Patient Privacy under Attack:
Cyberattack exposes 10M+ healthcare records in the U.S.

Patient Privacy under Attack: The Cyberattack That Exposed Millions of Healthcare Records in the U.S.

In a significant and alarming cyberattack, healthcare and personal data of over 10 million people in the United States have been compromised. The attackers targeted a vulnerability in the widely-used MOVEit file transfer software.

The Attack Details

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), responsible for Colorado’s Medicaid program, was severely impacted by this attack. The breach exposed more than 4 million patient records. The data compromised includes full names, birth dates, addresses, Social Security numbers, Medicare ID numbers, financial information, medical details such as lab results and medications, and health insurance information.

While no HCPF or Colorado government systems were directly breached, the attackers gained access to HCPF files on the MOVEit application. “HCPF is committed to maintaining the highest standards of information security and extends its sincerest apologies for any inconvenience that this incident may have caused,” stated HCPF.

In response to this event, HCPF, along with its vendors, is rigorously reviewing and updating its policies, procedures, and cybersecurity measures to further fortify its systems and networks against future breaches. As a gesture of goodwill and an added layer of protection, HCPF is offering individuals who may have been impacted by this incident complimentary two-year credit monitoring and identity restoration services.

Read also: Biggest Healthcare Breach of the Year of 2022

Preventive Measures for Future Security

As a managed security services provider, Futurism recommends the following measures to prevent similar cyberattacks:

• Regular Software Updates and Patch Management: Ensure that all software, including file transfer applications like MOVEit, are regularly updated with the latest security patches.

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):Implement a robust identify and access management system for all users, especially for those with access to sensitive and critical data.

• Regular Security Audits and Assessments: Conduct frequent security audits and vulnerability assessment and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities and address them proactively.

• Employee Training and Awareness: Regularly educate employees on the latest cyber threats and best practices for maintaining cyber hygiene.

• Data Encryption: Encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit to add an additional layer of security with a powerful data protection solution.

• Incident Response Plan: Have a well-defined and regularly updated endpoint detection and response solution in place. This plan should outline the steps to take when a security breach is detected.

• Engage a Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP): Consider partnering with a trusted managed security services provider that can monitor your network 24/7, manage security devices and systems, and respond to security incidents in real-time.

Takeaway

In these turbulent times, where cyber threats are evolving rapidly, we at Futurism Technologies stand as a reliable security partner for our clients offering world-class Security Consulting, Integration, Advisory, and ’24 x 7′ Managed Security Acceleration Services (Zero Trust) to businesses around the world through our cutting-edge C-SOC (SOC 2 Type II).

Disclaimer: All the data and statistics featured in this article are attributed solely to the original authors and their respective source websites. These figures and information do not mirror or reflect the objectives, philosophies, or viewpoints of Futurism Technologies in any manner.