Primary care physicians have some of the most general practices in medicine. That also means they have the opportunity to see more patients than specialty practices. By having a diverse patient-base, primary care physicians are increasingly at risk from cyberattacks. Medical practices are a valuable target for cybercriminals because they store large amounts of sensitive patient data. A successful cyberattack can have a devastating impact on a medical practice, disrupting operations, compromising patient data, and damaging reputation.
Types of cyberattacks that can target medical practices
Cybercriminals have all sorts of ways they can attack networks and computers, and they continue to find new ways. According to IBM, these crooks can now infiltrate Linux systems, operational technology, Internet of Things devices, and cloud environments.
While there are numerous avenues to become a victim, there are some standard ways criminals target medical practices, including:
- Ransomware: Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim’s files and demands a ransom payment in exchange for the decryption key. Ransomware attacks have become increasingly common in the healthcare sector, as medical practices are often willing to pay ransoms to restore access to their critical data and systems.
- Phishing: Phishing attacks involve sending fraudulent emails or text messages that are designed to trick recipients into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers. Phishing attacks are a common way for cybercriminals to gain access to medical practice systems.
- Denial-of-Service (DoS): DoS attacks involve flooding a website or server with traffic, making it unavailable to legitimate users. DoS attacks can be used to disrupt medical practice operations, preventing patients from accessing online services or scheduling appointments.
- Data breaches: Data breaches occur when sensitive information is stolen from a medical practice’s systems. Data breaches can expose patient health information, financial information, and other confidential data.
How cyberattacks can disrupt a medical practice
Through all sorts of manners, cybercriminals continue to find new ways to attack medical practices. If they are successful, the disruption to a doctor’s office can come with all sorts of problems, including:
- Delayed or canceled patient care: Cyberattacks can disrupt access to patient records, imaging results, and other critical data, making it difficult or impossible for physicians to provide care. For example, if a ransomware attack encrypts a medical practice’s electronic health records (EHR) system, physicians may not be able to access patient information or update records. This can lead to delays or cancelations in patient care.
- Financial losses: Cyberattacks can also lead to financial losses for medical practices. If a medical practice’s systems are unavailable due to a DoS attack, the practice may lose revenue from missed appointments and procedures. And that’s not the only potential cost. Medical practices may be required to pay ransoms or fines if they are the victim of a ransomware attack or data breach.
- Damage to reputation: Cyberattacks can also damage a medical practice’s reputation. If patients learn their data has been compromised, they may be less likely to trust the practice and may look to find another doctor.
How to protect your medical practice from cyberattacks
There are a number of steps medical practices can take to protect themselves from cyberattacks, including:
- Implement security measures: Medical practices should implement strong cybersecurity measures, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and endpoint security solutions. These measures can help to prevent cyberattacks from succeeding.
- Educate staff: Medical practice staff should be educated about cybersecurity best practices, such as how to identify and avoid phishing emails and how to create strong passwords.
- Back up data: Medical practices should regularly back up their data so that they can restore their systems in the event of a cyberattack.
- Have a plan: Medical practices should have a cyberattack response plan in place so that they know what steps to take if they are the victim of a cyberattack.
Cyberattacks are a serious threat to medical practices, and while there’s no sure-fire way to prevent them, there are a number of steps that can be taken to make it incredibly difficult for criminals to steal, or hold ransom, medical data. Some of these tips can help physicians avoid the headaches and reputational damage that come with cyberattacks.
