Cyber-armour for a healthcare industry under attack

May 2024 Information Security, Healthcare (Industry)


Armand Kruger.

In the wake of recent large-scale ransomware attacks targeting the healthcare sector, the vulnerabilities within the industry are starkly evident. Malicious actors have exploited compromised credentials, a clear and present danger when healthcare providers' reliance on remote access software allows adversaries to disguise themselves as legitimate users and gain unauthorised access to critical environments.

A prime example is the breach at UnitedHealth, where compromised credentials were abused to infiltrate Internet-facing remote access services. South African healthcare organisations are not immune and, similarly, need proactive measures to enhance cybersecurity posture and mitigate the risk of ransomware attacks.

Collaborate for greater safety

These escalating cyber-threats necessitate urgent collaborative efforts between government agencies, private organisations, cybersecurity experts, policymakers, and industry leaders. These players must prioritise investments and initiatives aimed at safeguarding patient, provider and insurer data and infrastructure.

Implementing a ruthless privileged access model and engaging competent managed security providers (MSPs) with razor-like precision in removing adversaries' access are critical steps in mitigating these risks. Sharing knowledge and lessons learned from past breaches is also vital for proactive threat anticipation and containment.

Proactive measures for enhancement

There are some critical steps healthcare players can take today to fortify cybersecurity defences. NEC XON employs Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) to monitor customer environments from the adversary's perspective, promptly resetting compromised credentials and removing Internet-facing systems to limit exposure. Our Managed Detection and Response (MDR) team monitors internal anomalies and traces them back to their source, enhancing our ability to counter evolving threats. Here is a specific list of the tactics NEC XON teams employ in protecting customer systems:

• Minimise external exposure: Only expose systems, applications, or services to the Internet if absolutely necessary. Remove any unnecessary Internet-facing elements from your infrastructure to reduce the attack surface.

• Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Ensure that all Internet-facing systems, applications, and services have MFA enabled. This includes requiring MFA for third-party contractors, suppliers, and vendors accessing your network.

• Enforce MFA for internal logins: Implement MFA for all internal application logins to limit the ability of attackers to pivot within the environment. This includes custom applications such as electronic medical record (EMR) systems, network devices, databases, ERP systems, payroll systems, backup systems, ordering systems, and payment processing systems.

• Adopt a strict privileged access model: Reduce privileged access roles to limit lateral movement opportunities for adversaries. Implementing a strict privileged access model helps mitigate the risk of unauthorised access and reduces the blast radius in the event of a breach.

• Deploy Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Solutions: Ensure all servers and workstations have fully functional EDR solutions installed to detect abnormal activities. Modern adversaries are adept at blending in with legitimate IT professionals, making detection challenging. EDR solutions help identify and respond to suspicious behaviour promptly.

• Establish robust backup processes: Implement a robust and isolated backup process that includes key systems such as Active Directory, EMR systems, and other line of business (LOB) solutions. Regularly test backup restoration procedures to ensure data integrity and minimise downtime in the event of a ransomware attack.

• Engage a competent managed security provider (MSP): Partner with a competent MSP that understands and studies modern adversaries, their tactics, techniques, and procedures. An MSP focused on continuous threat detection and removal can enhance your organisation's cybersecurity posture and response capabilities.

Proactive measures, collaboration, and investments in cybersecurity are imperative to safeguard South Africa's healthcare sector against cyber threats. Patient data safety is non-negotiable–direct damage to involved parties is potentially huge, and indirect reputational damage is almost impossible to restore once the genie is out of the proverbial bottle.


Credit(s)




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Highest increase in global cyberattacks in two years
Information Security News & Events
Check Point Global Research released new data on Q2 2024 cyber-attack trends, noting a 30% global increase in Q2 2024, with Africa experiencing the highest average weekly per organisation.

Read more...
Open source code can also be open risk
Information Security Infrastructure
Software development has changed significantly over the years, and today, open-source code increasingly forms the foundation of modern applications, with surveys indicating that 60 – 90% of the average application's code base consists of open-source components.

Read more...
DeepSneak deception
Information Security News & Events
Kaspersky Global Research & Analysis researchers have discovered a new malicious campaign which is distributing a Trojan through a fake DeepSeek-R1 Large Language Model (LLM) app for PCs.

Read more...
SA’s strained, loadshedding-prone grid faces cyberthreats
Power Management Information Security
South Africa’s energy sector, already battered by decades of underinvestment and loadshedding, faces another escalating crisis; a wave of cyberthreats that could turn disruptions into catastrophic failures. Attacks are already happening internationally.

Read more...
Almost 50% of companies choose to pay the ransom
News & Events Information Security
This year’s Sophos State of Ransomware 2025 report found that nearly 50% of companies paid the ransom to get their data back, the second-highest rate of ransom payment for ransom demands in six years.

Read more...
Survey highlights cost of cyberdamage to industrial companies
Kaspersky Information Security News & Events
The majority of industrial organisations estimate their financial losses caused by cyberattacks to be over $1 million, while almost one in four report losses exceeding $5 million, and for some, it surpasses $10 million.

Read more...
Digital economy needs an agile approach to cybersecurity
Information Security News & Events
South Africa is the most targeted country in Africa when it comes to infostealer and ransomware attacks. Being at the forefront of the continent’s digital transformation puts South Africa in the crosshairs for sophisticated cyberattacks

Read more...
SIEM rule threat coverage validation
Information Security News & Events
New AI-detection engineering assistant from Cymulate automates SIEM rule validation for SecOps and blue teams by streamlining threat detection engineering with automated testing, control integrations and enhanced detections.

Read more...
Cybersecurity a challenge in digitalising OT
Kaspersky Information Security Industrial (Industry)
According to a study by Kaspersky and VDC Research on securing operational technology environments, the primary risks are inadequate security measures, insufficient resources allocated to OT cybersecurity, challenges surrounding regulatory compliance, and the complexities of IT/OT integration.

Read more...
Safer spaces through smart surveillance
NEC XON Surveillance
Advances in facial recognition technology are transforming surveillance from a mere recording tool into an intelligent, integrated system that enhances real-time safety, moving beyond the traditional expansion of CCTV efforts.

Read more...










While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd. | All Rights Reserved.