Protecting Patient Privacy: The Importance of Incident Response in Healthcare

Sound Incident Response Practices in Healthcare

The increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber threats targeting the healthcare sector require organizations to implement a comprehensive set of incident response procedures. These procedures not only help mitigate the impact of security incidents but also ensure compliance with stringent regulatory requirements. These requirements include the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and state-level privacy laws, such as the California Privacy Rights Act, Connecticut Personal Data Privacy and Online Monitoring Act, Rhode Island Transparency and Privacy Protection Act, and the Virginia Data Protection Act. Additionally, by responding promptly and effectively to security incidents, healthcare organizations can minimize disruption to operations, preserve trust among patients and stakeholders, and uphold the continuity of patient care. In an ever-evolving threat landscape, ensuring your organization is equipped and ready to handle cyberattacks and incidents is essential.

This article will provide an overview of recent trends, and the importance of sound incident response processes and procedures in the healthcare industry. These procedures can improve an organization’s ability to detect, contain, and respond to an incident and limit the impact on its health and operations. By developing comprehensive processes surrounding incident response, healthcare organizations will be better prepared against attacks from malicious actors and ensure the privacy and protection of patient data.

Recent Ransomware Attacks: Why Healthcare Needs Defense

The entire healthcare industry is subject to the risks and consequences of ransomware and other cyberattacks. These attacks can lead to compromised patient information, a shutdown of critical systems, and delays in patient service. While being proactive helps mitigate the effects of attacks, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, further emphasizing the importance for healthcare organizations to maintain diligence in developing and implementing their incident response practices and procedures.

In February 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and Department of Health and Human Services warned U.S. healthcare companies about ransomware attacks, specifically ALPHV/Blackcat attacks. The FBI, CISA, and Department of Health and Human Services noted an uptick in these attacks specifically aimed at the healthcare industry. This was not the first warning provided by the FBI. In April 2022 and December 2023, the FBI urged healthcare organizations to remain vigilant against ransomware attacks specifically those from the well-known BlackCat ransomware family.

This recent warning only magnified the importance of all organizations, specifically healthcare organizations, to adopt and maintain sound incident response practices. These practices can better protect patient privacy, reputation, and data, as well as reduce the financial impacts of attacks.

2023 State of Ransomware Report

In the 2023 State of Ransomware report from Sophos, research indicated the rate of ransomware attacks remained consistent as 66% of respondents reported their organization was the target of a ransomware attack in the previous two years. The healthcare industry respondents specifically reported that 60% of organizations in the space were subject to a ransomware attack in the last year. The root cause of these attacks varies among exploited vulnerabilities, compromised credentials, malicious emails, phishing, brute force attacks, and download misjudgments. Overall, the healthcare industry reported a 42% loss in business/revenue as a result of these attacks, reinforcing the importance of maintaining a strong incident response program and procedures from a financial perspective.

2024 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report

The 2024 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report offers a more holistic view of the increasing popularity of ransomware and extortion attacks on all organizations. The report notes roughly one-third of all data breaches involved ransomware or another extortion method in some capacity. The increasing number of attack vectors used by malicious actors has shifted percentages away from traditional ransomware attacks; however, when traditional ransomware is combined with newer extortion techniques, there’s still a large increase in the percentage of breaches these attacks are responsible for.

Furthermore, the report notes that ransomware continues to be on the front of all organization’s minds as it was seen as the top threat across 92% of industries. It highlights the healthcare industry’s susceptibility to data breaches, noting the main motive behind a malicious actor’s attack on healthcare companies is for financial gain. Additionally, the report documents that 75% of data compromised at healthcare organizations is personal data protected by HIPPA. Year over year system intrusion and data breaches remain in the top three attack patterns further emphasizing the importance of sound incident response practices and procedures.

Attack Complexity & Increased Impacts

While statistics reflect a consistent level of incidents affecting the healthcare industry in the last two years, the impact and damage from these attacks on organizations and their patients are increasing. In a Chief Healthcare Executive article, John Riggi, a national cybersecurity advisor for the American Hospital Association, noted that 106 million individuals have been affected by cyberattacks on healthcare organizations compared to 44 million in 2022. As attack complexity continues to increase, no organization is immune. For example, HCA Healthcare, the largest for-profit hospital system in the U.S. was affected by a cyberattack on health data. Additionally, Ardent Health Services also suffered a ransomware attack in 2023 and caused the organization to postpone elective surgeries for some hospitals under their purview.

In summary, the entire healthcare industry is subject to the risks and consequences of these threats. Therefore, healthcare organizations must diligently develop and implement their incident response practices and procedures.

Understanding the Requirements of an Effective Incident Response Program

Comprehensive incident response procedures and processes are essential to safeguard patient data, comply with laws and regulations, protect against cyber threats, and preserve reputation and trust among the company and its customers. Privacy laws involving patient data make it pertinent for the healthcare industry to continue to develop and implement the proper incident response procedures and processes to manage risks and respond to threat vectors efficiently and effectively.

Essential Components of a Healthcare Incident Response Plan

Incident response processes and procedures for healthcare organizations should be tailored to address the unique requirements of the industry. Some key elements of an effective plan include:

• Identification and classification of incidents
• Response team formation
• Containment and mitigation
• Communication and reporting
• Legal and regulatory compliance (HIPAA compliance)
• Training and awareness
• Continuous improvement

These components of an incident response plan (IRP) allow healthcare organizations to effectively detect, respond to, and mitigate security incidents while safeguarding sensitive patient data. A proactive approach that includes regular training, robust detection mechanisms, swift containment measures, and thorough forensic analysis is essential to combat threats. By prioritizing incident response preparedness and fostering a culture of security, healthcare organizations can ensure the integrity of their critical systems and operations in the face of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

Challenges and a Path Forward

The implementation of an effective IRP for healthcare organizations presents a variety of challenges. Staying up to date on past incidents and the current threat landscape helps organizations mitigate implementation challenges. Healthcare organizations can learn from industry mistakes and analyze past incidents to understand the causes and consequences of security breaches. Examples across similar organizations help healthcare systems identify vulnerabilities in their own programs and processes and take proactive steps to address them.

Staying informed on the latest trends and tactics used by cybercriminals allows healthcare organizations to adapt their cybersecurity measures accordingly, such as updating security software and enhancing employee training on recognizing phishing attempts. Furthermore, examining how other organizations respond to security breaches and incidents fosters the identification of best practices. It also supports the development of more effective incident response plans and procedures, enhancing the trust and confidence among patients, partners, and regulators.

The sensitive nature of patient data and strict regulatory requirements surrounding healthcare organizations increase the necessity to emphasize the importance of both a practical and comprehensive incident response program. Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach to incident response that includes proactive risk management, robust cybersecurity measures, effective communication and collaboration, and ongoing investment in resources and training. By prioritizing incident response preparedness and resilience, healthcare organizations are better equipped to handle and respond to cyberattacks and limit negative consequences.

If you need a partner to implement an enterprise-wide incident response program or audit your existing plans, we’re here to help. Reach out to our Incident Response Planning team today.