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Tag: Cybersecurity Solutions

How Do You Protect And Secure Your Telemedicine Business From Hacker Onslaught?

By

On February 26, 2022

In Cybersecurity

Telemedicine is the way of the future in medicine. Before the current epidemic, telehealth had already absorbed a significant share of the medical industry’s growth potential. Telehealth utilization surged from 11 percent to 46 percent after COVID, according to McKinsey forecasts, with providers seeing up to 175 times as many patients as before. With 76 percent of consumers expressing interest in telehealth, the future seems bright. Overall, McKinsey estimates that the telemedicine business has a $250-billion-dollar development potential. However, all of this expansion comes with significant hazards.

Telehealth and telemedicine businesses are the waves of the future in the healthcare industry. They are, nevertheless, in the vanguard of our COVID-accelerated future. Cybercrime targeting telemedicine has increased dramatically. Medical data breaches are increasing.

Why hackers are attracted to hack into telemedicine systems?

Telehealth and telemedicine are some of the world’s most profitable industries because of their magnitude. However, because of the large number of stakeholders, including clients and employees, it is a prime target. This industry also holds one of the most prized loot for cybercriminals: PHI of patients.

The following are a few examples of PHI (Personal Health Information): –

  1. PII (Personally Identifiable Information) about the demographics of patients
  2. Patients’ medical histories, as well as the results of their various medical tests
  3. Information about a patient’s medical and life insurance
  4. Financial details of patients and their mode of payment used to pay the hospital bills

Techniques implemented by hackers to obtain PHI

In addition to the PHI-based dangers inherent to the medical industry, telehealth operators face the same basic vulnerabilities as all businesses. While not all telemedicine cybersecurity vulnerabilities are related to PHI, they are by far the most serious threats. To steal PHI from telehealth providers, cybercriminals use a number of vulnerabilities and employ a complicated set of strategies.

Most of the hospitals have not strengthened the security of their cyberinfrastructure. Loopholes in any company’s cyberdefense create opportunities for hackers to take control of assets and cause havoc.

Inadequate firewalls cannot block incoming viruses and malware. Hence, hackers utilize insecure networks to gain access to various corporate systems and devices. Hackers can get around password protection thanks to flaws in authentication mechanisms. Once they infiltrate, the unencrypted data stored in servers are easier to steal and mobilize.

Medical professionals often lack end-user security awareness essential to defend against malicious social engineering tactics adopted by cybercriminals. Even the most well-protected cyberdefense system must accommodate for human mistakes across several employees and clientele accounts. Users who haven’t been properly instructed may configure passwords and settings that are not secure. Users may also be duped into compromising their own accounts through social engineering. Hackers may get access to physical areas and take advantage of unsupervised endpoints.

Targeting the mission-critical hospital network infrastructure with DoS and DDoS attacks is again a very common and brutal technique. DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks usually target servers, ultrasound machines, ventilators, and pacemakers. Cybercriminals bombard a continuous stream of access requests to the hospital network. This overwhelms the server systems and disrupts the usual network operations. The daily mission-critical operations are slowed or perhaps stopped as a result of this hyper network traffic. Hackers also take advantage of newly discovered flaws, often dubbed as Zero-Day vulnerabilities. Alternatively, hackers may demand a ransom before restoring normal service. Combinations of attacks, using numerous vulnerabilities at once, are being used by the most dedicated and notorious hackers.

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

The HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) of 1996 was created to ensure that PHI and the medical and health-related profession as a whole had uniform security requirements. It is administered and monitored by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The hazards created by cybercrime cannot be totally eliminated by adhering to the specific regulations and measures that each rule requires. However, compliance is a set of procedures that minimizes vulnerabilities and mitigates hazards in the telemedicine and healthcare industries. It’s not easy to comply with HIPAA. It is advised to hire professional services. The professional cybersecurity company will aid the business to evaluate their information security posture. They also help in deploying the precautions as well as handling the patchwork to ensure that all loopholes are closed or at least monitored. This is one of the best approaches to ensure the safety and security of your telemedicine systems and data.

Centex Technologies provide complete IT infrastructure and Cybersecurity solutions for businesses including medical establishments. For more information on how you can protect your systems, contact Centex Technologies at Killeen (254) 213-4740, Dallas (972) 375-9654, Atlanta (404) 994-5074, and Austin (512) 956-5454

Need Of IT Infrastructure Management For Fintech Businesses

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On January 27, 2022

In Cybersecurity

FinTech companies need to manage their IT infrastructure to ensure their daily activities and operations continue running efficiently. FinTech or Financial Technology firms heavily depend on complex IT and cybersecurity systems to manage their businesses. Over time, these systems undergo deterioration and become vulnerable to security attacks. As a result, FinTechs require upkeep and maintenance of such business-critical systems.

FinTech and BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance sector) companies are encouraged to enhance their IT infrastructure for:

Reducing IT Security Risks – Planning, setting scope, and mitigating cyber threats are a part of a comprehensive IT InfraSec management program. High severity incidents, attacks, and data leaks are less frequent and have minimal impact when threat and vulnerability management is implemented. The first step in reducing the IT security risks is to determine the features essential to protect infrastructure. The next step is to set up monitoring and visibility infrastructure that ensures the ongoing scans of all systems. Identification of internal and external infrastructure vulnerabilities and threats is very important. Any MSSP (Managed Security Service Providers) could be called in to provide their services so as to speed up the deployment of security across the FinTech company. MSSPs (Managed Security Service Providers) help in performing threat detection and incident response exercises and simulations. They also help in hunting threats across the organizational systems and network. Cybersecurity professionals from MSSPs perform root cause analysis to each and every incident that occurred within the infrastructure. Complying with government regulations and standards is also crucial to running FinTech businesses. MSSPs ease your journey to getting compliance certified.

Continuity of Operations – Even the most powerful cybersecurity frameworks can’t guarantee that there will be no incidents, leaks, or other cyber-attacks. A fintech company with good IT infrastructure management doesn’t have to shut down if sensitive data is lost or corrupted. Instead, the backups and data recovery plans are most likely in place. Infrastructure management also provides FintTech companies with effective incident management policies that include:

  1. Identification of the occurrence of malicious activity
  2. The relevant alerts logged and documented
  3. Analysis and investigation procedures implemented
  4. Adjustment and assignment of the tasks to professionals
  5. Remediation and resolution of alerts and incidents
  6. Customer Feedback is analyzed for continuous improvement

Implementation could be scaled-up and down – The deployment of substantial IT infrastructure, frequently on short notice, is one of the most difficult tasks that FinTechs face. This procedure can be made simple by good infrastructure management, that allows the company to scale up and down as needed. Infrastructure management encompasses assistance with architecture implementation at all stages of the process. This includes original planning, development and acquisition, lifecycle management, and secure system termination. A strong managed architecture implementation package should also interact seamlessly with any current risk and incident management infrastructure. To entirely protect the sensitive assets, architecture implementation should also involve extensive training and awareness services. This ensures that all stakeholders understand their duties and how to uphold them.

Well-organized regulatory compliance – Another reason for the FinTech industry is ensuring compliance with numerous legislations. The PCI-DSS applies to any BFSI organization that processes credit card transactions or cardholder data. PCI-DSS is the acronym for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards. Many businesses may be forced to perform SOC audits due to governmental or industry pressure. This is to ensure that the AICPA’s (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) SOC requirements are met. SOC stands for Security Operations Center. Fintechs working in or near the healthcare sector will almost certainly need to comply with HIPAA, either as covered firms or business associates. HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. These are just a handful of the compliance issues that companies in the FinTech industry might face. A regulatory compliance advice package should be included in every comprehensive infrastructure management program. That package must optimize and streamline compliance through assessment, mapping, and reporting.

For more information on IT infrastructure management for enterprises, contact Centex Technologies at Killeen (254) 213-4740, Dallas (972) 375-9654, Atlanta (404) 994-5074, and Austin (512) 956-5454

 

Cybersecurity Terminology That Everyone Should Know

By

On November 25, 2021

In Security

The following is a list of the top 50 cyber security terms that everyone should be familiar with: –

  1. Adware: Application or software displaying unsolicited advertisements on your devices.
  2. APT (Advanced Persistent Threat): Unauthorized user attacks and gains access to network or systems without being detected.
  3. Anti-Virus Software: Application program used to prevent, detect, mitigate and remediate malware.
  4. Authentication: A process ensuring, confirming, and verifying a user’s identity credentials.
  5. Back door: Secret method to bypass security and gain access to a restricted part of a network/system.
  6. Backup: To make copies of data stored on devices so as to reduce the potential impact of data loss.
  7. Baiting: Online baiting is facilitated by trapping any victim with fake incentives and profits/gains.
  8. Blackhat Hacker: Infringes laws and breaches computer security unethically for malicious purposes.
  9. Botnet: A group of internet-connected systems, including computers, servers, IoT, and mobile devices which are infected and controlled by a common malicious software operated by any blackhat hacker.
  10. Brute Force Attack: Repetitive successive attempts of various credential combinations.
  11. Bug: Error, fault, or flaw in an algorithm or a program resulting in unintended execution/behavior.
  12. Clickjacking: UI redressing attack creating invisible HTML page element overlaying the legitimate page.
  13. Cookie: Websites recognize users and devices keeping track of their preferences via stored cookies.
  14. Critical Update: A resolution software to address and resolve a high severity issue.
  15. Cyber Warfare: Cyber-attacks perpetrated by one digital entity against one/multiple other digital entities.
  16. Data Breach: A high-severity and a high-impact confirmed incident where a system or network data has been stolen without the consent and knowledge or authorization of the system’s or network’s owner.
  17. DDoS (Distributed Denial Of Service): A cyberattack aiming to disrupt an ongoing service by flooding it with malicious traffic from multiple sources or botnets affecting the availability of that service online.
  18. Deepfake: Videos that have human faces either swapped or morphed, leveraging AI algorithms.
  19. Exploit: Malicious code or script used to target vulnerabilities in systems and networks.
  20. Honeypots: Decoy networks or systems operationalized to lure potential attackers.
  21. Incident Response Policy: A plan stating the company’s response to any cyber security incident.
  22. Keystroke Logger: Software covertly logging the keyboard and mouse keys pressed/clicked in devices.
  23. Malware: Malicious software developed to cause damage to any target device or network.
  24. Malvertising: Using online advertisements and allied print management services to deliver malware.
  25. MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication): A security process where a user provides multiple authentication factors to identify themselves.
  26. Packet Sniffer: Software designed to monitor and record network traffic.
  27. Patch: A code applied after the software program has been installed to rectify an issue in that program.
  28. Penetration testing: Pentesting is the science of testing not only networks and systems but also websites and software to find vulnerabilities that an attacker could exploit.
  29. Phishing: Method to try and gather PII (Personally Identifiable Information) using deceptive emails.
  30. Pre-texting: Act of creating fictional narratives manipulating victims into disclosing sensitive information.
  31. Ransomware: Malicious software deployed to block access to devices until a sum of money is paid.
  32. Rootkit: A type of malware developed to stay hidden and persistent inside the hardware of devices.
  33. Security Awareness Training: Program aimed to improve end-user security awareness of employees.
  34. SOC (Security Operations Centre): Monitors digital activities to prevent, detect, mitigate and respond to any potential threats, risks, and vulnerabilities.
  35. Smishing: A type of phishing involving text messages to lure victims.
  36. Social Engineering: The art and science of manipulating people to disclose confidential information.
  37. Spear Phishing: Email-spoofing attack targetting a specific organization or individual to obtain PII data.
  38. Spyware: A type of software installing itself on devices to secretly monitor and report victims’ activities.
  39. Tailgating: Someone lacking proper authentication follows a legitimate employee into a restricted area.
  40. Trojan: Malicious software disguised as legitimate software to gain access to systems of target users.
  41. 2FA: A security process where a user provides two authentication factors to identify themselves.
  42. Virus: Malicious program on devices performing malicious activities without user’s knowledge & consent.
  43. Virtual Private Network (VPN): A software allowing users to stay anonymous while using internet services by masking/hiding their real location and encrypting communications traffic.
  44. Vulnerability: A vulnerability refers to a flaw in a system that can leave it open to attack.
  45. Vishing: A form of phishing to scam victims over the phone to gather PII data used for identity theft.
  46. Whaling: A type of phishing targeted at specific high-profile company leadership and management.
  47. Whitehat Hacker: Perform ethical hacking on behalf of legitimate entities and organizations.
  48. Worm: Computer program replicating itself to spread to other devices in the network.
  49. Zero-Day: A recently discovered vulnerability that hackers are using to breach into networks & systems.

Contact Centex Technologies at (254) 213 – 4740. for IT and Cybersecurity Solutions for businesses.

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