Many people assume that damage from a cyberattack is limited to their computers, networks, or banking systems. But when cybercriminals target healthcare organizations, people’s lives are put in danger. Old machines and outdated software are putting medical practices at extreme risk. If a doctor is in the middle of an operation when a machine he is using becomes infected, the device could go down and doctors would have to rely on manual methods.

So far this year, we’ve seen a record number of attempts to breach sensitive data within the healthcare industry. Ransomware attacks like WannaCry have received worldwide attention for severely disrupting hospital systems in the UK. Cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated and we are seeing the motives of cybercriminals to evolve as well. It’s no longer just about financial gain, but also about tarnishing reputations.

What many of us don’t realize is that devices like MRI machines and ventilators are actually computers, and like our personal computers, these devices come with software that the makers are responsible for supporting. Microsoft issued a patch for software that was vulnerable to the WannaCry ransomware attack. Oftentimes, larger organizations don’t always update immediately as it might affect operations running on older legacy technology. Because of this, Microsoft, in an unprecedented move this March, actually released patches for old Windows systems that it no longer supports.

It is in the best interest of any healthcare organization wanting to stay on top of their security to schedule regular and routine audits of all their machines and devices. In addition to this, regular training and enforcement of good practices should be a part of your organizations’ compliance plan at all times.

Avoid the risk of security breaches, staff mistakes, and HIPAA violations by speaking with the Crossroads compliance team. We have worked for over 20 years in the healthcare industry and will help your organization to identify cyberattack trends and the vulnerabilities that may exist within your systems.