Inflection Point: Ransomware, HIPAA, & Patient Trust

Ransomware, as you know, is a big problem.

In the last few years, this digital crime has largely harmed big organizations. But, ordinary people like us are now starting to take a lot more direct heat.

For the last nine months, ordinary consumers, including parents and patients, have found themselves in the crosshairs of these cybercriminals.

Let’s paint a real-life picture here.

A parent, already juggling work and family, suddenly finds an extortion email with a demand for money in exchange for not releasing intensely personal medical procedure photos and vital documents. It’s a heart-sinking moment. All they did was seek medical care. And now, they get this rude shock when their sensitive health data is one click away from being released, threatening their privacy and peace of mind.

The impact?

It goes beyond just financial loss or inconvenience. It’s about the violation of our personal space and the erosion of our trust in the digital world that we rely on. What’s more, these cybercriminals are exploiting the most vulnerable among us, using our data as a bargaining chip.

This disturbing trend is not just a personal nightmare but has bigger implications.

Take the healthcare sector, for instance. Hospitals and clinics are now under immense pressure, not just to provide care, but also to safeguard patients’ private health information. The rise in ransomware attacks exposes the vulnerabilities in our healthcare systems. It’s not hard to see why lawsuits from patients, who’ve had their private information compromised, are on the rise.

These legal actions are not just about seeking justice but are a loud and clear call for change.

Doctors and healthcare providers are now at a crossroads. The increasing lawsuits are a wake-up call to have better cybersecurity and cyber resilience. It’s no longer just about providing the best medical care but also about making sure that patient data is protected against exploitation. And dealing with data breaches in a way that’s respectful to the victims.

This shift is crucial. It’s not just about compliance but about maintaining patient trust.

It turns out ordinary people are not helpless in this fight against ransomware. They have a voice and they’re using it. They’re demanding better data protection from healthcare providers by filing lawsuits.

Here’s my question: If the threat of HIPAA fines doesn’t motivate clinics and hospitals to be more cyber resilient, maybe the patient lawsuits will?

What do you think is going to happen?

Click comment and let me know.

And, yes, I really do read every comment you post.

-Kip

P.S. Please repost this “Inflection Point” to share with your network.

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Current Podcast Episode: “The Tools and Rules of Digital Trust”

How do you take a very important, yet ethereal, idea like digital trust and make it more concrete and actionable? Let’s find out with your hosts Kip Boyle, CISO with Cyber Risk Opportunities, and Jake Bernstein, Partner with K&L Gates. Want to know how to quickly make your company a smaller target for cyber-attackers ?

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Kip Boyle is a husband, dad, entrepreneur, and experienced cyber risk manager. He founded Cyber Risk Opportunities LLC in 2015, after seven years as the CISO of PEMCO Insurance in Seattle. As a captain on active duty in the US Air Force, he served in the Combat Archer and F-22 Stealth Fighter programs where he was the director of enterprise network security. These days, he serves as virtual chief information security officer for many customers, including a professional sports team and fast-growing FinTech and AdTech companies. Over the years, Kip has built teams by interviewing hundreds of cybersecurity professionals. And now, he’s sharing his insider’s perspective with you!

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