January 08, 2025 5m read

Under Siege: Ransomware and Healthcare 

Christopher Rudolph
Christopher Rudolph
Ransomware_and_Healthcare

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 It’s becoming all too common these days: ransomware hitting another organization. However, most people don’t know exactly what happens when ransomware is found and what must be addressed. What makes it even more challenging for healthcare is that the data that can be stolen, like personal health information, is much more valuable than credit card numbers. When ransomware hits a hospital or clinic, it can drastically impact the level of care for patients; in one case, it caused the tragic death of an infant. In this blog, we will introduce what happens during a healthcare ransomware event, the real damage done, and how to prevent another ransomware event from occurring. 

What Happens in a Healthcare Ransomware Event? 

When dissecting a ransomware attack, you often need to look back several months to find when the threat actor first accessed the environment. The most common attack vector is human interaction with e-mail, often through phishing campaigns to steal credentials. Once they gain initial access, threat actors aim to remain persistent in the network using various types of malware. This process can take months or even up to a year. They move around the network undetected, seeking more permissions and valuable data. 

After locating the data, attackers plan their endgame, typically a ransomware attack to cover the tracks of data theft. The stolen data is sent to command and control servers and hidden on the dark web. Ransomware acts as camouflage for the threat actors’ activities. In a ransomware event, servers and endpoints are encrypted with a secret key held by the threat actor, who demands a ransom for the key. Law enforcement advises against paying the ransom, as the threat actor could redeploy the malware with a new key, requiring another payment. 

The Damage that is Done 

As stated above, ransomware covers tracks as a threat actor tries to complete their data theft campaign. So, what data are they looking for? Healthcare data, i.e., patient medical records, are some of the most valuable records to be stolen and used to sell on the dark web. Medical records contain personal data, including social security numbers, date and place of birth, and medical history. Simply put, patient records contain all the information a bad actor needs to steal your identity. 

Stopping Threat Actors Before They Attack 

The true goal of healthcare security is to stop a threat actor before it becomes an issue. That means detecting them as early as possible in their hacking campaign and stopping their access before they can cause any harm. One of the more common approaches to tracking threat actors is to map their threat events to the MITRE ATT&CK Framework.  

MITRE ATT&CK Framework Explained 

The MITRE ATT&CK framework is a comprehensive knowledge base of adversary tactics and techniques used in cybersecurity. It categorizes and describes various methods attackers use to infiltrate and exploit systems. This framework helps organizations understand potential threats, improve defenses, and develop effective incident response strategies. By mapping out attack patterns, MITRE ATT&CK aids in identifying vulnerabilities and enhancing overall cybersecurity posture. This is truly why a healthcare security platform needs in-depth monitoring and security, with the ability to detect not only the ransomware but also the initial unauthorized access through data exfiltration. 

How Cato Can Help 

The Cato SASE platform has all the features and functions required to detect unauthorized access and map the threat actors’ methods to the MITRE ATT&CK Framework so that security analysts can effectively remediate the attack before the threat actor gains access to potentially harmful data. This includes features like data loss protection, device posture for remote users, and an intrusion prevention system that can detect malware in flight in any environment.  

The Cato IPS service and internet firewall in the security stack uses unique techniques to identify traffic as a phishing attack and block it before it enters your network. Another level of protection in the security stack utilizes heuristics and algorithms based on phishing websites’ characteristics to stop a user from even accessing the malicious website. These IPS phishing protections use various strategies to detect and mitigate attacks; this, in turn, helps increase protection and adds the ability to block phishing attacks at different stages in the attack.  

In the case of ransomware, Cato also leverages anti-malware and next-generation anti-malware engines to stop the attack chain as quickly as possible. These indicators of attack or compromise are mapped to known tactics that are a part of the MITRE ATT&CK Framework. This helps close the loop on the attempted attack and helps recover and mitigate any compromised systems. 

Ransomware is on the Rise – Cato’s Security as a Service can help | Get the eBook

Taking the Next Step… 

In healthcare, data might be compromised by a local doctor office’s lack of security and patient identity might be at risk. Unfortunately, this is becoming a common occurrence. There is a better way to stop these threat actors from stealing data and causing massive disruption, and that is with an industry-proven, cloud-based, secure access service edge platform. Click here to learn more about how Cato can help prevent ransomware and other threats in your healthcare organization.  

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Christopher Rudolph

Christopher Rudolph

Christopher Rudolph is the Product Marketing Manager for the Americas at Cato Networks. Chris has over 18 years of technical experience in various roles, including system administration, sales engineering, solutions architecture, enablement, and marketing at several companies, including Citrix, Trend Micro, and several startups. Christopher holds an Ed.D. in Transformational Leadership from Concordia University, an M.Ed. in Educational Technology from Liberty University, and multiple industry technical certifications.

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