The 2024 SonicWall Threat Brief reveals that over 14 million patients in the U.S. have been affected by malware breaches in the healthcare sector. SonicWall sensors also blocked more than 26,000 additional attacks, highlighting the healthcare industry as a prime target for ransomware. The combination of high-value patient data and the critical need for uninterrupted care makes healthcare particularly vulnerable to cybercriminals seeking quick financial payouts.
According to SonicWall, 91% of these breaches involved ransomware, and 60% of the vulnerabilities targeted Microsoft Exchange. Lockbit has emerged as the most prominent ransomware strain impacting the sector.
The rise of digitalization and remote work in healthcare has expanded the attack surface for cyber threats. Many healthcare organizations still rely on outdated systems, which increases their exposure to ransomware attacks, particularly those targeting unpatched or legacy software.
In this context, Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) play a vital role in protecting patient privacy. Regular risk assessments are essential for identifying new vulnerabilities, and encrypting data both in transit and at rest is crucial for preventing unauthorized access.
In the event of a breach, healthcare organizations must have well-defined incident response plans, along with disaster recovery and business continuity strategies. A secure backup system is also essential to enable swift recovery and reduce downtime.
Otonata is ready to help professionals in healthcare safeguard their systems from cyber threats.
