by Felicien | May 30, 2018 | Education
Earlier this month, two San Francisco hospitals reported that 900 patient records had been compromised. The two hospitals involved were San Francisco General and Laguna Honda. The San Francisco Public Health Department was notified and began their investigation at once. They found that a former employee of Nuance Communications was at fault. Nuance is a third-party vendor to both hospitals providing voice recognition software for medical transcription.
The Public Health Department is partnering with Nuance Communications to get to the bottom of the breach and mitigate the damage as quickly as possible. The former employee at Nuance illegally accessed the patient records of about 900 patients from the two San Francisco hospitals. The lost data included names, dates of birth, details about patient’s conditions and diagnoses. It did not include any social security numbers, financial information, or driver’s license numbers.
The patient records were accessed between November 20th and December 9th of 2017. The health department confirmed that all patients affected had been notified.
Improvements needed in healthcare networks
In a statement, Roland Pickens, the director of the San Francisco Health Network said, “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or concern that this situation may cause. All of our vendors are required to attest to the protection of patient privacy, as part of their contract, and we continue to audit and improve upon that process.”
After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, authorities said they believed the stolen information had not been offered for sale online. They also stated that all personal data from patients had been safely recovered from the former Nuance employee.
A Health Department spokeswoman said that the investigation was still ongoing and that all parties were working together in harmony to resolve these issues as quickly as possible. They assured the affected patients that their personal medical information had been recovered and that the risk of damage from the breach was minimal.
Medical data a valuable target for cyber thieves
Patient medical data has become a hot target for cyber thieves because it usually contains a great deal of information about the patient. Hospitals collect many types of personal information from patients including names, addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, driver’s license numbers and detailed information about the patient’s medical condition. This type of information is considered high-value by cyber thieves because it has so many different uses. For instance, knowing the medical condition of a person would give criminals an arsenal of tools with which to defraud the patient. In many cases, patients who lose this type of information feel vulnerable. Patients often already feel as if they’ve lost control due to their compromised health condition. But then, a cyber-criminal steals their personal data and they feel as if they’ve been attacked again.
For these and other reasons, hospitals and healthcare organizations must be especially careful when dealing with patient records. HIPAA guidelines provide doctors and hospitals with a full set of standards regarding the processing of patient data. The agency seeks to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse while delivering better health care to individuals.
Other big healthcare breaches
In 2014, 56,000 medical records were stolen from patients at San Francisco General, along with a few city-run clinics. In this case, as in the last one, a third party vendor was responsible for the breach. An employee of Sutherland Healthcare Solutions, a billing company doing business with the hospital, stole the records in order to sell them on the Dark Web, where they might have brought thousands of dollars.
In February of 2015, Anthem Health Insurance experienced a data breach where 80 million company records were breached. To date, this has been the largest attack on hospitals, insurance providers, and healthcare. Investigators said that cybercriminals were able to break into the insurance company’s servers and steal the records.
Officials say that they expect data breaches at healthcare organizations to rise over the next few years. The reason? The information that cyber thieves can collect is so thorough that it allows thieves to assume the identity of the person. Once they do this, they can set up new accounts, access the patient’s bank account, or use their credit cards.
In past breaches, hospitals and health care providers have lost patient records via numerous ways. The top four methods used were:
Theft of laptops
Breaking into hospital servers
Third party vendors
Angry ex-employees
In some cases, personal patient info is exposed due to technological glitches in the software or hardware that a healthcare provider uses.
In response to the two latest breaches at San Francisco General and Laguna Honda, hospital officials said they were strengthening their security practices. Many security experts believe that every organization, whether private or public, should treat cyber security as a boardroom topic instead of an IT issue. The rise in healthcare breaches confirms that.
by Felicien | May 30, 2018 | Education
Cybercrime is no longer a new phenomenon. The zeal with which cybercriminals have committed these offenses in the past has led to an outcry from businesses and organizations. Cybercriminals are constantly on the prowl for new sites to attack. They are continuously improving their methods of attack. To make matter worse, this type of crime is very difficult to solve. The attacks themselves become more sophisticated as the days go by. Many experts are searching for real solutions; permanent solutions.
The threat to small businesses
While many organizations have put in place various measures to prevent this crime, a look at the statistics reveals that only large organizations are really doing everything they need to do. Smaller companies either think they can’t afford good protection or don’t need it. The best protection from cyber breaches is expensive. It requires training for employees, risk assessment, and the installation of a good array of programs that can detect and prevent intrusion. There are ways that small businesses can get the same top-notch protection as a large organization. And, it is imperative that they do so. A big data breach could cost your company millions of dollars. Most experts say that it’s not a matter of IF you get attacked; it’s just a matter of WHEN.
How real is the threat?
The threat of a cyberattack is a lingering one despite the amount of protection that one invests in. That’s because the nature of this crime is to evolve with each new attack. This is why most business owners prefer to invest in protection services with the ability to detect cybercrime before it occurs. The Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report shows that the threat of cyberattacks on small businesses is much greater than small business owners anticipate. This group states that up to 61% of cyber security breaches were experienced by small businesses last year. This was an 8% rise from 53% in the previous year.[1]
Cost of cyber-attacks on small businesses
While small businesses fail to invest in protection systems because of the costs, it is noteworthy that the amount of money lost as a result of cyberattacks is considerably higher. The ransomware attack is a great example of this fact. One ransomware attack can stop your workforce in its tracks. Your data will be locked until you pay. Some thieves threaten to release your internal documents to the public. This caused a huge amount of embarrassment for Sony Pictures after their 2014 data breach.[2] The North Koreans took responsibility for this breach, claiming that they did not like a movie that Sony was about to release where the North Korean dictator was to be made fun of.
In the end, the damage to Sony was more about being embarrassed before the whole world. Sony’s reputation was severely damaged. Though large companies like Sony can survive an attack like this, small companies cannot. A new study shows that cyberattacks cost on average, $38,000 per attack.[3] Below are a few other stats pertaining to small businesses and data breaches:
23 percent lost business opportunities after an attack.
29 percent lost revenue; 38 percent of those lost more than 20 percent.
22 percent of businesses lost customers; 40 percent lost more than 20 percent of their customer base.
In some cases, small businesses must close their doors within a few months of the attack. Small business owners are only just realizing how vulnerable they are. This is due to the fact that most small businesses are an easy target for hackers. They simply don’t have sophisticated enough data protection programs in place.
What can you do about it?
The first step for any small business is to invest in effective cyber security software. These should be installed on all computers and mobile devices. The second step is to install a remote computer backup. Always have recent copies of your database stored somewhere offsite. A remote computer backup makes recovery of data much simpler.
A third step is to test your data security systems and procedures regularly. This can be easily done through a gap analysis. A gap analysis will enable the business owner to know how effective the data protection system really is. It takes into consideration the detected threats and compares these with the protection system. It is also sensible to develop a data breach response plan. This should include a communications response plan.
Proper response in cases of data breach can save a company millions of dollars and protect customers. A good response plan can let everyone including stakeholders know what’s going on. The sooner your employees know what’s happening, the sooner they can shut down their computers and mobile devices so that the virus can’t spread. All computers and devices with company data should be disconnected from the network until the issues are resolved.
Cyber liability insurance can also come in handy in case of attacks. As we have noted, up to 60% of small businesses which experience cyber-attacks are forced out of business within six months of the attack. Cyber liability insurance will protect your assets.
Final thoughts
Small businesses are currently attractive to cybercriminals because of their lack of protection. When it comes to cyber security, it should be noted that prevention is definitely the best route. Though many prevention measures appear costly, it can save your company from going through a nightmare that will be expensive and damage your reputation.
[1] https://www.verizonenterprise.com/verizon-insights-lab/dbir/
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Pictures_hack
[3] https://www.score.org/blog/cyberattacks-cost-small-businesses-more-money
by Felicien | May 30, 2018 | Education
Cybercriminals are getting more fearless by the day and their crimes are getting more and more sophisticated. Cybercrimes are costing businesses and organizations billions of dollars each year. This has spawned a new generation of cybercrime fighters who search for ways to end this threat once and for all. With each new attack, the crimes get more sophisticated. Hackers are learning from their mistakes and tweaking their methods to make them even more effective.
While most attempts to end hacking seem futile, it is an industry that will continue to require experts in managed threat detection. Stopping thieves before they can get into your database is the preferred method and this has now become possible. The latest technology can assess your network’s weaknesses and your IT professional can recommend various ways to shut down those weak areas.
Why the rise in popularity of managed threat detection?
Investments in technologies that prevent cybercrimes are currently on the rise. There are now a number of solutions that prevent intrusion into your computers. But many companies feel they just don’t have the money to install the latest threat detection equipment. Though there is an initial expense involved, business owners with these new threat detection systems do enjoy greater peace of mind. One cyber-attack is now estimated to cost approximately $1.3 million on average. In addition, customer trust is eroded once the public learns of the breach and overall sales can go down. The expenses for a breach can often linger for years.
What is Managed Detection and Response?
MDR is a combination of technologies and skills that provide global threat intelligence, deep threat analytics, and earlier incident mitigation. The most effective response to a breach requires a collaborative, far-reaching effort.
Managed Detection and Response works well because it is set up to function every minute of every day. It provides more thorough protection from the viruses, worms, ransomware, and malware that exist on the World Wide Web.
MDR is commonly used together with traditional managed security services (MSS) to ensure complete protection. These services can be provided by specialized vendors who focus mainly on threat management. They can also be provided by specialists who have MDR capabilities. Managed detection is chiefly distinguished by the fact that it works even in circumstances where the traditional methods of protection, which are focused on limited log collection and rules-based analysis, do not work.
How is MDR delivered?
Today, businesses will find a few cybersecurity experts who understand the ever-changing landscape in the world of cybercrime. Thieves utilize a number of methods that evolve with each new attack. The only truly effective response to these attacks is to develop a system of crushing cyber-attacks that also evolves with each new event.
New technology focuses on a series of effective approaches to threat detection and elimination. The initial step is known as threat anticipation, which measures the level of a company’s preparedness. This determines how high a company’s chances are of being targeted by cyber thieves. MDR also includes threat hunting. Instead of waiting for an event to occur, this technology actively hunts for threats and eliminates them.
Third, security monitoring is essential. This service is basically exactly what it says. A system is put in place that constantly monitors all hardware, software, and networking equipment, looking for loopholes that thieves might exploit. Security monitoring should include alert response, incident response, and breach management.
Why is Managed Detection and Response popular?
For most business owners, there just isn’t time each day to worry about cyber breaches and data leaks. Though the costs to address them can be enormous, a business person needs to focus on running his company. Your business can suffer if you must constantly be pulled away to address potential security threats. That’s the major reason why business owners are opting for a greater level of protection for all their computers and networking equipment.
Threat detection and prevention is a full-time job and most business people just don’t have the time or skills to deal with it. Your company needs the finest protection available so you can get back to work without the stress of knowing that a breach could occur at any moment.
MDR service providers are able to collect data from various sources on the threats that your organization may face. This enables them to know exactly which threats are more pronounced. Once an organization knows where their weaknesses lie, they are in a better position to respond, repair those flaws, and move forward with more confidence.
Of course, a good managed detection and response program should also include all the measures to respond should a breach occur. In spite of all the advances in technology, if just one of your employees clicks on a malicious link, they could download ransomware or other harmful malware into your system. You can mitigate the damage though, by knowing exactly what to do.
Final Thoughts
Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is designed to handle anything that cyber-thieves can throw at you. It initially seeks to find and close any weaknesses, but it also includes a sound response plan should a breach occur. It utilizes today’s best detection tools, threat intelligence, forensic investigation tools, and human analysts. It can give business owners the peace of mind they need to get back to running their companies without the constant worry of an expensive data breach.
by Felicien | May 29, 2018 | Education
It’s one thing for a business to have installed Wi-Fi networks, but it’s another thing to ensure that the equipment is and will continue to work properly. This means the network should be able to continue supporting the growing demands of a business. It should be able to upgrade automatically whenever necessary to provide the latest and most convenient improvements available. This may sound simple and manageable by the IT staff, but it can be challenging.
Having in-house IT staff means that you have to get in line with other departments and wait your turn before you get help. They already have enough work each day so your Help Desk request may get pushed to the back. This is just one reason why it can be beneficial to have a trusted partner manage your Networks and computers.
The Right Fit
So many managed IT providers say that they’ll be there when you need them. How can you find the right fit for your business? It can be challenging in this day and time, simply because of all the many great choices. But, it can be helpful to sit down with your supervisors and talk to them about the ideal IT provider – someone who will take the time to listen to you, show concern about getting it right for you, someone who really will become a trusted partner.
A good IT partner will stay on top of daily maintenance for your hardware and software. They’ll keep the Wi-Fi equipment running smoothly. They will make recommendations about new products your company could benefit from. If you could find an IT service provider who stands by their promises, imagine how much easier your life would be. Your company would stop demanding so much of your time. You might actually get a vacation this year.
How to find your IT Managed Services Provider
Talk to other businesses owners in your area. Ask them to recommend someone. Check all names, credentials, and reputations online. You can find out quickly whether someone has a good strong reputation in the business world. Visit the company and meet some of their staff members. Do they seem capable, knowledgeable and skilled? If you walk in and find a young receptionist on the phone with her boyfriend and two of the techs in the back flirting, then get out of there quickly! That’s not the right place for you.
You’re serious about your business. You want it to succeed for yourself and especially for your family. So don’t settle for lame vendors that never show up and don’t do good work when they do meander by your place. Take as much time as you need finding a professional team of IT techs who know their jobs exceptionally well and love to come to work each day. These guys will know what’s going on when you get the Blue Screen of Death. They can fix it remotely in just a few minutes and you’re back to work.
Communicate your needs
When you find the right IT managed support team, sit them down at your office and make it clear that you want the very best they can give. You’re in this to win it and if they want to go along for the ride, they’re welcome. But they will have to pull their weight.
When you set down some guidelines right at the beginning of any relationship, you’ll find that the relationship is much more rewarding for both people. Of course, there will be contracts to sign that will state and include everything you talk about. A good contract is clear about what your responsibilities are and what the IT provider will provide. The cost should be included and can be a monthly charge or a fixed price you pay several times a year. Most vendors will work with you because they want your business.
Below, are just a few of the more important IT and networking services/products that your business needs:
Cloud storage and backup
Remote monitoring/management of servers, desktops, mobile devices
Business continuity plan in case of disaster
Cybersecurity for all computers and devices
Regular preventative maintenance
Scalability
24/7 tech support
There are many other services you could opt for and you should discuss this with your IT professional.
The best managed wireless is all about handling many different services well. Every phone and computer should be secure even those of remote workers. Communications should be up and running 99 percent of the time. If you run a hospital or medical office, then you understand the importance of a good communication system. Most providers will suggest VoIP. It’s cloud-based and dependable, plus it can fit nicely in any budget.
With managed services, an organization should not have to worry about maintaining their Wi-Fi networks. Work with someone you have confidence in; someone who will exceed your expectations. You need a good, trusted IT service provider who is willing to get to know your business and work right alongside you to see it grow. Don’t settle for less than the best!
by Felicien | May 29, 2018 | Education
Two of Canada’s largest banks have reported that cyber thieves may have stolen the financial information for over 90,000 of their customers. The thieves sent a message to the two banks over the weekend stating they had successfully stolen customer data and banking records for thousands of their customers. This caused an immediate reaction by both banks.
The Simplii Financial Breach
One of the banks, Simplii Financial, a subsidiary of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), issued a statement that read in part:
“Simplii Financial is advising clients that it has implemented additional online security measures in response to a claim received on Sunday, May 27, 2018, that fraudsters may have electronically accessed certain personal and account information for approximately 40,000 of Simplii’s clients.”
The financial institution began its investigation immediately upon learning of the breach. They sent letters out to customers informing them of the breach, stating they had implemented stronger fraud monitoring and detection, among other security measures.
In part of the statement that Simplii sent to their customers, they reassured them that Simplii would provide full reimbursements to anyone who had lost money due to this hack. They also stated that they were actively working with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts to contain the damages.
Simplii Financial said the breach had only affected a limited number of individuals. They believe that around 40,000 accounts were breached by cyber thieves. At this time, they are not certain of exactly what information was stolen and which accounts were affected.
The Bank of Montreal Breach
The Bank of Montreal (BMO) was also affected by the data breach and officials at BMO stated that they believed the financial and personal information for approximately 50,000 customers could have been compromised due to a cyber breach.
Both banks issued strong statements to their customers saying that they were on top of the situation and taking stringent measures to shut down the fraud and protect their other clients from cyber theft. They also reminded customers to change their passwords and PIN numbers. They recommend using complex passwords and stated that easy-to-guess PINs like 12345 should be avoided, as these are easy targets for cyber thieves. The banks also recommended that their customers watch their accounts for any signs of unusual activity and report that at once to banking officials.
The Breaches Originated Outside Canada
Simplii Financial and the Bank of Montreal both said they had been contacted by “fraudsters” who said they were in possession of personal and financial information belonging to their customers.
Authorities are not certain which hacking group is responsible for the attacks but they stated that they were fairly certain the attacks originated from outside of Canada.
A spokesman for BMO said, “They appear to be related,” referring to the two attacks and also that the hacker’s claims were as yet “unverified.” In an email statement, the spokesman also said, “We are working with the relevant authorities and are conducting a thorough investigation.”
BMO officials said they believe that the attacks and exposure to customer data had been shut down and that no further data leaks would occur. Both financial institutions sent letters to their customers reassuring them that every step would be taken to find and prosecute the fraudsters.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is working with all Canadian law enforcement agencies to help the two banks conduct their investigations. They do not believe that any other Canadian banks were affected.
