5 Strategic Steps: How to Prevent Cyber Attacks in Healthcare

Episodes of care aren’t just encounters. They entail exchanging information, having open conversations about health, and collaborating to promote the best outcomes. What’s at the root of success in this context? A patient-provider relationship founded on trust—not only in the quality of healthcare provided, but also in the responsible management of sensitive information.

One notable risk of governing patient data safely? The growing trend of healthcare cybersecurity threats. One 2024 study discovered that 92% of healthcare organizations experienced at least one cybersecurity attack over a one-year period, up 88% from 2023.

Such vulnerabilities can compromise patient health information and personal data, undermining the confidence individuals place in your organization and the reputation you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

As patients count on you to manage their information safely, ask yourself: do you have proper systems in place to protect their data? Use these five strategic steps to ensure your entire team knows how to prevent cyber attacks in healthcare and safeguard your systems against healthcare cybersecurity threats.

1. Have a Data Protection Plan for Healthcare Cybersecurity

Patient data needs to be protected. There are many checkpoints that can be implemented to secure information, but you must first know what data you have, where it’s stored, and how your system operates. The right EHR platform encrypts data, audits activity, and guarantees secure information-sharing for practice collaboration.

Next, address access. Limit patient data access and only provide team member clearance at levels necessary to provide care. Additionally, staff should be trained to never share login credentials and report unauthorized access immediately. Advanced EHR platforms, like WRS Health, allow practices to configure custom permission structures, reducing the chance of data leaks or compromised patient information.

Underlying all of these checkpoints should be a process that regularly backs up data to allow for recovery in case of an issue. Also, ensure your organization has policies regarding data retention and discarding data.

2. Establish an Available—Yet Secure—Network

Your practice is only as secure as your network—one that ensures all connected systems are safe from healthcare cybersecurity threats. You can assess three main components of network security: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. As important as it is to keep unwanted bugs out of the system, authorized users need uninterrupted access. A secure network framework uses a combination of components like:

• Firewalls
• Intrusion prevention systems (IPS)
• Network access control (NAC)
• Security information and event management (SIEM)
• Data loss prevention (DLP)
• Antivirus/anti-malware software
• Email security
• Encryption
• Endpoint security
• Network segmentation
• Access control mechanisms

Each medical practice needs a different network security system. No matter your approach, your software and systems should be kept up to date for proper functionality.

3. Implement Standard User Practices to Prevent Healthcare Cybersecurity Threats

Your staff members are the first line of defense in any solid healthcare cybersecurity plan. When the whole team uses strong, unique passwords, and multi-factor authentication, the entire organization wins. This, along with ongoing training on how to prevent cyber attacks in healthcare, can increase your IT infrastructure’s stability. Training should cover identifying phishing and malware, refraining from using professional equipment for personal use, and how to safely connect to the internet and company’s systems.

4. Develop an Incident Response Plan

When it comes to healthcare cybersecurity threats, it’s crucial to be proactive—not reactive. Create a practice-wide protocol for incidents using these six core pillars of a successful and holistic cybersecurity program: preparation, detection, containment, investigation, remediation, and recovery. Every team member should be clear on their role in responding to cybersecurity incidents, understanding communication channels for notifying appropriate individuals promptly in the event of a healthcare cybersecurity breach.

Source: NIST SP 800-61 (Computer Security Incident Handling Guide)

5. Prioritize Compliance

Another key component to bolstering cybersecurity at your medical practice is complying with standards set by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Healthcare organizations should align their protocols with these regulations to meet them effectively. Further, reviewing and updating policies and procedures regularly can help you stay current with the latest requirements—a critical part of maintaining an effective system and avoiding any legal or financial consequences. Importantly, remaining compliant also means securely managing data flowing to or from any third-party vendors. Coordinate closely with your partners to ensure their systems are purpose-built for security and carefully monitored when accessing patient data.

WRS Health provides a full-service compliance solution for practices of every specialty. Find out more.

A More Secure Practice Is Within Reach

Protecting patient data and understanding how to prevent cyber attacks in healthcare are essential for maintaining the integrity of a digitally safe practice. By implementing these five strategic steps—focusing on data protection, network security, user practices, incident response planning, and compliance—you can significantly reduce the risk of healthcare cybersecurity threats and safeguard sensitive information. Set a practice goal to finetune your security systems and commit to continuous training, regular updates, and a proactive approach. Focusing on cybersecurity will strengthen your medical practice’s ability to handle potential breaches and protect both your patients and your organization.