (IoT) without getting in the way of important medical and business tasks. In contrast, the Check Point CloudGuard suite offers complete multi-cloud security and compliance solutions for the medical field. Network, cloud, endpoint, and mobile security are just a few of the many and extensive services that Check Point Software offers. Simply put, Check Point Software's solutions provide cutting-edge defenses against ransomware, malware, and other sophisticated cyberthreats, thereby fortifying systems and ensuring their seamless operation.
One of the company's top products, the Check Point Security Gateway, is essential to protecting digital infrastructure. To offer unmatched protection, the Security Gateway makes use of artificial intelligence, real-time threat intelligence, and multi-layered security technologies. Its purpose is to control network traffic and prevent malevolent actors from entering, while allowing valid requests to pass through. This strong gateway employs cutting-edge preventive technologies to fend against zero-day attacks in addition to defending against known threats.
The Check Point Security Gateway offers cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions that are crucial in the healthcare industry, where patient data and hospital networks are always in danger.
7. Imperva
Thales Group finalized the purchase of Imperva on December 4, 2023. As the industry leader in cybersecurity, Imperva assists businesses in safeguarding vital data, apps, and APIs anywhere, at scale, and with the best return on investment. Imperva protects businesses at every step of their digital journey with an integrated approach that combines edge, application security, and data security.
Imperva is able to remain ahead of the threat landscape and incorporate the most recent security, privacy, and compliance knowledge into our products with ease thanks to Imperva Threat Research and the international intelligence community.
Imperva, a cybersecurity leader, provides comprehensive protection and compliance for vital medical data and apps. No matter where data is stored on-site, on the cloud, dispersed across several clouds, or any mix of these, Imperva Data Security Fabric protects and tracks it.
In the meantime, its machine learning algorithms search through the data of healthcare organizations in real-time for dangers and unusual activity. In the meantime, to optimize the health, security, and insights from Imperva Data Security Fabric, Imperva's Managed Data Security Services solution provides proactive monitoring and knowledge around the clock.
8. CyberArk
The publicly listed Israeli information security firm CyberArk Software Ltd. provides identity management. The company's technology is mostly used in the government, retail, healthcare, energy, and financial services sectors. With operations in the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and Turkey, CyberArk is an essential security partner for more than 50% of Fortune 500 organizations and more than 35% of the Global 2000.
By developing automation features that guard against human error and let IT operations focus on their most important tasks, CyberArk assists healthcare providers. The firm has a flexible strategy that protects against privileged access risks without interfering with operations. The most complete security solution for any identity-human or machine-across business apps, remote workforces, hybrid cloud workloads, and the DevOps lifecycle is offered by CyberArk, which is focused on privileged access control.
9. Menlo Security
Menlo Security is a zero-trust solution built on "isolation," which has the best track record in Japan* and does not depend on the detection accuracy of security solutions. Menlo Security assists companies in avoiding risks, particularly those in the medical field.
Internet isolation, cybersecurity, network security, remote browser isolation, cloud security, CASB, and zero trust are among the areas of expertise for Menlo Security, which was founded in 2013.
Defends against threats that make use of the primary danger vectors, which include the internet, email, and VPN. Among the features of the product are browser posture management, browser forensics, tenant control, ZTNA, antivirus, CASB, sandbox, SWG, isolation, and zero-hour phishing protection.
Menlo Security offers a unique, isolation-powered cloud security technology that helps businesses outwit attackers, totally removing assaults and safeguarding productivity. By offering the most secure zero-trust method of thwarting malicious assaults, obscuring security from end users while they operate online, and relieving security professionals of their operational load, it fulfills the promise of cloud security.
10. Claroty
With an industry-focused platform designed to safeguard mission-critical infrastructure, Claroty has established cyber-physical systems (CPS) protection. Organizations may successfully decrease CPS risk with the quickest time-to-value and lowest total cost of ownership thanks to the Claroty Platform.
Claroty gives organizations the ability to protect cyber-physical systems-the Extended Internet of Things (XIoT)-in commercial, public, healthcare, and industrial settings. Its Medigate solution is a modular SaaS-driven healthcare cybersecurity platform that
grows to meet your changing needs, safeguard your environment, and accomplish your objectives. The solution extends cybersecurity throughout the healthcare XIoT, including smart HVAC and lighting systems, IV pumps, and ultrasounds.
11. Imprivata
Imprivata provides a range of customized solutions to improve productivity and safety. Imprivata specifically designed its products with the healthcare industry in mind, such as secure text messaging, clinical workflows, authentication management, and single sign-on.
Imprivata is revolutionizing how businesses handle security issues and safeguard their information. It specializes in cybersecurity software, technology, and security, including patient identification, identity management, secure text messaging, clinical workflows, single sign-on, and multi-factor authentication.
Imprivata is significant because it prioritizes operational effectiveness without sacrificing security. Healthcare workers spend less time and effort checking in and out of different networks because of their single sign-on and authentication management solutions, which simplify access to systems and data. This reduces the possibility of unwanted access while also increasing productivity.
The healthcare workflow from Imprivata further boosts productivity by incorporating metrics into routine procedures. This guarantees the timely delivery of essential services. Furthermore, professionals can securely communicate through encrypted text messaging, ensuring the safe exchange of patient data in compliance with legal standards. As mandated by HIPAA, healthcare organizations may utilize the Imprivata FairWarning PPI Platform to safeguard patient data housed in the cloud, big data, and electronic health records.
12. Fortinet
The headquarters of the cybersecurity firm Fortinet, Inc. are located in Sunnyvale, California. The business creates and markets security products such as intrusion detection systems, firewalls, and endpoint security. Fortinet maintains offices throughout the globe.
By protecting people, devices, and data everywhere, Fortinet enables a digital world that we can always rely on. For this reason, the biggest businesses, service providers, healthcare sectors, and governmental institutions worldwide pick Fortinet to safely expedite their digital transformation. Fortinet's comprehensive strategy gives its clients a sense of security so they may concentrate on their main healthcare objective. Knowing that their digital defenses are strong and in line with contemporary organizational requirements gives them this confidence.
The next-generation firewalls from Fortinet are a crucial part of this plan. These provide strong defenses, controlling network activity and preventing unwanted access. Another protective bulwark is an intrusion prevention system, which may detect possible security breaches and successfully stop them.
Additionally, by using sophisticated threat remedies, Fortinet improves its security measures. This service offers an extra degree of protection against intricate and extremely advanced online attacks. This set of services stands out for its ability to identify and eliminate threats at any stage of an assault. Additionally, it fortifies the security system even more, enhancing its resistance to online attacks.
13. Proofpoint
Proofpoint offers healthcare protection against unprecedented cyberattacks. Proofpoint products fulfill the promise of people-centered healthcare solutions by providing protection against ransomware, general phishing, credential-phishing assaults, email, and other types of digital fraud. Prevent threats before they affect clinical and support personnel.
With Secure Microsoft 365 and other cloud apps, Proofpoint is thwarting email and cloud attacks and preventing harmful online material from entering your environment. Proofpoint: Assist your healthcare staff in recognizing, thwarting, and reporting assaults before they do harm. Proofpoint prevents data loss to safeguard patient information against errors, intrusions, and insider threats. Proofpoint fights against insider attacks and data loss.
Proofpoint lowers compliance risk by modernizing archiving and compliance. Data security professionals from our Managed Services for Information Protection (MSIP) worldwide team help Proofpoint enhance your data protection.
14. Cisco
Cisco is a digital communications technology company that creates, produces, and markets telecommunications equipment, networking gear, software, and other high-tech services. Cisco Network & IT Security Solutions improve security and operational efficiency in healthcare environments by assisting businesses in preventing breaches, stopping malware and ransomware, and lowering risks associated with networks, endpoints, and cloud apps.
Cisco has collaborated with more than 21,700 hospitals, clinics, and healthcare institutions in 124 countries in 2024 alone. Cisco offers cutting-edge technologies that set the stage for a future in healthcare that is more sustainable, secure, and connected. Cisco technology has been assisting hospitals, clinics, and healthcare organizations throughout the world in improving processes and facilitating patient care for almost 40 years.
Cisco's digital front door and collaboration solutions promote virtual care and telemedicine while keeping patients interested. To address cybersecurity concerns, Cisco created a number of product suites, such as the Breach Protection Suite, Cloud Protection Suite, and User Protection Suite. Among its offerings are: Safe access to networks and Information about threats The management of cloud security employs zero-trust protection measures. Improved security for the Internet of Things medical devices protects medical facilities from hacks and breaches.
New York City Health and Hospitals, NHS Management, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Tarrytown Expocare Pharmacy, One World Surgery, Hospital Billing Collection Services (HBCS), Frederick Health, Dayton's Children's, Burrell Behavioral Clinic, Adventist Health, Integrated Care 24, Kaleida Health, and Marana Health Center are some of the notable clients.
15. Sophos
Many healthcare companies are using the Sophos Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service to defend themselves against sophisticated assaults that technology cannot stop due to the increasing number and complexity of cyber threats. In addition to introducing Sophos MDR, the top MDR service currently serving the healthcare industry, this solution brief examines the cybersecurity issues that the industry is experiencing. Professionals provide the completely managed service Sophos Managed Detection and Response (MDR), identifying and addressing cyberattacks that target your PCs, servers, networks, cloud workloads, email accounts, and more.
Every healthcare institution has a unique IT infrastructure, unique IT/cybersecurity personnel, and unique current security investments. You decide what amount of help you need from Sophos MDR, whether you want it to alert you to risks so your team can take corrective action, contain threats for you, or offer a complete incident response and root cause investigation. Together, you and our security experts will choose the best course of action for your company. Sophos MDR may be more than five times faster than even the quickest in-house security operations staff, with an average detection, investigation, and remediation time of only 38 minutes.
16. Microsoft
Microsoft will assist rural hospitals in fighting off an increase in cyberattacks. The new Microsoft Cybersecurity Program for Rural Hospitals will provide free and inexpensive technological services as well as free training and support to meet the specific cybersecurity requirements of these institutions.
Microsoft will provide charitable pricing and discounts for its security solutions tailored for smaller organizations, including a 75% reduction to independent Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Emergency Hospitals. Additionally, Microsoft is offering its most cutting-edge security suite for free for a year to some bigger rural hospitals that are already employing qualified Microsoft technologies. The company is also offering participating rural hospitals free Windows 10 security upgrades for a minimum of a year as part of the new initiative.
Along with offering free cybersecurity training to employees at rural hospitals to assist them better managing the daily security of their systems, Microsoft will also conduct free cybersecurity assessments through Microsoft and its trusted partners to analyze risks and gaps.
How to Choose the Best Cybersecurity for Healthcare Industries?
Data security is very important in the healthcare industry. Regretfully, medical management providers frequently encounter considerable difficulties in safeguarding their confidential information. To overcome such healthcare cybersecurity challenges, a complete solution must satisfy the following essential requirements.
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Compatibility: Make sure the data security software you choose is compatible with the infrastructure and systems that are already in place. Electronic health record (EHR) systems and other medical applications have to be included. By doing this, you can ensure smooth integration and prevent workflow interruptions.
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Scalability: A cloud-based data security solution can help your healthcare business grow. You won't have to spend money on whole new systems in order to scale up. As a result, you won't need to use more resources to continue securing your data.
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Integration: Other tools and services should be able to be integrated with the selected program. These include security information systems, firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and event management (SIEM) programs. These linkages improve hospitals' and healthcare institutions' overall cybersecurity. Additionally, they guarantee that every system operates reliably.
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Analytics and Reporting: With comprehensive reporting and analytics tools, healthcare practitioners can keep an eye on and examine security occurrences and patterns. In this manner, your company will be able to recognize possible weaknesses and take proactive measures to fix them before they become problems. You will therefore provide the highest level of privacy and security for health information.
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User-Friendliness: Employees may find it difficult to use cybersecurity services for healthcare if they are too complicated. Additionally, your employees will expose the company to assaults if they overlook these tools. As a result, the ideal solution needs to be simple, convenient, and intuitive.
Is Cybersecurity Important for Healthcare Industries?
Yes, the healthcare sector benefits greatly from cybersecurity. Payment card information and patient health records are among the very valuable and sensitive data that healthcare businesses have access to. Additionally, they depend more and more on Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) equipment to deliver treatment, and assaults on these networked devices have the potential to compromise patient data or interfere with vital medical services.
From a broader perspective, we can see the inextricable link between technology and healthcare in the modern world, which influences how we identify, treat, and manage medical disorders.
The digital revolution is both a benefit and a threat, as telemedicine closes the gap between patients and physicians and electronic health records take the place of paper files. Recent global events, which have increased the importance of technology, have further pushed the digital drive in healthcare. But these developments also bring vulnerabilities. There is an urgent need, as evidenced by cyberattacks that target medical data and infrastructure. More than ever, the focus on cybersecurity in the healthcare industry goes beyond data protection to include patient safety, trust preservation, and sustaining the basic operation of our healthcare infrastructure. In addition to this, there are concerns about protecting the confidence that patients have in medical facilities and, above all, making sure that the patients receive the continuous care they require.
Effective cybersecurity measures are essential evidence of an organization's dedication to its primary purpose of providing care and treatment. An overview For sensitive data and important IT systems and services used by healthcare businesses to be secure, strong cybersecurity is essential. Attacks against healthcare organizations jeopardize patient safety and health if typical attack vectors are not recognized and prevented.
How do Healthcare Cybersecurity companies protect patient data?
Patients frequently provide healthcare providers with vast amounts of personally identifiable information. Hackers' fascination in the healthcare system is understandable. Patients and organizations that have to follow privacy rules for healthcare information, like the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), care a lot about data security. Healthcare cybersecurity firms can safeguard patient data by adhering to the following guidelines.
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Perform Risk Evaluations: A key component of HIPAA is the completion of comprehensive risk assessments, which are based on recommendations from the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These evaluations methodically find weaknesses that could allow for illegal access, use, or disclosure of PHI.
As an example, consider a mid-sized IT services provider that provides electronic medical records (EMR) systems to clinics and hospitals. Healthcare practitioners may quickly monitor, update, and review patient information thanks to this system's hosting of PHI data. However, if a little data breach exposes a few patient details, the IT services provider might face expensive fines and strained customer relations.
The business collaborates with a cybersecurity firm to perform routine risk assessments in order to stop the problem from happening again. Before allowing access to the EMR system and PHI, the consultant assists them in putting into practice a zero-trust security paradigm in which each user and device is regularly validated. In addition to lowering the danger of unwanted access, this restores their clients' confidence.
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Identity and Access Management: Organizations must manage who has access to PHI in accordance with HIPAA's Privacy and Security regulations. Strict access management controls must be put in place by businesses, allowing each person the minimal amount of PHI access required by their position and duties. A successful program for managing identity and access should include the following capabilities.
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Less privilege principles and role-based access constraints
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Using multi-factor authentication on all PHI-containing systems
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Frequent evaluations of user access and prompt account termination
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Thorough audit recording of every PHI access action
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Awareness and Training of Employees: Despite the importance of technical measures, human error is often the cause of data breaches. Organizations must mandate continuous security awareness training in order to reduce this risk and guarantee that all staff members are aware of their responsibilities for upholding a safe workplace. Topics like these should be covered in this security awareness training.
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Recognizing and steering clear of phishing efforts
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Using secure, one-of-a-kind passwords
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Appropriate procedures for managing and preserving PHI
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Quickly reporting any suspected security incidents
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Data Encryption and Segmentation: PHI should be kept apart from other company data and systems in order to lessen the consequences of any intrusion. Additionally, information should preferably be encrypted using recognized standards both in transit and at rest.
Consider a company that offers cloud backup services to customers in the healthcare industry. Files kept on this cloud backup platform frequently include PHI. The company uses cutting-edge endpoint security software and separates patient data into encrypted settings after experiencing a ransomware assault that jeopardizes the data of both clients and their patients. The endpoint security software encrypts outbound PHI, fixes vulnerabilities, automatically updates virus definitions, and defends servers and devices against the most recent threats. By separating and safeguarding PHI in this manner, the possible breach's scope is reduced. The scope of any event may be reduced to the impacted PHI repository with the use of effective data segmentation. Additionally, it makes it possible to monitor the most sensitive data assets with targeted protection.
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Asset and Device Administration: Devices, servers, and other assets that interact with PHI must be fully inventoried by businesses. These systems ought to have strong endpoint protection and monitoring as well as timely security fixes.
Every day, your company uses an automated method to securely backup all project files that contain PHI to a secure off-site location. In the event of ransomware, device theft, or other data loss situations, this backup procedure guarantees that PHI can be consistently restored. Any device used to access PHI should have remote wipe capabilities, complete disk encryption, and other security measures to mitigate dangers like these and stop data exposure from stolen or lost devices.
What are the Cybersecurity Challenges the Healthcare sector faces?
Threat actors don't usually care who firms they attack, but the healthcare sector offers a lot of money and is a popular target for hackers. For a number of reasons, healthcare businesses are susceptible to cyberattacks. Healthcare cybersecurity challenges are listed below:
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Legacy Systems Vulnerability: Healthcare firms commonly rely on legacy systems such as outdated workstations and networked medical equipment. These systems commonly included unpatched weaknesses that attackers might easily exploit.
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Data breaches: With the introduction of electronic health records, patients increasingly want access to the massive volumes of sensitive data that healthcare organizations store. Healthcare businesses find it more difficult to safeguard this data from potential breaches and illegal access because of this delicate balance between security and accessibility.
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Insecure Medical Equipment and Equipment: As the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) grows, healthcare institutions are depending more and more on networked equipment. IoMT systems, like other Internet of Things (IoT) devices, typically lack proper security, allowing an attacker to exploit new vulnerabilities to get access to the organization's networks and confidential patient information.
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Malware and ransomware: Healthcare was the most targeted industrial vertical in Q3 2022, with ransomware affecting 1 in 42 firms. Because of the importance of their data and the likelihood that they would have to pay to restore operations and start treating patients again, ransomware attacks against the healthcare industry are frequent.
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DDoS, or distributed denial of service: The goal of a DDoS assault is to prevent access to systems or applications by overloading them with more traffic than they can manage. DDoS attacks are being utilized more often by hackers in ransom operations; they are sometimes paired with malware or data theft.
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Phishing: By using malware or obtaining login credentials, phishing assaults provide attackers access to a company's systems. These attacks are frequent because they are comparatively simple to carry out and focus more on deceiving people than on trying to get past an organization's cybersecurity safeguards.
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Architecture for Fragmented Security: Healthcare companies frequently have a nascent cybersecurity program that relies on a variety of point security technologies. For security, around 80% of healthcare businesses use more than 10-point products. Because of this, healthcare businesses find it more challenging to detect such attacks and take corrective action before the attackers get private information or infect the organization's systems with ransomware.
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Restricted Budget: Because patient care takes up the majority of healthcare providers' budgets, cybersecurity may not appear as a top priority when allocating limited funds. A security architecture that isn't connected or works well may quickly use up all of a company's resources as it pays for security solutions that are duplicated or overlap or deals with the effects of a successful data breach or other security issues.
Which Cybersecurity companies specialize in protecting medical devices?
A Medical Device Security provider should, at the very least, be trustworthy and adhere to all legal requirements, including FDA, HIPAA, ISO 13485, and HITRUST. In addition, clients ought to investigate specialized knowledge and adaptability in providing tailored solutions. We highlighted a few of the top businesses providing cybersecurity-related goods and services to the medical device sector. Zenarmor, IBM Corporation, Cisco Systems, Inc., Philips, DXC Technology, and Palo Alto Networks are among the biggest suppliers in the market. Additional details on IBM, Cisco, and four more recent businesses are provided below.
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IBM Corporation: Although IBM has been offering security services for more than a century, in 2016 it started to concentrate on healthcare security. IBM is an expert in offering security solutions for patient data, electronic health records (EHR), and medical equipment. Risk assessments, compliance management, security testing, incident response, and threat intelligence are just a few of the services it provides.
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Cisco Systems, Inc.: Since 2009, Cisco has offered healthcare security solutions. Network security solutions for healthcare businesses are Cisco's area of expertise. Threat detection and response, network segmentation, and safe access are among the services offered.
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Medical Cryptography: In 2016, MedCrypt was established. MedCrypt is an expert in offering security solutions for medical equipment, such as anomaly detection, key management, and encryption. Additionally, the business provides penetration testing and vulnerability assessment services.
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CyberMDX: In 2017, CyberMDX was established. CyberMDX specializes in offering medical device security solutions, such as risk management, threat detection, and vulnerability assessments. Additionally, it provides device inventory and asset management services.
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Sternum: In 2018, Sternum was established. Sternum focuses on offering security solutions for medical devices and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Risk management, vulnerability assessments, and real-time monitoring and threat detection are among the services offered.
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VDOO: In 2017, VDOO was established. VDOO's areas of expertise include offering security solutions for Internet of Things devices, especially medical equipment. Firmware analysis, risk assessments, and automated security analysis are among the services offered.
How do Healthcare Cybersecurity companies ensure compliance with HIPAA?
Working with healthcare companies, such as hospitals, home health agencies, and long-term care institutions, requires upholding compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and ensuring a strong privacy and security standard. The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) of the Department of Health and Human Services has released advice on HIPAA and cloud computing, which is fortunate because no CSP may be HIPAA-compliant out of the box. Healthcare firms have additional options for simplifying HIPAA compliance. Here are eight steps to take when hiring a CSP for healthcare businesses' requirements.
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With your CSP, sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA): A contract outlining the CSP's legal responsibilities under HIPAA must be signed since the CSP is legally regarded as a business associate when a healthcare company maintains ePHI in the cloud. The BAA should outline the permitted disclosures and uses of PHI as well as the security measures in place to stop illegal access or use of that information. It should specify that the CSP is required to protect the information being sent to the cloud, keep the information safe, establish a system that permits meticulous management of data access, and keep track of every activity, including unsuccessful and successful access attempts.
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Configure access restrictions: These must be robust, including safe passwords, secure file-sharing protocols, two-factor authentication, or single sign-on. Additionally, your CSP should enable you to assign different levels of access to different users. You must properly set up these access controls to ensure that only authorized persons can access any particular piece of ePHI. While your CSP must carry out frequent, thorough evaluations to guarantee its platform is safe and compliant with HIPAA, you should have policies in place for regularly giving, rescinding, changing, and assessing such access over time.
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Turn on firewall logging: Since a standard HIPAA audit requires that workstations and on-premises data centers be protected by a compliant firewall, you probably already know this. However, logging, auditing, and monitoring access to ePHI data are mandated by HIPAA regulations. As a result, any firewall, whether on-premises or in the cloud, must have this logging enabled. Additionally, you must report events to keep the HIPAA-mandated audit trail and frequently examine access logs to make sure you identify inappropriate behavior as soon as possible.
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Verify that encryption is enabled: End-to-end encryption should be used to safeguard any data exchanged via the cloud, but you must make sure that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-recommended encryption is used both in transit and at rest. Every device that sends or receives ePHI needs to be able to decode messages that are received as well as encrypt communications sent outside the firewall.
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Put File Integrity Monitoring Controls in Place: These integrity checks will verify that no illegal changes or destructions have been made to ePHI. With the appropriate controls in place, you ought to be able to recognize and confirm: When there is unapproved access When data is modified The "authenticity" of a certain ePHI
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Sort data by level of sensitivity: You must categorize your data according to the sensitivity level when it comes to the inventory and grouping of ePHI. As mandated by the HIPAA Security Rule, doing so in a clear manner will assist you in guaranteeing the availability, confidentiality, and integrity of that data.
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Verify the availability of information managed by your CSP: Look for a HIPAA cloud storage solution provider that offers a service level agreement (SLA) guaranteeing high performance and near-100% uptime to ensure that all stored data can be accessed the instant it is needed. To ensure that EPI is always accessible, a HIPAA-compliant CSP must maintain nearly 100% uptime. However, in the event of a ransomware attack, breach, or other calamity, you'll need that data. Therefore, ensure your CSP has a robust disaster recovery plan that incorporates offsite backup storage and robust backup procedures for easy data restoration.
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Monitor your Cloud Storage Provider (CSP): If you fail to monitor activities pertaining to data stored in that system, the correct configuration of security controls, which are the earlier steps, will not significantly influence your compliance efforts. Develop stringent cybersecurity rules and processes and conduct risk assessments on a regular basis to guarantee that your company's cloud storage service remains compliant.
How do top Healthcare Cybersecurity firms prevent ransomware attacks?
There are preemptive measures a healthcare institution can take to at least make it more difficult for a threat actor to launch a ransomware attack. These are seven tactics:
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Strong Backup Mechanisms: Healthcare businesses may retrieve lost data without having to pay a ransom by implementing frequent and secure data backups of essential systems. It is crucial to keep these backups offline and to routinely examine and verify them to prevent compromise.
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Vulnerability Analysis: Knowing your weaknesses will help you avoid ransomware assaults. You may find and fix any cybersecurity holes with the use of a vulnerability assessment. Regular vulnerability assessments are crucial for healthcare companies because they provide you the chance to find out about possible security flaws from your own team or from a third party. If the assessment is being conducted by an internal team, make sure that the team has expertise with this type of work and is aware of the best practices for discussing the results with senior leadership. However, in order to identify and address the unique challenges facing the business, the majority of healthcare institutions frequently need to employ a specialist service like Truenorth ITG and others.
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Frequent Security Training: Given that phishing efforts and other typical strategies might be abused at any moment, healthcare personnel should always benefit from regular security training. When a breach attack occurs, a team that is well-informed and prepared may respond swiftly and serve as the first line of defense.
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Use multi-factor authentication for remote systems, email, and other applications: A security technique called multi-factor authentication necessitates two or more authentication processes before allowing access to a system. This might entail utilizing a fingerprint and a password, among other techniques. Securing patient data for healthcare companies frequently entails using strong healthcare identity verification procedures, which provide a crucial extra degree of protection to shield private data from unwanted access. Multi-factor authentication is presently not used by the great majority of healthcare businesses for distant systems or email. They lack a standardized method to avoid man-in-the-middle attacks on their network connections and impose tougher passwords. Once someone manages to get their one password, this leaves many healthcare institutions open to assaults. Multi-factor authentication techniques can reduce your risk of being hacked by requiring two or more authentication methods.
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Zero Trust Architecture: Because ZTA assumes that attacks may be both internal and external, it may greatly improve a healthcare organization's security posture. Regardless of whether they are inside or beyond the perimeter, this implies that no person or device is trusted by default.
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Encrypt Data and Computers: An essential component of any cybersecurity plan is encryption. Both data at rest and data in transit-that is, when you're sending information over a network- can be protected using it. At rest is data stored on a computer or server, while in transit is data transmitted over the internet. Either way, encryption jumbles private data, making it unintelligible to anybody who attempts to access it without the right key or password. As a result, even if your laptop is stolen and someone attempts to access its contents from another computer, they won't be able to see anything unless they have decrypted it using a specialized file decryption program (or guessed or cracked your password).
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Automated Security Validation: Using an automated security validation tool to test and validate security policies on a regular basis can make the difference between detecting an impending attack and realizing it too late.
What criteria should Healthcare organizations use when choosing a Cybersecurity provider?
Choosing a cybersecurity solution is one of the most critical decisions that today's healthcare professionals must make. It is critical to be well-educated while making such a decision. This includes examining the variety of services given by suppliers, their knowledge in the healthcare industry, scalability, easy connection with current IT infrastructure, and the quality of customer support provided. Healthcare businesses should proactively decrease the risk of cyberattacks by making educated decisions when selecting cybersecurity solutions. Here are five questions to ponder.
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What type(s) of cybersecurity solutions does the vendor offer?: For example, does the vendor offer a comprehensive solution or does it focus on a single area, such as vulnerability management, data security, threat detection, endpoint protection, incident response, or penetration testing? You'll need to match the vendor's products to your organization's unique demands, so you don't pay for superfluous cybersecurity solutions or invest in something that won't ultimately meet your objectives.
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Are they providing a proof of concept?: You would probably not buy a new automobile without seeing it first. A proof of concept (POC) is an opportunity to test the security service or technology you are considering adopting. Allow the vendor you're considering to test their products live in your environment and see them in action. Only then will you have a clear understanding of how their product or service would improve your security posture? In security jargon, there are a number of acronyms to represent this: POC, BAS (Breach Attack Simulation), or BSAD (Breach Simulation and Attack Detection);
ActZero calls ours a Readiness Assessment, and we've designed one that takes into consideration the subtleties of safeguarding healthcare (more on that later!) Internally, a proof of concept (POC) might be an important component in gaining more buy-in from throughout the business. And, considering that healthcare firms trail well behind many other industries in cybersecurity spending, this is especially important.
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Does the cybersecurity provider have experience in the healthcare industry?: This may seem simple, but the threat environment in healthcare differs from that of other industries, and a competent cybersecurity vendor should be aware of the subtleties of healthcare data as well as new and emerging threats aimed especially at healthcare providers. Make sure to inquire about the vendor's quantity of healthcare customers as well as a list of its flagship clientele.
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How long will this take?: Before participating, inquire about how long it will take to implement the final technological solution throughout your workplace. Time is of importance in cybersecurity, particularly in discovery and reaction. Today, many healthcare businesses take far longer to contain a breach than other industries. During that period, hackers can continue to roam the environment, taking critical data and spreading havoc. Your vendor should be able to give deployment turnaround times as well as an estimate of when you will realize benefit from their solution. A vendor or supplier should be clear about delivery deadlines and expectations. Be wary of those who are ambiguous or noncommittal about dates.
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Can the cybersecurity solution support the healthcare organization's planned growth?: For example, would it be possible to manage larger or more complex danger surfaces when you increase your hospital-at-home activities or add more connected devices? What if your healthcare organization acquires more medical practices or collaborates with other organizations for data exchange? Will the organization be preserved throughout these transitions and beyond? Can the cybersecurity solution work with all health IT systems? The easier the connection, the less disturbance to your healthcare.