Securing Healthcare Data: The Vital Role of Intellectual Property in Your Protection Strategy

In an era where ransomware attacks on healthcare organizations have nearly doubled between 2016 and 2021, the inadequacy in preventing and detecting these cyber threats is alarming. While cybercriminals traditionally target patient data for its lucrative nature, intellectual property (IP) has emerged as an equally attractive objective. The repercussions of IP breaches extend beyond financial losses, encompassing compliance violations and hefty penalties that raise concerns among healthcare executives.

Healthcare Under Siege: The Ransomware Landscape

The healthcare sector, a continuous target for ransomware attacks, is witnessing a surge in both frequency and severity. Notably, groups like BlackCat/ALPHV have claimed high-profile victims, including McLaren Health Care, affecting 2.2 million customers with compromised billing information, social security numbers, and patient data. Prospect Medical Holdings and BSA Health Systems faced extensive attacks, leading to operational shutdowns and disruptions in patient care.

The Unseen Threat: Intellectual Property

Contrary to popular belief, patient data isn't always the primary focus of cyberattacks in healthcare. Intellectual property, encompassing patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, medical research, treatments, and technologies, remains a lucrative target for ransomware groups. As healthcare evolves towards personalization and connectivity, the protection of IP becomes paramount in safeguarding innovations such as medical devices and drugs. Additionally, IP plays a crucial role in incentivizing medical research and development.

Impact on Medical Advancements

Healthcare facilities rely on trademarks to protect their brand and generate revenue through licensing agreements. Stolen or leaked healthcare IP has distressing consequences on physicians, patients, and cross-licensing partnerships. During critical times like the COVID-19 pandemic, IP theft posed a significant threat to vaccine research and development. Compromised IP hinders progress in medicine, science, and healthcare innovation, influencing the pharmaceutical market and vaccine manufacturing technology.

Facing the Challenge: Data Protection Strategies

A proactive approach is crucial in addressing cyber threats and IP theft in healthcare. Implementing multilayered security strategies, including firewalls, access controls, multifactor authentication, patch management, and email security, forms a robust defense against adversaries. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) adds an additional layer, continuously monitoring endpoint devices for suspicious activities and enabling rapid response to threats.

Data encryption is a fundamental security measure, making unauthorized access to information significantly more challenging. Healthcare institutions can further bolster their defenses by maintaining multiple backup copies in different locations, encrypting all backups, and diligently scanning for malware and vulnerabilities.

The Solution: Acronis Cyber Protect

For comprehensive cyber protection, healthcare organizations can turn to Acronis Cyber Protect. This integrated solution unifies data protection and cybersecurity, offering advanced antivirus, backup, disaster recovery, and endpoint protection powered by AI. With Acronis Cyber Protect, healthcare entities can fortify their defenses, ensuring the security of patient data and safeguarding critical intellectual property against evolving cyber threats.

Act decisively to protect your organization from the ever-growing threats posed by ransomware and intellectual property theft. Acronis Cyber Protect is your ally in fortifying healthcare security, ensuring the confidentiality of patient data and preserving the advancements critical to medical innovation. Take the proactive step towards a resilient and secure healthcare environment—choose Acronis Cyber Protect today. Your organization's security is too vital to delay.

By proactively partnering with Acronis and the 4Sight Channel Partner Cluster, your organization can, protect your valuable data assets, and maintain the trust of your customers. Act now and fortify your cybersecurity defences to ensure a resilient and secure future for your business contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to sign up as a 4Sight Channel Partner.