Blog

Cyberattacks on the healthcare sector are rising and becoming more sophisticated today, and big hospitals and small private clinics are both targets. Just in the past three years, more than 93% of healthcare companies have suffered a data breach. There has also been a 45% increase in cyberattacks targeting healthcare organizations globally since November 2020.
Why do cybercriminals target the healthcare industry?
Cybercriminals target healthcare companies because they store large amounts of protected health information (PHI) such as medical records, Social Security numbers, credit card details, and other similar data.

A year ago, no one could have predicted that countless businesses would shift to a remote work model. The pandemic hit hard and fast, and small businesses had to think on their toes. Many had only a few weeks to adapt. It was stressful and extremely challenging.

In the United States, breaches of electronic protected health information (ePHI) affecting 500 or more people must be made public. The breaches reported in 2020 are as follows:

Cases currently under investigation

Type of breach
No. of cases from Jan.

With 2020 behind us and COVID-19 vaccine distribution under way, 2021 may prove to be the year in which New York and the Tri-State Area are revitalized, both in economic and in public health terms.

Undoubtedly, we want a return to certain parts of our way of life.

Digital platforms and applications now form a core part of modern business, with companies reliant on such tools for quality customer service and optimal employee performance. Damaged, breached, or outdated IT infrastructures can thus have crippling effects on an organization’s growth and client relationships, and in worst cases, shut down their business altogether.

Whether you’re celebrating the holidays at home or managing a business through to the new year, quality tech is vital to ensuring smooth communications, transactions, and online activity. Investing in the proper tools not only helps you better meet customer demands or family obligations, but also protects your data from cybercriminals taking advantage of online holiday activity.

New year, new technology! If your practice is still relying on older and aging technology, it’s time to think about updating that technology. As it ages, the effort to keep it running comes with many hidden costs. While it may seem financially savvy to keep older hardware and software running, you may be setting yourself up for major costs down the road.

Cybercriminals and hackers are rarely shy about the methods they use to attack their victims. Many of them are more than happy to share how they broke into a practice’s network or how they walked away with thousands of dollars after successfully extorting the owner of a practice whose company is now destroyed.

Black Friday is just around the corner, and with most people likely to do their shopping online because of the pandemic, cybercriminals will have plenty of potential targets. So it’s important to be aware of common fraud and phishing tactics and ensure all your online transactions are adequately secured.