A comprehensive analysis by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) reveals that ransomware accounts for 54% of cybersecurity threats to the healthcare sector. The study, based on 215 publicly reported incidents over two years, shows that healthcare providers, particularly hospitals, are prime targets, accounting for 53% and 42% of incidents respectively.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation, with financially motivated threat actors exploiting the value of patient data and poor security practices. The report also highlights the significant impact of vulnerabilities in healthcare systems and medical devices, with 80% of healthcare organisations citing these as the cause of over 61% of their security incidents.
Geopolitical developments have also led to a surge in Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, particularly from pro-Russian hacktivist groups. The consequences of these incidents are significant, often resulting in data breaches, disrupted services, and financial losses, with the median cost of a major security incident estimated at €300,000.
The report underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity practices and the need for a dedicated ransomware defence programme, currently only in place in 27% of surveyed organisations.
Source: ENISA
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