Healthcare data under attack: The top 5 data security threats you need to know

The healthcare industry is a prime target for cyberattacks due to the vast amounts of sensitive patient data it holds. Strengthening healthcare data security is crucial to avoid putting patient privacy at risk. Implementing a multi-layered security approach helps mitigate healthcare data security challenges and protect critical information from cyber threats.

This infographic can help you learn about:

  • Importance of data security in healthcare
  • The cost of a healthcare data breach
  • What makes securing healthcare data hard
  • The top five threats to the healthcare industry

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Recent healthcare data breaches

The consequences from a breach are too high to ignore data security threats. From data loss, productivity decline, and reputational damage to hefty fines levied by regulatory bodies, a healthcare data breach takes a heavy toll on an organization. Here are some significant healthcare data breach examples that can help you understand the magnitude of data breaches.

  • Change Healthcare suffered a ransomware attack in February 2024, with 4TB of data stolen by ALPHV/BlackCat. Despite paying a $22 million ransom, the stolen data was still handed over to another group called RansomHub that issued further demands. The incident potentially affected about one-third of the United States population. The breach is projected to cost the parent company, UnitedHealth Group, billions of dollars.
  • Perry Johnson & Associates (PJ&A), a major provider of medical transcription solutions, is currently facing over 40 lawsuits for alleged negligence in cybersecurity, following a breach in May 2023, that impacted at least 14 million individuals. The compromised data includes names, dates of birth, addresses, medical records, Social Security numbers, and insurance details, making it the largest data breach of 2023.
  • Anthem Inc. fell victim to a phishing scam orchestrated by the Chinese cybercriminal group Deep Panda, resulting in the exfiltration of 80 million records in 2015. Anthem settled a $115 million class-action lawsuit with the affected individuals, paid an additional $16 million for HIPAA violations, and a $39.5 million settlement with 44 states for breach-related claims.

Healthcare data security standards

In response to these increasingly common healthcare data breaches, the regulatory bodies are continuously updating their compliance requirements to adapt to evolving threats. Learn about the healthcare data security standards across different countries that organizations must comply with:

Standards Description Applies across
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Enforces privacy, security, and breach notification rules for PHI. USA (Mandatory for healthcare providers, insurers, and business associates)
Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) Strengthens HIPAA by increasing penalties for non-compliance and promoting secure EHRs. USA (Mandatory for HIPAA-covered entities)
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Regulates the protection of all personal data of individuals, including personal health data, requiring explicit patient consent and strict security measures. EU and the European Economic Area (Mandatory for organizations processing EU citizens' data, which includes healthcare data)
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) Ensures secure payment environments by protecting payment card information and financial transactions. Global (Mandatory for organizations handling payment card transactions)
NIST Cybersecurity Framework Provides best practices for identifying, preventing, detecting, responding to, and recovering from cybersecurity threats across industries. USA (Recommended, not mandatory)
International Organization for Standardization 27001 (ISO 27001) A global standard for information security management systems, helping organizations manage security risks. Global (Optional, but often required for compliance with industry regulations)

For more information on how to stay compliant with the data security standards, click here.

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