Ransomware attacks keep increasing day to day, and healthcare systems are one of the prime targets. Despite ongoing efforts to patch vulnerabilities, the problem persists. What's more important, healthcare services cannot afford any downtime, and because these systems need to be online and working at all times, victims usually pay the ransom.
Many believe patching is a line of defense that stops ransomware in its tracks, but patching has gradually reached its threshold of limitations. Most healthcare IT systems are amalgamating old legacy technology, critical life-supporting medical devices, and modern infrastructure, making it very difficult to implement patching. Patching is very risk-prone and might involve downtime, which affects patient service.
The recommended strategy is implementing advanced threat protection (ATP) solutions to provide an extra layer of security. Instead of waiting for a patch that will fix a vulnerability, ATP systems can detect emergent threats in real-time, offering a proactive approach to defense.
Security in healthcare must go beyond patching and involve a more strategic approach. This can be shown by the ever-increasing pressure placed by regulatory bodies, such as DHHS, to even further restrict cybersecurity guidelines for providers. Patch management falls under compliance, but it seems obvious that a more encompassing proactive approach to security must be enacted if patient data and operations are to be secured.