Why Giving Your Healthcare Staff the Right Mobile Phones Prevents Costly Cyberattacks

Original Post Date:  January 11, 2022

Healthcare organizations continue to be a prime target for cyberattacks. There are many reasons healthcare is

an attractive target for cybercriminals. At the top of the list is the value of the information collected by healthcare organizations, including patients’ Protected Health Information (PHI), financial information including credit card and bank account numbers, social security numbers, and even critical information related to medical research and innovation.

Additionally, the way that hospital staff must constantly access and use information makes it an easier target. Staff are now using mobile devices like smartphones on the job, and the increased connectivity that mobile solutions offer significantly broadens the digital surface area for cyberattacks. And the situation becomes more dangerous if healthcare providers have BYOD (bring your own device) policies in place, as these devices tend to be less secure and more difficult to monitor and manage than enterprise devices.

Healthcare workers increasingly access EHRs via mobile devices and applications that need to be continually updated with advanced security measures. It is easy for IT departments with constrained budgets to overlook an update or fall behind given the number of apps and mobile devices in use at any given time. One vulnerability on one mobile device or application can open the door for a criminal to seize thousands, if not millions, of patient records.

Let’s look at some of the startling statistics about cyberattacks in the healthcare industry.

• 66% of healthcare organizations were impacted by ransomware attacks in 2021. And, according to a recent CBS News report, 299 US hospitals were hit with ransomware in 2023 as of the end of November.
• In 2023, over 65 ransomware attacks affected 1,568 medical organizations, leading to 7.3 million breached patient records

Private health records are also far more lucrative than credit card information. Stolen health records can sell up to 10x more than stolen credit card numbers on the dark web. And, a complete electronic health record can fetch upwards of $1,000 in ransom. To put into perspective just how valuable that is, a single data breach at Florida Healthy Kids saw over three million records stolen.

Aside from the cost of the ransom, which about a third of organizations simply paid, there is the additional cost of lawsuits. Health records are highly sensitive. In fact, their privacy is a civil right. Loss of that data could have legal consequences when it comes to violations of privacy policies and data regulations set forth by HIPAA and GDPR.

Cyberattacks Cost Hospitals More Than Just Money

A single cyberattack can cause a 20% increase in mortality rates. Healthcare organizations also reported longer lengths of stay or delays in procedures that lead to poor outcomes following cyberattacks.

In the event of a data breach, hospitals need to adjust their operations to circumvent hacked devices. Operations are slowed because this is not a normal part of operations (staff are not usually trained to enact a cyberattack protocol). And, the hospital’s reputation can take a hit, causing significant financial ramifications.

Preventing Cyberattacks Through Improved Healthcare Mobility Technology

The right enterprise-grade mobile solution can help to minimize the risk of cyberattacks in a number of ways. While many hospitals may think a BYOD practice is the cheapest solution, consumer devices are much more susceptible to these costly cyber attacks. Additionally, if these devices that are used to care for patients are the same ones that are being brought home for personal use at the end of the shift, it is much easier for sensitive data to be accessed through unsecure Wi-Fi networks. This is why investing in an enterprise mobility solution becomes critical. Not only are these devices designed specifically for the rigors and workflows of demanding healthcare environments, but they are much less susceptible to cyber attacks, and are easier to monitor by Telecomm and IT Teams.

Spectralink’s Versity family of healthcare smartphones are built on top of Google’s robust Android platform, and in fact are certified as “Android Enterprise Recommended” for meeting the strictest security standards.  These devices are designed for healthcare-specific and HIPAA-compliant applications. They also leverage Qualcomm’s secure chipset platforms that protect data at rest and in motion.

Mobility management solutions like Spectralink’s AMIE® also give your IT department the ability to quickly identify and lock lost or stolen devices. A recent report showed that 68% of healthcare data breaches were due to the loss or theft of mobile devices.

AMIE also helps to ensure your mobile network (which accounts for a significant portion of your digital perimeter) can easily be updated with the most advanced security measures. AMIE also allows administrators to control and monitor the apps loaded onto their organization’s devices and limit open internet access.

Contact us to learn more about how our mobile devices and AMIE platform can help protect your healthcare operation from cyberattacks.