The Growing Threat of Cyberattacks in Healthcare Healthcare systems face an unprecedented wave of cyberattacks, from ransomware that locks critical systems to data breaches exposing patients’ private information. The stakes in these attacks extend beyond financial losses; they threaten patient safety and the continuity of care.  Why is healthcare targeted? Valuable Data: Protected Health Information... The post Driving Medical Device Security through Cyber Hygiene appeared first on Crothall Healthcare.

The Growing Threat of Cyberattacks in Healthcare

Healthcare systems face an unprecedented wave of cyberattacks, from ransomware that locks critical systems to data breaches exposing patients’ private information. The stakes in these attacks extend beyond financial losses; they threaten patient safety and the continuity of care. 

Why is healthcare targeted?

• Valuable Data: Protected Health Information (PHI) and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) are highly valuable on the black market, making healthcare organizations prime targets for data breaches. 
• Ransomware Risks: Attackers exploit the time-sensitive nature of healthcare delivery, knowing hospitals may feel pressured to pay ransoms to restore critical systems. 
• Outdated Technology: Many healthcare organizations rely on legacy systems and devices that lack modern security features, leaving them vulnerable. 
• Diverse Staff Backgrounds: Healthcare professionals range from clinicians to administrative staff, and not all are well-versed in medical device cybersecurity best practices. 
• Broad Attack Surface: The sheer number of connected medical devices in healthcare, from infusion pumps to imaging equipment, creates a complex and expansive environment for attackers to exploit. 

As healthcare technology management experts, Crothall Healthcare Technology Solutions sees firsthand how reliant hospitals are on interconnected medical devices, from infusion pumps to MRI machines, all communicating with central systems on the hospital network. While this interconnectedness enhances patient care, it introduces significant vulnerabilities. A single security flaw in a connected device can be exploited, compromising the entire network and, ultimately, the hospital’s infrastructure. Our CyberHUB Defense Team partners with healthcare executives and IT professionals to implement tailored, practical solutions that protect medical devices and the broader hospital network from evolving cyber threats. 

The Role of Cyber Hygiene in Healthcare

What is Cyber Hygiene?

“Think of cyber hygiene as the digital equivalent of washing your hands: a set of regular practices to keep networks and medical devices secure.”

– Eddie Myers, National Director Cyber Security  

These practices minimize risks of unauthorized access, malware, and ransomware, ensuring healthcare organizations remain compliant with regulations like HIPAA, DNV and Joint Commission. 

In the healthcare setting, cyber hygiene protects patient safety by preventing disruptions to life-saving devices and ensures operational continuity by reducing the risk of system-wide failures. 

Core Practices for Cyber Hygiene in Healthcare

Cyber hygiene is built on foundational elements and actionable steps that work together to secure healthcare systems and medical devices. Below are the key practices that healthcare organizations should consider to protect against cyber threats: 

1. Staff Training and Awareness

Why It’s Important: Employees are often targeted in cyberattacks because they can unknowingly provide access to sensitive systems. According to Zimperium’s 2024 Global Mobile Threat Report, the average smartphone has 80 apps installed, with 5-11 being work-related. Most organizations have limited ability to secure an employee’s personal devices, it’s necessary to leverage the employee themselves as part of the organization’s security strategy to elevate their sense of vigilance when interacting with email and the web on a mobile device. In healthcare, one mistake can compromise patient data, disrupt operations, or allow malicious access to critical medical devices. 

Best Practices Cyber Hygiene:

• Implement regular training programs to help staff recognize phishing attempts, follow security protocols, and report suspicious activity. 
• Tailor training to address healthcare-specific threats, such as the risks of shared workstations or utilizing a medical device as if it was a normal computer to check email. 

• Foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness by integrating training into onboarding and routine refreshers for all employees and engrain that they are the human firewall to the hospital. 

2. Secure Configurations/Device Hardening

Why It’s Important: Medical devices often ship with default settings and credentials that attackers can easily exploit. These unsecured configurations can act as open doors into the healthcare network, exposing sensitive patient data and critical systems. 

Secure Configurations/Device Hardening Best Practices:

• Disable unnecessary features and replace default passwords with strong, unique credentials. 
• Follow guidelines such as those from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to ensure devices are configured securely while maintaining functionality. 

• Perform regular audits of device configurations to identify and address potential vulnerabilities. 

• CyberHUB defense team can collect and monitor for these types of settings and work with the IT department on implementing stronger controls 

3. Routine Monitoring and Threat Detection

Why It’s Important: Medical device cyberattacks are often stealthy, developing over time. Without routine monitoring, unusual activity—such as unauthorized access or unexpected data transfers—can go unnoticed until significant damage is done.   

Routine Monitoring and Threat Detection Best Practices:

• Use real-time monitoring tools to identify and address threats proactively. 
• Establish a Security Monitoring Team, like Crothall’s CyberHUB Defense Team, to provide expert oversight and swift incident response. 

• Set alerts for abnormal activity to ensure quick detection and containment of potential threats. 

• Our CyberHUB program can provide this monitoring and set up trip wires to alert when a medical device is acting out of its normal bounds and activate the CyberHUB Defense Team to take swift action 

4. Regular Updates and Patching

Why It’s Important: Software and firmware updates frequently include fixes for vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit. Without regular updates, medical devices become easy targets for cyberattacks compromising patient safety and data security. 

Regular Updates and Patching Best Practices:

• Prioritize critical updates that address high-risk vulnerabilities. 
• Schedule updates during low-impact hours to minimize disruptions to patient care. 

• Maintain an organized update schedule to ensure no device falls behind and use monitoring tools to track compliance. 

• When a client teams up with Crothall’s CyberHUB program, we take care of everything.  As the device experts, we engage with the OEMs for approved patches and mitigating steps that can be taken on the devices and then apply them.  

5. Access Controls

Why It’s Important: Unauthorized access to sensitive systems can lead to data breaches, operational disruptions, or even malicious control of medical devices. Access controls limit who can interact with critical systems, reducing these risks. 

Access Controls Best Practices:

• Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to require multiple credentials for access, such as a password and a one-time code. 
• Use role-based access controls to restrict access to sensitive systems based on job responsibilities. 

• Regularly review access logs and permissions to ensure compliance and identify any unauthorized access attempts. 

6. Network Segmentation

Why It’s Important: When all systems and devices are connected on a single network, an attacker gaining access to one area can quickly move to others. Network segmentation isolates devices and systems, limiting the spread of cyberattacks and minimizing damage. 

Network Segmentation Best Practices:

• Divide the network into isolated segments, such as separating medical devices from administrative systems. 
• Strengthen segmentation with firewalls, virtual private networks (VPNs), and zero-trust architecture. 

• Regularly test segmentation effectiveness to ensure it can withstand attempted breaches. 

• After careful review and OEM engagement from the CyberHUB Defense Team if it is determined there are no patches or mitigating steps that can be taken Crothall will work diligently with the Client IT department to ensure proper segmentation is implemented and it does not impact patient care. 

The Benefits of Strong Cyber Hygiene

• Patient Safety: Prevents malicious interference with life-saving devices. Strong security measures ensure that devices function as intended, free from malicious interference, providing healthcare teams the confidence to focus on patient care without interruptions. 
• Data Security: Effective cyber hygiene practices, such as encryption and access controls, keep Protected Health Information (PHI) and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) secure from unauthorized access or exposure. 

• Regulatory Compliance: Cybersecurity is becoming a key component of regulatory audits. Reflecting the increasing importance of protecting sensitive systems and patient information, regulatory bodies like DNV’s (Det Norske Veritas) surveillance audits go beyond traditional healthcare assessments, now scrutinizing an organization’s ability to safeguard its technology infrastructure against cyber threats. 

• Operational Resilience: Routine monitoring, threat detection, and rapid incident response ensure that critical systems stay online, supporting continuity of care even in the face of potential threats. 

• Community Safety: A secure healthcare network contributes to public health by protecting against widespread disruptions that could ripple through entire communities. 

Cybersecurity Challenges and Strategies to Overcome Them

• Legacy Systems Many hospitals and healthcare facilities rely on older medical devices that weren’t designed with today’s cybersecurity threats in mind. While upgrading to newer systems is the ideal solution, it’s not always feasible due to budget constraints or the critical role these devices play in daily care. 

Strategy: Instead of leaving these systems vulnerable, healthcare teams can adopt solutions to protect them. Isolating older devices on separate networks reduces their exposure to threats, while enhanced monitoring provides an extra layer of vigilance. These measures allow organizations to keep legacy devices operational without compromising security or patient safety. 

• Resource Constraints Building an in-house team to manage every aspect of cybersecurity may not always be practical. 

Strategy: That’s where trusted partners like Crothall can step in, offering scalable solutions tailored to each organization’s needs, alleviating the burden on internal teams while providing the expertise and tools necessary to strengthen defenses.  

• Growing Sophistication of Attacks The AHA has been alerted to an IT help desk social engineering scheme using stolen identities of revenue cycle and other financial employees. These advanced threats can bypass traditional defenses, putting healthcare networks and devices at risk. 

Strategy: Leverage AI-driven monitoring and anomaly detection tools to identify potential threats early. Implement proactive threat intelligence systems to stay ahead of emerging attack patterns. Collaborating with trusted cybersecurity partners and staying updated on the latest threat intelligence is critical. 

• Broad Attack Surface Created by Interconnected Devices It’s not just electronic medical records that are connected, but also biomedical devices and other critical tools managing and storing data, all networked across hospitals. A single compromised device can act as a gateway. 

Strategy: Maintain a comprehensive inventory of all connected devices to identify at-risk equipment. Implement strong network segmentation to isolate medical devices from administrative systems. Advanced firewalls, VPNs, and zero-trust architecture reduce access points for potential breaches. 

• Need for Industry-Wide Standardization in Security Protocols Without standardized cybersecurity protocols, healthcare organizations face inconsistent protection levels. This leaves gaps in security that can be exploited. 

Strategy: Align internal policies with recognized frameworks to ensure consistency and compliance. 

The Future of Cyber Hygiene in Healthcare

Emerging technologies like AI-driven threat detection and quantum encryption will further strengthen cybersecurity.  

Looking ahead, medical devices will increasingly be designed with cybersecurity in mind. These secure-by-design principles embed safety measures during the manufacturing process. 

Safeguard Healthcare Today

Cyber hygiene is essential for maintaining IoMT (Internet of Medical Things) integrity. Regular security assessments, strong operational workflows, and proactive long-term planning are critical for protecting patients, staff, and infrastructure from ever-evolving cyber threats. 

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Take action today to protect your patients and organization. Reach out to Crothall to learn more. Download our Cybersecurity Readiness Toolkit to help you assess your current cybersecurity practices, policies, and infrastructure related to medical device management. 

The post Driving Medical Device Security through Cyber Hygiene appeared first on Crothall Healthcare.

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