In the rapidly evolving healthcare sector, the rise of digital solutions has brought significant advances in patient care, operational efficiency, and data-driven decision-making. As these digital platforms proliferate, however, so do the associated cybersecurity risks. Two major instances that highlight the growing systemic threats to healthcare entities are the attacks on dependent systems such as Change Healthcare as well as the illegal data collection practices through tools like Meta Pixel.
Both cases illustrate the need for healthcare organizations to remain vigilant against systemic vulnerabilities, as the impact of breaches in interconnected systems can be devastating, and even life threatening. We’ll explore these as case studies in this article.
The Change Healthcare Attack: A Dependent System Failure
Change Healthcare, a company providing crucial payment and revenue cycle management services to a broad spectrum of healthcare providers, is an example of a dependent system vulnerable to attack. On February 21, 2024, a hacker gang breached Change’s network infrastructure and held its data ransom for a large sum. The breach created a ripple effect across the healthcare ecosystem, as organizations relying on their services for claims processing, payment data, and patient management found themselves incapacitated.
This incident serves as a textbook example of a dependent system attack, where one compromised service provider can lead to widespread disruptions for other entities reliant on that provider. Healthcare organizations are particularly susceptible to these kinds of attacks, as they often outsource critical functions to third-party vendors, amplifying their exposure to systemic risk.
In the case of Change Healthcare, the reliance on a centralized platform for various healthcare transactions meant that a cyberattack not only affected the company itself but also all of the healthcare providers dependent on its services.
Meta Pixel and the Dark Side of Data Collection: Digital Third-Party Tracking and Analytic Tools
The recent revelations about Meta Pixel highlight another dimension of systemic risk: illegal data collection. Meta Pixel is an analytical tool offered by Facebook’s parent company Meta that is designed to track user behavior on websites. Users of this tool have the ability, through using Meta Pixel, to surreptitiously harvest personal information from healthcare-related websites without proper consent, a number of lawsuits allege. This unauthorized data collection exposes patients to potential privacy violations and puts healthcare organizations at risk of regulatory non-compliance, especially with laws like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
The Meta Pixel controversy illustrates the vulnerability that arises when healthcare providers unknowingly integrate external tracking tools into their digital footprint. Even well-meaning organizations can fall prey to systemic vulnerabilities created by the use of third-party tools, which can lead to massive data breaches and legal ramifications.
Systemic Events: A Growing Concern in Healthcare
Both the Change Healthcare breach and Meta Pixel data collection issue serve as cautionary tales for healthcare entities of all sizes. They illustrate the interconnectedness of today’s healthcare systems and the growing threat of systemic events— widespread disruptions that arise from vulnerabilities in core components of the industry. In healthcare, a systemic event could involve a major vendor’s services being compromised, a third-party tracking tool violating privacy laws, or a digital platform failing, thereby impacting numerous organizations and millions of patients simultaneously.
Given the high stakes, healthcare organizations must recognize the significance of systemic events and take proactive measures to mitigate risk. Ultimately, safeguarding patient care requires not only securing one’s own digital infrastructure but also ensuring that all dependent systems are equally protected.
Mitigating Systemic Risk: What Healthcare Entities Should Do
There are five steps healthcare entities can take to mitigate risk in these situations:
- Vendor Risk Management: Healthcare organizations must thoroughly vet their vendors, especially those that provide critical services like payment processing, patient data management, or web tracking. They should ensure that these third parties adhere to stringent cybersecurity protocols, perform regular audits, and have incident response plans in place.
- Data Privacy Oversight: Healthcare entities need to closely monitor and limit the use of third-party tracking and analytics tools like Meta Pixel. Implementing a robust privacy compliance framework that regularly checks for unauthorized data collection activities is essential to protect patient information and avoid legal consequences.
- Segmented Networks and Contingency Plans: Healthcare systems should not depend entirely on one vendor or platform for critical operations. Segmented networks and diversified service providers can help mitigate the impact of a systemic event. In addition, having backup systems, disaster recovery plans, and regular cybersecurity drills can reduce downtime in the event of a breach.
- Continuous Monitoring and Threat Intelligence: Healthcare organizations should adopt advanced monitoring tools that provide real-time insights into potential threats within their systems and the systems of their vendors. Engaging in shared threat intelligence networks can also help organizations stay informed of new vulnerabilities and emerging risks.
- Training and Awareness: Healthcare staff should be trained on the potential risks posed by third-party systems and illegal data collection practices. Training should include recognizing phishing attempts, suspicious tracking tools, and the importance of safeguarding patient data at every level of the organization.