Cybersecurity at Healthcare companies

Cybersecurity at Healthcare companies

Digital technologies make it easier and more efficient to deliver patient care and provide better outcomes. However, the rise of digital technologies and the growing interconnectedness between different healthcare systems come with increasing healthcare cybersecurity threats.

Weak cybersecurity measures expose companies to serious risk. Victim companies suffer operationally, as systems are rendered unusable. In addition, it affects your reputation, because customers lose trust. And, since the regulators are strict, they end up legally affected, too.

The healthcare industry is particularly vulnerable because it uses extremely sensitive data. For example, pharmaceutical companies store proprietary scientific data and intellectual property. Medical device companies develop systems that interface such devices with physician, patient, and medical entity data collection.

Additionally, operational functions are often literally matters of life and death. Breaches in healthcare and pharma cost more than those in almost any other industry.

After Covid-19, healthcare cybersecurity risk is higher than ever

Cyberattacks grabbed headlines throughout 2021 as hacking and IT incidents affected government agencies, major companies, and even supply chains for essential goods, like gasoline.  For healthcare, this year was even more turbulent as cybercriminals took advantage of hospitals and healthcare systems responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.

More than one health care provider was forced to cancel surgeries, radiology exams, and other services, because their systems, software, and/or networks had been disabled

The COVID-19 crisis will continue to test the resiliency of the global healthcare industry.

What can healthcare organizations do to address the challenges?

Strategies include the following:

  • Implementing cybersecurity technology
  • Building a talent pool of professionals skilled in healthcare cybersecurity. Do you know about cybersecurity skills?
  • Developing a healthcare cybersecurity strategy focused on patient privacy protection
  • Addressing vulnerabilities in legacy systems in healthcare
  • Keeping tabs of new developments to understand information technology (IT) challenges

By introducing cybersecurity as a value proposition and formulating clear action plans, healthcare organizations can meet cybercriminals fully armed — and give them a worthy response. See how Soffid can help you stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving digital world. Let’s talk!

Sources:
(1) Security Magazine
(2) Contentsecurity.com
(3) Infosecuritymagazine
(4) Forbes

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Social Media Data Leaks: an increasingly data theft

Social Media Data Leaks: an increasingly data theft

Personal data leaks have occurred to both large and small businesses. In addition, it happens very frequently, more and more in recent years.

Most of them are a consequence of cyber-attacks on networks or e-commerce security breaches. Incidents such as these can devastate a company.

Why do social networks allow data leaks?

Social media platforms are a primary security weak point for businesses due to data leaks. Social media is quickly turning into a primary security weak point. A single data breach within one of the social media networks can result in millions of records being stolen.

Social media is one area where security teams have faced a steep learning curve. Beyond the fact that through LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter employees can connect with each other, social networks have another attraction for companies.

For example, to take advantage of social media platforms as tools to carry out brand recognition, customer service, advertising and recruitment processes. Yet every user on every platform presents a social media risk to security professionals. And the risks are many.

One of the most affected sectors during the pandemic was the health sector. Know the key points of healthcare cybersecurity.

Top areas for attention

  • Account tracking
  • Conduct regular security and privacy reviews
  • Keep access up-to-date
  • Use a Virtual Private Network
  • Ensure adequate device protection
  • Monitor your social media channels
  • Employee training is crucial
  • Beware of third-party apps

At the same time as the rapid growth of technology occurred, social networks increased in popularity. The fundamental reason for this is the ability of networks to connect people.

Because it provided an ideal platform to connect with your friends, family and colleagues. Since it provided an ideal platform to connect with your friends, family and colleagues.

The information shared in social network spreads fast, almost instantaneously. For that reason, it attractive for attackers to gain information.

The secrecy and security of social media platforms must be consulted from various positions. There are many security and privacy issues related to shared user information. Especially when a user uploads personal content like photos, videos, and audios.

Finally, the attacker can maliciously use shared information for illegitimate purposes. See how Soffid can help you stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving digital world. Let’s talk?

Sources:
(1) techtarget.com
(2) https://link.springer.com/
(3) Forbes

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Cybersecurity into the company ‘s DNA

Cybersecurity into the company ‘s DNA

The company of today, both private and public, face a daunting variety of threats to cybersecurity. A cyber attack can threaten the very existence of an organization. And even the jobs of some of its C-suite officers. But the response doesn’t rest solely on a building a better technical solution: we need to create a cyber-secure culture.

Given the overwhelming reality of the resources and time already being devoted to a company’s security strategy, an important question arises:

How can organizations begin to realistically embed security into the DNA of an enterprise?

In this sense, Research by the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) made a suggestion. That multiple interrelated factors need to be considered when attempting to change an organisation’s security culture.

Cybersecurity company : what is “security culture”?

Contrary to what most think, it is the ideas, customs and social behaviors of an organization that influence its security. It is the most important element in an organization’s security strategy.

And for good reason: The security culture of an organization is foundational to protect information, data and employee and customer privacy.

In the first place, not all people learn in the same way. For that reason, every organisation and every audience is different when it comes to learning. In this case, we believe that a human-centred approach to security, using high impact interventions, can accelerate positive security culture change.

During the pandemic, some industries and organizations have seen their security cultures stagnate or decline. As many organizations transitioned to a work-from-home model, new security concerns emerged. For that reason, the communication and education becoming somewhat more challenging.

How to Support A Strong Security Culture

There are some practical steps organizations can take to develop a strong security culture across seven distinct dimensions:

  • Attitudes: Employee feelings and beliefs about security protocols and issues.
  • Behaviors: Employee actions that impact security directly or indirectly.
  • Cognition: Employee understanding, knowledge and awareness of security issues and activities.
  • Communication: How well communication channels promote a sense of belonging and offer support related to security issues and incident reporting.
  • Compliance: Employee knowledge and support of security policies.
  • Norms: Employee knowledge and adherence to unwritten rules of conduct related to security.
  • Responsibilities: How employees perceive their role as a critical factor in helping or harming security.

With this in mind, view the Strategic Cybersecurity Skills

In that case, we can help you build a solid security culture in your organization, let’s talk?

Sources:
(1) Forbes
(2) Security Magazine

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The Strategic of Cybersecurity Skills

The Strategic of Cybersecurity Skills

Evidence suggests there is a global cybersecurity skills shortage affecting businesses and governments alike. Which means that organizations are struggling to fill their cybersecurity vacancies.

With the volume and severity of breaches in recent years, it’s unsurprising that businesses are now recognising the risk. As a result they begin to respond accordingly.

In fact, global security spending is predicted to reach $1.75 trillion by 2025. To many, this might seem like a positive step – but we need to consider where that money is going.

A very common tactic adopted by organizations is to throw money at the problem. But it’s proven to be ineffective and can end up making the problem worse. By deploying hundreds of disparate security products to tackle individual weaknesses, the business can become overwhelmed. At the same time, teams will miss the bigger picture.

The importance of workforce

Security awareness training usually takes a fixed approach where one cyber threat is tackled at a time. Workers are not taught to defend the company from threats. Instead, they train themselves with multiple-choice questions that they can easily forget.

It bears no relevance to the role these workers will play in the midst of a crisis. And treats them like vulnerabilities – not defensive assets.

Each member of the workforce has value to add. So instead of these outdated and ineffective methods, organisations need to focus on three simple factors. With this in mind, they can develop the cyber capabilities of their entire workforce. Those factors are: exercising, evidencing and equipping.

In other words:

  • continually benchmark the knowledge, skills, and judgement of the workforce;
  • demonstrate risk levels across all business functions by using data gathered from simulations;
  • and use regular cyber exercises to plug any skill gaps. These criteria are critical.

New strategies needed to close the cybersecurity skills gap

Cyber ​​criminals have exploited the security vacuum created by the shift from secure, centralized office IT systems to worked from home. That is so because of the connection between a large constellation of personal devices such as people.

In the first half of 2021, cyber attacks rose 93%, compared to the same period last year. An astonishing figure given that 2020 was already breaking cyber crime records.

Cyber security challenges will only become more complex, which means we need to be proactive. It takes time to educate and train highly skilled professionals, and time to gain practical working experience.

One of the key points of the Strategic of Cybersecurity Skills is the Social media data leaks.

If we are going to realistically meet these mounting challenges, we must find ways to bridge the cyber skills gap.

By casting our nets wide and leaving no stone unturned, we can build a workforce that is capable of meeting the cyber security challenges of tomorrow.

See how Soffid can help you stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving digital world. Share your requirements and a representative will follow up to discuss how Soffid can help secure your organization.

Sources:
(1) computerweekly.com
(2) cybereason.comPicture:

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Password security : Are passwords becoming a weak spot at companies?

Password security : Are passwords becoming a weak spot at companies?

Passwords are designed to give you access to an online world while companies protecting your informationHowever, password security can lead to attacks. This first point of cybersecurity is becoming a weak spot that can involve dire consequences if unaddressed for companies.

Relying on passwords for security has become increasingly problematic. Devising and remembering a complex password for every account and website is virtually impossible on your own. But using weak and simple passwords is a recipe for data breaches, account takeovers, and other forms of cyberattack.

Password security and Reports tell us about the situation…

For its report The misfortunate passwords of Fortune 500 companies, NordPass researchers analyzed data from public third-party breaches that affected companies. The data included details from more than 15 million breaches across 17 different industries.

The researchers looked at the top 10 passwords used in each industry. In addition the percentile of unique passwords, and the number of data breaches that hit each sector.

The word “password” is still being used, and misused as the most common password across all industries. Including retail and e-commerce, energy, technology, finances, and even IT and technology. Among other passwords in the top ten list, some common choices were “123456,” “Hello123,” and “sunshine.”

According to a Verizon report, more than 80 per cent of data breaches occur from weak or compromised passwords. Because creating the likelihood of an ongoing vulnerability regardless of how much technology is deployed to defeat hackers.

Certified cybersecurity. Multifactor authentication

Education and awareness are becoming more crucial in cyber security, especially in SMEs.

Two-factor authentication is great but you need to educate people about it because most employees complain about it.

The term “two-factor authentication” refers to a second step to confirm who you are. An additional layer of protection will, by default, provide more security than a single barrier.

The easiest way to “lock the door” on technology is employing multi-factor authentication. This security measure requires users to present at least two pieces of evidence before gaining access to a server, device, database or software program. A cybercriminal who has obtained a user’s username and password will not be able to access the system. You would still need to have access to that person’s unlocked cell phone or email to get an urgent verification code.

Especially, to avoid Data Leaks on Social Networks.

See how Soffid can help you stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving digital world. Share your requirements and a representative will follow up to discuss how Soffid can help secure your organization.