Growing cyber attacks pose serious threats to businesses, as highlighted by the recent case of St. Margaret’s Health in Illinois. After being hit by a prolonged ransomware attack in 2021, the organization struggled to recover and was eventually forced to shut down two hospitals and three clinics. This devastating attack had profound and long-lasting impacts on St. Margaret’s Health, with their network being down for three months and their ability to bill insurers, Medicaid, and Medicare being hindered for several months after the attack. The consequences were far-reaching, as no claims could be sent out and no payments were coming in, leading to significant financial losses.
The ransomware attack that targeted St. Margaret’s Health exemplifies a common frustration among security practitioners – the lack of connected and efficient security measures. Threat intelligence data, which could have potentially helped defend against the attack, often remains stranded in isolated “data silos” that are managed separately within various functional groups. Many organizations, like St. Margaret’s Health, use numerous security tools that do not share their data or connect directly to each other. This lack of integration and collaboration between tools can result in slow and ineffective responses to threats, especially when security analysts are inundated with high volumes of alerts and information.
To address this challenge, organizations need to embrace solutions that facilitate orchestration across these data silos, leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and promote collaboration among security teams. While AI and machine learning do not replace human expertise, they can help consolidate data, integrate threat intelligence into security operations, and automate certain responses. This not only reduces the noise and provides a clearer picture of the overall security landscape but also enables security experts to take immediate action when necessary. Automation of alerts and information sharing is also crucial in ensuring that the right people are notified promptly and equipped with the necessary information to respond effectively.
Integrating threat intelligence platforms (TIPs) with data orchestration and workflow automation (SOAR) may seem challenging for many organizations. However, taking a proactive approach to security is essential in order to stay ahead of cyber threats. It is no longer sufficient to react to incident alerts and scramble to identify the best response after an attack has occurred. The sheer volume of data makes it impossible for humans to manually process and analyze all the information required for effective threat detection. To connect the dots and identify patterns, organizations need better ways to integrate and orchestrate actions across their existing security tools.
St. Margaret’s Health serves as a stark example of the worst-case scenario for small healthcare organizations that lack the resources to invest in robust security measures and updated systems. Without adequate protection, these organizations can be put out of business, leaving their communities with limited access to healthcare services. This issue is not limited to a single organization but is pervasive throughout the industry. It is unrealistic to expect under-resourced teams to defend themselves against relentless cyber threats. Instead, organizations should prioritize visibility, automation, intelligence, and alerting in their security strategies. Investing in pragmatic systems that can integrate, share, and contextualize information quickly and reliably is crucial. Furthermore, making these capabilities available as managed services can help smaller organizations overcome resource constraints.
In conclusion, as cyber attacks continue to grow in frequency and sophistication, businesses face existential threats that can have long-lasting consequences. The case of St. Margaret’s Health highlights the devastating impact of a prolonged ransomware attack, underscoring the urgent need for more connected and efficient security measures. By integrating threat intelligence platforms, leveraging AI-driven automation, and promoting collaboration among security teams, organizations can gain the upper hand against cyber attackers. It is crucial that organizations view security as a proactive investment rather than a reactive afterthought, and prioritize the integration and orchestration of their existing security tools to effectively combat cyber threats.
About the Author
Emily L. Phelps is a cybersecurity advocate with nearly a decade of experience in the field. She has a strong track record of translating complex technical concepts into actionable insights for business leaders. Emily is a firm believer in practical cybersecurity programs that enable organizations to operate without interruptions caused by cyber threats. She can be reached on Twitter at @CywareCo and on the Cyware website: https://cyware.com/.