Healthcare cybersecurity relies heavily on storage and backup systems to ensure the security and integrity of patient data.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of cyber threats, the healthcare industry has become a prime target, with ransomware attacks leading the charge, according to Henry Baltazar, Research Director for the storage practice at 451 Research.
This shift was evident in January 2020 when Enloe Medical Center, a Level II trauma center in Northern California, faced a cyber incident. The exact nature of the Technology Director's role in this incident remains undisclosed. However, the IT team at Enloe Medical Center had confidence in their disaster recovery capabilities, thanks to the disaster recovery capabilities of their storage arrays.
Before the incident, Enloe Medical Center had upgraded its aging HP storage system to a combination of HPE 3PAR storage systems and HPE Nimble systems. This move was aimed at enhancing their data protection and security.
Meanwhile, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, a multidisciplinary clinic system with locations throughout the greater Houston area, had its own brush with ransomware in 2015. The clinic's storage strategy focuses on using leading-edge, top-tier enterprise solutions, including Pure Storage FlashArray, which supports their Epic electronic medical records system and virtual desktops. Kelsey-Seybold Clinic currently works with NetApp for file storage and Pure Storage for block storage.
In response to the 2015 attack, Kelsey-Seybold Clinic now prioritizes protecting the network and endpoints as a key aspect of their data protection strategy. They were able to quickly identify and stop the malware from spreading within an hour, thanks to their proactive measures. By the end of the day, they had restored individual files from backups and resumed operations.
The average cost of a healthcare data breach in 2021 was a staggering $9.23 million, according to an IBM report. This underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in the industry.
UPMC, another prominent healthcare provider, uses a "multilevel" storage protection strategy, with a focus on having a solid foundation for data protection and security. Marc Hrzic, senior director of IT at Pittsburgh-based UPMC, stated that the organization uses monitoring solutions designed to detect malware before it can launch. UPMC uses IBM Spectrum Storage, Dell EMC tools, and the IBM FlashSystem platform.
A 2021 HIMSS survey revealed that 67 percent of healthcare cybersecurity professionals reported experiencing a "significant" security incident in the year. This underscores the need for continuous vigilance and investment in cybersecurity measures in the healthcare sector.
In response to this growing threat, organisations have adopted a multipronged cybersecurity approach, which includes data encryption and strong recovery methodologies, as noted by Baltazar. Many have also made public cloud storage an important part of their data strategy.
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic's CTO and CISO, Martin Littmann, emphasised the importance of this approach, stating, "We were able to quickly identify and stop the malware from spreading within an hour. Our focus on network and endpoint protection, combined with our use of leading-edge storage solutions, was crucial in mitigating the impact of the attack."
These cases serve as a reminder for healthcare providers to prioritise cybersecurity and invest in robust, modern solutions to protect their valuable data and ensure the continuity of their operations.
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