Why The Healthcare Sector Is A Prime Target For Cybercriminals

Organisations around the world are becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks and pose a risk to the daily running of vital tasks that people rely on. Back in May 2017, a global ransomware attack, WannaCry, caused havoc on computers around the world, including machines owned by the NHS. Though there was a heightened concern around the impact of cyber-attacks and the tightening of cybersecurity, the healthcare sector continues to be a prime target for cybercriminals in numerous ways.

In what may be a surprise to some, the healthcare industry experiences the highest number of data breaches annually, according to an IT Governance report on Global Healthcare Data Breaches. This is likely down to the huge amount of data available on the healthcare systems, coupled with the devastating impact the unavailability of data would be. Further tempting cybercriminals is how widely accessible data is to various staff, increasing the risk of accidental breaches.

Let’s discuss some of the reasons why healthcare has become such a target for cybercriminals, and what can be done about it.

Healthcare staff often work long hours and have to work to a tight schedule, so they may be reluctant to add online security processes to everyday tasks. Furthermore, they may not have the necessary education to deal with online threats.

Staff working in healthcare need to think carefully about how to implement security protocols without impending the level of care staff provide. One of the best ways to do this is by introducing measures that can work alongside existing software, reducing the learning curve and minimising distractions for staff. Single Sign-On (SSO) solutions allow users to access multiple applications with just one single set of credentials, creating a seamless working routine without compromising security.