How Rural Healthcare Providers Can Fight Ransomware Threats

Rural hospitals play a critical role in serving a widely distributed population over large areas. According to data derived from the 2020 national census, rural hospital networks in the United States are primarily responsible for the care of 46 million people, comprising 13.8 percent of the population. They also play a major economic role, with analysis showing them providing one in every 12 jobs in the U.S.

Unfortunately, rural hospitals have also become prime targets for ransomware attacks, in which attackers take control of systems and demand payment in exchange for preserving or restoring critical business operations. Bad actors exploit the fact that patients’ lives are on the line to coerce hospital administrations into giving in to these ransom demands. Limited resources, outdated infrastructure and staffing shortages contribute to making rural healthcare providers prime targets for such attacks.

What is Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS)?

Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) is of particular concern to rural hospital networks. This is a cybercrime business model in which ransomware developers sell code or malware to other hackers, known as affiliates, who then use the code to initiate their own ransomware attacks.  

RaaS kits allow affiliates lacking the skill or time to develop their own ransomware variant to get up and running with limited overhead. These kits can be found on the dark web and some even include 24/7 support, bundled offers, user reviews and other features like legitimate SaaS products. By making it easier for underskilled threat actors to launch ransomware attacks, RaaS represents an outsized part of overall threat landscape.

So how can rural healhcare providers and hospitals defend themselves from ransomware attacks? 

Data security best practices for rural hospital networks

Budgetary shortfalls are at the root of many of the problems that rural hospitals face; it’s worth acknowledging that successfully implementing all these practices requires sufficient funding. And if you're interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the funding challenges rural hospitals face, then listening to our podcast interview with Joshua Corman is time well spent. 

Knowing what the risks are and what can be done to counter them can put administrators in a stronger position for navigating the appropriations process.

1- Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring multiple forms of verification before granting access to systems and data. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, even if login credentials are compromised.

2- Regularly update and patch systems: Keeping software and systems up to date is critical in defending against cyberattacks. Regular updates and patches ensure that vulnerabilities are addressed promptly, reducing the risk of exploitation.

3- Implement employee training and awareness programs: Training employees to recognize phishing attempts, suspicious emails and other cyber threats can significantly reduce the risk of a breach. Ongoing cybersecurity training and awareness programs empower staff to identify and respond to potential threats.

4- Develop and test incident response plans: Having a well-defined incident response plan is essential for quickly addressing and mitigating the impact of a cyberattack. Regular testing and updating of these plans ensure they remain effective and relevant.

5- Utilize advanced threat detection tools: Advanced threat detection tools, such as Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solutions, help identify and respond to cyber threats in real time. These tools provide valuable insights into network activity and can alert administrators to potential security incidents.

6- Foster collaboration and information sharing: Encouraging collaboration between rural health care organizations, government agencies, and cybersecurity experts fosters information sharing and the exchange of best practices. This can be facilitated through regional or national health care cybersecurity forums, workshops, and online platforms.

Special solutions for specialized security needs

Rural hospitals face unique data security challenges, but by following these best practices, institutions can significantly harden their defenses against ransomware and other cyberattacks. Taken together, these form the foundation of a security strategy that will help ensure the resilience of healthcare operations, safeguarding patient data and maintaining trust with the larger rural community.

Now, let’s look at how Forcepoint can help protect hospitals and healthcare organizations win this fight.

Forcepoint solutions offer comprehensive data protection for healthcare

Rural hospital networks must prioritize the integrity of sensitive data, particularly Personal Health Information (PHI) protected under regulations such as HIPAA. Forcepoint offers data security solutions that can empower healthcare providers to block ransomware and prevent data loss, ensuring uninterrupted care for patients.

• Forcepoint Email Security: Hackers exploit email more than any other channel, so one of the best defenses is to stop phishing attacks at the source. We designed email security to provide protection against a wide range of email-based threats to detect and block suspicious and risky emails before they reach users.
• Forcepoint Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Our DLP offers comprehensive protection against data breaches by identifying and securing sensitive information across email, web, cloud and endpoint channels. This empowers security teams to identify and remediate incidents from a single dashboard, as well as to use automated policy adjustments and enforcement to prevent data loss in real time.
• Forcepoint Data Security Posture Management (DSPM): You can’t protect data that you don’t know about, which is why Forcepoint DSPM starts with data discovery and classification to provide visibility and control over data throughout your organization. Admins can use the unified dashboard to remediate access issues, revoking inappropriate permissions and curtailing data duplication.
• Forcepoint Data Detection & Response (DDR): This add-on for Forcepoint DSPM uses AI-powered classification and continuous monitoring for dynamic detection and prevention of data exfiltration. Admins can leverage this to stop breaches in progress and shine a light on insider threats.
• Forcepoint Web Security: Forcepoint Web Security provides advanced threat protection and real-time content filtering against web-based attacks. It blocks malware infections and data theft by monitoring and controlling web traffic, with advanced capabilities such as Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) to allow safe access to even risky websites. 

Forcepoint solutions provide reliable security to keep your PHI and PII safe, but there’s nothing like trying out a product yourself to find out how it works. Talk to an expert today to register for a demo and see the Forcepoint difference firsthand.