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Two steps ahead: How life sciences and health care can improve their cyber posture

While enhancing cyber risk analytics and reporting is a critical milestone for life sciences and health care organizations, it is in some ways only the first step

In October 2020, three US agencies joined forces to issue a stark warning to hospitals and health care providers: Ransomware attacks are on the rise—and institutions need to take immediate action to protect themselves. 

According to the report, co-authored by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department for Health and Human Services (HHS), ransomware attacks, service disruptions, and data theft all increased substantially in the sector since 2019, and the COVID-19 pandemic only escalated the problem.1

Starkly stated, cybercriminals see life sciences and health care organizations not only as a source of significant revenue, but also as treasure troves of sensitive data. To counter these threats, the time has come for the industry to up its cybersecurity game.

1Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Ransomware Activity Targeting the Healthcare and Public Health Sector, 2020

Jamie Lanoue
Partner, Cyber and Strategic Risk
+1 416 601 6221
jlanoue@deloitte.ca
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