Insider cybersecurity threats are a legitimate concern for healthcare businesses attempting to succeed in 2022. When businesses take precautions against cyber threats, they usually envision exterior hackers breaking into sensitive accounts and stealing data. External cyber attacks do happen, but most people involved in healthcare cybersecurity underestimate the risks of insider attacks.
Managing the Risks of Insider Cybersecurity Threats
The Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center reported that 30 healthcare companies experienced insider cyber breaches in March 2022 alone. Likewise, if your insurance clients aren’t knowledgeable about their risks, share these simple tips for reducing their insider threats.
Stay Vigilant for Disgruntled Employees
The Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center found that the majority of insider threats do not come from people who want to cause their businesses harm. Still, malicious attacks do happen. Business owners must stay aware of employees angry about a missed job opportunity or another slight, particularly if these workers have access to confidential information.
Offer Regular Training
For attacks that aren’t malicious, education is the best way to reduce the risk of insider cyber threats. Additionally, employees should attend meetings twice a year to retrain password best practices, such as using a variety of characters and changing passwords regularly.
These meetings should also explain how insider actions can threaten healthcare cybersecurity. Then, business owners or IT experts should provide data on how often insider breaches occur and the effects. They should also emphasize that negligence or lack of awareness can be as harmful as malicious attacks. Without becoming too defensive, the business’s human resource team should outline the consequences for knowingly or unknowingly causing a data breach.
Limit the Dissemination of Sensitive Information
By their nature, healthcare businesses have access to lots of their clients’ sensitive information:
- Birthdates
- Addresses
- Medical histories
- Medications
- Email addresses
- Phone numbers
At the same time, every employee does not need access to this information. Limiting the number of workers who can view client profiles on the customer relationship management platform reduces the chances that someone will leak confidential information.
Standardize a Zero-Trust Security Model
Under a zero-trust security model, every employee has to regularly provide their credentials, regardless of their time at the company and job title. Every time employees want to access information. They must input their passwords and, preferably, complete some form of two-factor authentication. These safety mechanisms reduce the chances of negligent healthcare cybersecurity events. They also help prevent threats from outsiders.
Track Employees’ Online Actions
Businesses can install security information and event management programs on their employees’ devices to track their activities. The SIEM program notes employees’ interactions with their CRM and other company interfaces. Thus, the IT team can review the SIEM log and identity what went wrong.
