Ransomware poses a major risk to the data security of organizations, but especially to hospitals. This is because these institutions handle sensitive patient data and any leak can put the security of this information in jeopardy.
Reports indicate that these attacks have been growing exponentially, worrying Information Technology professionals.
That is why security analysts play a very important role in preventing these attacks, after all, they are responsible for monitoring threats and looking for effective ways to mitigate risks.
Want to learn more about ransomware attacks and how analysts can do an efficient job of mitigating the rich? Keep reading this text.
What is the role of the security analyst?
We can say that the role of a security analyst is to safeguard the integrity of an organization's hardware, software, and networks against digital threats.
When we talk about hospitals, this responsibility is even greater, considering that these organizations deal with sensitive patient information that, if it falls into the wrong hands, can be a security risk.
There are several scams applied by criminals that use recurring data leakage information, and ransomware can be a gateway to these attacks.
Therefore, one of the main concerns of the security analyst should be to acquire in-depth knowledge of the institution's IT infrastructure. In this way, it is possible to monitor and assess potential threats that could compromise data security.
In addition, analysts should look for ways to enhance the security of hospitals' confidential systems and networks.
To do this, it is necessary to detail the activities of the networks and evaluate their defenses, interpreting reports so that it is possible to identify the gaps and thus create defense mechanisms.
Analysts should conduct ongoing testing to identify vulnerabilities before they are exploited by criminals, thereby identifying ransomware attacks, phishing, and other threats.
It is also necessary to conduct regular assessments of hospital systems and ensure that all security updates and patches are applied quickly.
It is necessary for these professionals to provide regular security awareness training.
You need to educate people about safe internet browsing practices, recognizing phishing emails, the risks of a ransomware attack, and proper password management procedures.
Well-trained people help prevent ransomware threats from entering the hospital network and posing risks to sensitive information.
Analysts play a crucial role in collaborating with the IT management team to develop and implement security policies.
Through their knowledge of vulnerabilities, they are able to improve policies and create timely actions to mitigate risks to hospital data security.
These policies are responsible for limiting access to sensitive data and protecting critical systems from attacks.
It is also the responsibility of these professionals to ensure that hospitals have data backup and recovery systems in place. Very important actions to protect information in case of an incident.
In addition, analysts need to be prepared to respond quickly to incidents by isolating the affected parties from the network, identifying the source of the attack, and taking steps to mitigate its effects.
Are people targeted by ransomware attacks on hospitals?
Ransomware attacks are nothing more than a lack of awareness about the risks that devices pose to a hospital's data security.
Everyone tends to be a potential target of one of these attacks, because there are a number of factors that put digital security at risk, such as:
· Outdated software;
· Old device;
· Browsers that are no longer patched;
· Lack of maturity of the team in cybersecurity;
· Not having a backup plan;
· Lack of cybersecurity training and awareness;
· Not having an information security policy.
As we have seen, it is the responsibility of security analysts to ensure that actions are taken to identify these issues and mitigate the rich.
It is necessary to pay full attention to vulnerabilities, but especially to people, after all, they tend to be a weak link in security, so analysts need to identify their level of maturity to strengthen these links.
Keep in mind that attacks are directed at people, so you need to create specific actions to ensure that everyone knows how to act in these situations.
Many people don't recognize the risks and don't even know what a ransomware attack is and how harmful it can be to the hospital and its patients. By educating employees, it is possible to mitigate data and combat the actions of criminals.
What are the consequences of a ransomware attack?
Ransomware poses a threat to hospitals, because its attacks block operating systems and until the institution pays a reward, criminals do not release these accesses.
This stoppage can generate a series of impacts on operations, after all, hospitals deal with health, the consequences of these attacks can be many.
Disruption in medical services
If criminals have access to any system that is essential to the operation of the hospital, medical services may be disrupted.
As such, doctors and nurses may have difficulty accessing critical patient information, such as medical history, medications, and prescribed treatments. Essential data for care that can lead to serious health consequences.
This disruption to medical services can lead to complications in the patient's condition and cause inconvenience to hospitals and the people involved.
Not to mention that without access to medical records, there can be delays in patient care, making the process more time-consuming and error-prone.
Data Loss
If IT teams are unable to access the data, hospitals can lose important information such as medical records, appointment scheduling information, and test results.
This can have serious impacts on hospital operations, both in terms of attendance and loss of appointment scheduling, payment processing and internal communication between employees.
After all, all the information and data essential for the operation of a hospital will be in the hands of criminals. This stoppage causes a series of financial losses to the institution.
The hospital will have to pay fines and legal sanctions, in addition to the impacts caused by the days of system interruption.
PhishX The Right Tool
Keeping hospitals safe from ransomware attacks is anything but simple, but with the right tool, you can play this role quickly and efficiently.
PhishX is an ecosystem that plays a very important role in protecting hospital data, because we bring security knowledge to people.
On our platform, analysts are able to monitor people's maturity through metrics. This allows you to understand the vulnerabilities present among the teams and with this information make the right decisions based on data.
The metrics help these professionals identify which people are most likely to fall for ransomware attacks, with the right information the IT team can create an effective strategy to strengthen security.
In addition, it is possible to send communications and campaigns focused on cybersecurity, implementing a security policy in hospitals.
Understand that awareness is not only done by training. People need to be communicated about attacks, the importance of cybersecurity and other information, only in this way is it possible to start a cybersecurity acculturation.
After all, it is through these actions that analysts and the entire IT team can mitigate ransomware attacks and other threats.
Phishx also offers simulations of phishing attacks, which are important for reducing the risk of success of real attacks and preparing people for these threats.
Simulations help increase people's awareness of the cybersecurity risks associated with phishing emails.
With realistic simulations, people learn to recognize signs of phishing and take appropriate action to report or avoid falling victim to these actions.
This is because many ransomware attacks are sent through email attachments, so this action is essential to protect hospitals and their data.
If you are a security analyst for a hospital network, contact our team and learn how PhishX can help you reduce ransomware attacks in your institution.
