Ransomware attacks are a nightmare. This type of malware encrypts your files and locks you out of your own devices and data. And they’re getting more frequent—by 2031, experts predict they’ll be happening every two seconds.
The healthcare industry is a prime target for these attacks—a whopping 67% of healthcare organizations were hit by healthcare ransomware in 2024. That’s alarming, especially when ransomware attacks are decreasing in other industries.
So, why is healthcare such a magnet for cyberattacks? And what can your healthcare organization do to protect itself from these cyber criminals?
This blog post dives deep into the world of cyberattacks in healthcare and offers strategies to keep your data and devices safe. Your healthcare organization can’t afford a breach—it’s time to take action.
The Anatomy of a Ransomware Attack
How It Starts
The bait: A ransomware attack often starts with a seemingly innocent email attachment or link disguised as an invoice, shipping document, or online file—something your employees see every day. These emails may even appear to come from a trusted vendor or even your own company, making them even harder to detect.
The infection: Once the unsuspecting user clicks on the attachment or link, their machine becomes infected with malware. Since most employee devices are connected to the network and shared cloud services, the malware quickly spreads, stealing sensitive patient data, login credentials, and other valuable information before encrypting it.
Ransom notice: Once the payload is dropped, a ransom note pops up on the user’s screen, demanding payment—usually in Bitcoin—in exchange for the decryption key. Some cybercriminals even offer “customer service” to help with the payment process.
Pay or restore: Now you’re faced with a difficult choice: pay the ransom and risk future attacks or restore your data from a backup (if you have one).
How Healthcare Ransomware Spreads
Cyber attackers are relentless in their pursuit to breach healthcare organizations. They use a variety of tactics to spread ransomware, including:
- Phishing emails: These emails, often targeting individuals in the US and UK, trick users into clicking on malicious links or downloading infected attachments.
- Drive-by downloads: Malicious code is downloaded and executed simply by visiting a compromised website, often without the user’s knowledge.
- Removable media: Infected USB drives, external hard drives, and other removable media can spread ransomware when connected to a computer.
- Cloud storage: Cyber attackers can also use cloud storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox to spread ransomware.
- Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP): RDP connections left open to the internet can be exploited by attackers to gain access to a network and deploy ransomware.
- Backdoors: These hidden files can be included in seemingly legitimate downloads, allowing attackers to maintain access to a system even after the initial infection.
Why Is Healthcare Data Frequently the Target of Ransomware Attacks?
Cyber attacks, and especially healthcare ransomware, are common for three reasons.
- Healthcare Uses Outdated Technology
Healthcare runs on legacy systems. According to The State of Ransomware in Healthcare 2024 by Sophos, outdated tech and infrastructure open doors for healthcare ransomware attackers. These aging systems make it harder to secure devices and stop cyber attacks in healthcare before they spread.
- Healthcare Data Is Valuable
The average healthcare security compromise costs $4.74 million. That’s a staggering amount—and it’s no surprise why. Recovering from a cyberattack in healthcare takes time, money, and resources. But the real reason healthcare is such a lucrative target? The data.
Healthcare organizations hold a treasure trove of information: patient data, Social Security numbers, financial details, and other Personally Identifiable Information (PII). For attackers, this data is gold. They can sell it on the dark web or even use it to blackmail patients.
- There’s a Ton of Healthcare Data
Healthcare generates an incredible 30% of the world’s data, and that number is only growing—with a staggering 36% annual growth rate expected in 2025. To put it into perspective, just one hospital produces around 50 petabytes of data per year.
It’s not just the value of healthcare data that makes it a target—it’s the sheer volume. For healthcare ransomware attackers, this abundance is like striking gold, giving them endless opportunities to exploit and disrupt.
How Has the Healthcare Industry Addressed Ransomware?
Despite the growing threat of healthcare ransomware attacks, the healthcare industry hasn’t yet reached a unified solution to tackle the problem. In the U.S., while 70% of hospital boards include cybersecurity in their risk management oversight, only 37% conduct incident response exercises. That leaves significant gaps in preparedness.
Here’s how organizations are taking steps to fight back against healthcare ransomware and reduce cyber attack vectors:
Backups
Backups are copies of files or data stored in a separate hard drive or cloud storage. When healthcare ransomware strikes, having reliable backups is your lifeline. Backups allow healthcare organizations to restore systems to their pre-attack state and minimize downtime. To get the most out of your backups, keep these best practices in mind:
- Integrity Verification: Regularly check that your backups are intact and free from corruption or malware for successful ransomware recovery.
- Security Isolation: Store backups on a separate network to keep them safe from ransomware infiltration.
- Regular Testing: Test your recovery process to ensure you can quickly restore systems when it matters most.
Network Segmentation
Ransomware loves to move across networks, but segmentation stops it in its tracks. By dividing networks into smaller sections, organizations can limit how far healthcare ransomware can spread. Here’s how it works:
- Containment of Spread: Ransomware attack damage can be limited by containing it within a specific network segment through network segmentation.
- Isolation of Critical Systems: Segmentation can isolate sensitive or critical information.
- Reduced Attack Surface: Network segmentation can make it more challenging
for ransomware to move laterally, and it limits entry points.
- Enhanced Access Control: Elevates access control to a granular level so each segment can have a unique set of permissions and rules.
- Improved Monitoring and Detection: Irregular behavior in one segment can be
more easily detected and allow for quicker response times.
- Backup Integrity: Network segmentation can isolate backups and make it more challenging for attackers to compromise backup data.
- Increased Recovery: With the impact of ransomware being limited to certain segments, other parts of the network can continue to function.
Endpoint Security
Individual devices like laptops and desktops are often the first targets in healthcare ransomware attacks. That’s why robust endpoint security is essential. Here’s what it offers:
- Automatic Updates & Patch Management: Regular updates and patching can address cybersecurity flaws before attackers can exploit them.
- Policy Enforcement: Endpoint security allows organizations to enforce policies across devices.
- Incident Response: In the event of a ransomware attack, endpoint security can provide information about the attack and improve response and containment measures.
How to Prevent Ransomware Attacks in Healthcare
Weak passwords, phishing attempts, and failure to patch are often the root cause of healthcare ransomware attacks. Here are the practices organizations can employ daily to stop ransomware attacks:
- Understand Your Data and Secure Backups
- Assess risk
- Know your data lifecycle
- Inventory Protected Health Information (PHI)
- Encrypt your data
- Encrypt, isolate, and test backups for recovery
- Implement Strong Password and Encryption Practices
- Use strong, complex passwords
- Rotate passwords more frequently
- Secure key management
- Develop a solid encryption strategy
- Secure databases and rotate passwords for users, admins, and service accounts
- Strengthen Endpoint Security and Vulnerability Management
- Ensure endpoint saturation with antivirus, encryption, VPNs, and mobile device management (MDM)
- Update antivirus/anti-malware configurations properly
- Scan for vulnerabilities and remediate them promptly
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Single Sign-On (SSO) for critical applications
- Enhance Malware Defenses and Phishing Training
- Block most malware with content filtering
- Add known bad IPs and domains in real-time
- Consider geo-blocking
- Train staff to spot phishing attempts and how to report them effectively
- Review and Harden Systems Regularly
- Monitor user activity and prune unnecessary accounts
- Harden operating systems by disabling unused services and closing ports
- Patch systems immediately and stay up to date on patching practices
- Limit Data Retention and Monitor Risks
- Retain only the data you need by following retention policies
- Implement data segmentation strategies
- Use a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system
- Tune alert thresholds to align with risk levels
- Prepare for the Worst with Incident Response Planning
- Retain a forensics firm in case of an incident
- Obtain appropriate cyber insurance
- Build a relationship with a healthcare attorney
- Subscribe to threat intelligence sources like H-ISAC
- Adopt Cloud Solutions and Architect for Security
- Consider cloud adoption if not already in the cloud
- Architect systems to segment data and reduce the blast radius of potential cyber attacks in healthcare
- Use DevSecOps best practices
- Conduct regular risk assessments to identify and address vulnerabilities
Best Practice Checklist for Providers
Providers and hospitals are the primary targets of healthcare ransomware attacks. Here are the best practices you should implement:
Establish and practice out-of-band, non-VoIP, communications
Rehearse IT lockdown protocol and process, including practicing backups
Ensure backup of medical records and EMR data, including a 321-backup strategy
Expedite patching response plan (IRP) within 24 hours
Prepare to maintain continuity of operations if attacked
Review plans within 24 hours of being hit
Power down IT where it’s not being used
Consider limiting the use of personal email
Be prepared to reroute patients if care is disrupted
Ensure proper staffing for continuity
Know how to contact federal authorities when phones are down, or email has been wiped
Consider limiting/powering down non-essential internet-facing IT services
Limit personal email services
Report all potentially related cyber incidents
Protect Your Healthcare Organization From Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware is a serious threat to healthcare organizations, but taking proactive steps can make all the difference.
That’s where ClearDATA comes in. Our advanced threat detection and prevention services are built to protect your organization from ransomware attacks. With 24/7 security monitoring, real-time threat intelligence, and automated remediation powered by our CyberHealth™ platform, we help you safeguard sensitive patient data while staying compliant with healthcare regulations.
Ready to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals? Partner with ClearDATA and talk to our cloud security experts. They’ll help prevent healthcare ransomware attacks before they disrupt your organization.
