More than 1 in 3 health care organizations globally reported being hit by ransomware in 2020. The extent and impact of a successful attack can be huge. More than 600 U.S. health care organizations and more than 18 million patient records were affected in 2020 alone at an estimated cost of nearly $21 billion, according to one study.
Hospitals can help defend themselves against cybercriminals by:
- Having strong firewalls
- Frequently updating antivirus software
- Backing up files using the 3-2-1 approach (saving three copies of critical data in at least two different formats and storing one copy offline)
- Segmenting networks into smaller sections that can be isolated
- Educating staff about the telltale signs of phishing emails that hide malicious code
Interested in learning more? Join the AAMC for a webinar on April 21 to learn more about the growing threat of ransomware attacks on academic medical centers. John Riggi, senior advisor for cybersecurity and risk at the American Hospital Association, will highlight recent cyber-attacks on academic health systems, the methodologies used to conduct the attacks, and the impact. He will focus on how cybersecurity is not just an IT issue but an enterprise risk management issue impacting all functions, including patient care and safety. Register here for this free webinar.
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Penny Schnarrs
Virtual Communities Program Manager
Association of American Medical Colleges
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