How To Protect Patient Data From Phishing Attacks

According to HIPAA Journal, phishing remains one of the most common and effective attack methods used against healthcare organizations and is a leading cause of healthcare data breaches. As healthcare becomes more digital, cybercriminals increasingly target clinicians and administrative staff to access Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and other Protected Health Information (PHI). Falling for phishing attacks can result in financial loss, disrupted patient care, exposed medical records and HIPAA compliance violations.

Healthcare organizations can protect patient data from phishing attacks by educating employees on phishing awareness, enforcing strong authentication and using a trusted password manager.

Why the healthcare industry is targeted with phishing attacks

Cybercriminals target healthcare organizations because they store highly valuable data in fast-moving environments with large, distributed workforces. Unlike most industries, healthcare handles sensitive personal information, major financial transactions and life-or-death services, making it an especially vulnerable target for phishing attacks.

Valuable patient data

Healthcare organizations store substantial amounts of PHI, including prescriptions, medical records, diagnoses, insurance details and Social Security numbers (SSNs). PHI can be significantly more valuable to cybercriminals than most Personally Identifiable Information (PII), like credit card numbers, because credit cards can quickly be canceled and reissued. Unlike credit cards, medical records and SSNs cannot be easily replaced, making them valuable for long-term exploitation. Stolen PHI can be used to commit medical identity theft, insurance fraud and even billing scams. Because of its depth and permanence, healthcare data often sells for more than financial data on the dark web, making hospitals and insurers lucrative targets.

Fast-paced clinical environments

Healthcare environments are high-pressure, with clinicians and staff responding urgently to patient needs. In emergency rooms and critical care units, speed is essential, and phishing attacks exploit that urgency. Phishing emails may claim that immediate action is required, a critical system needs to be updated or an account’s access is expiring. Due to the urgency of these messages, a healthcare professional is more likely to open and act on them quickly without thinking. Busy healthcare professionals may not take the time to check sender domains, hover over suspicious links or verify unsolicited requests for access or credentials. Cybercriminals use this to their advantage, designing phishing campaigns accordingly to increase their chances of success.

Distributed and telehealth workforces

Large hospitals employ thousands of healthcare workers, rely on third-party vendors and coordinate with insurance providers, creating expansive and interconnected systems. With telehealth becoming more common, healthcare organizations must expand secure remote access to ensure EHRs, patient portals and other platforms are protected. Each new user, device and connection expands the attack surface, increasing phishing risk.

Healthcare phishing attack examples

Cybercriminals adjust their tactics to mirror real-world clinical processes and workflows, making healthcare phishing attacks more effective. Here are some common examples of what these phishing attacks may look like:

• Fake EHR login pages: Cybercriminals send emails impersonating EHR systems, claiming a user’s EHR account is suspended or that their password requires a reset. If a user enters their credentials on the spoofed page, cybercriminals capture them to access PHI or move laterally within the clinical network.
• Ransomware delivered via phishing emails: A phishing email may have an attachment labeled “Outstanding invoice” or “Updated patient lab results,” prompting healthcare professionals to download the content. However, the attachment may deliver malware or a malicious link that grants access, which can ultimately result in ransomware. Ransomware can prevent healthcare professionals from conducting surgeries or processing urgent prescriptions, directly impacting patient safety and care.
• Business Email Compromise (BEC): Healthcare employees may receive emails that appear to come from their organization’s CFO or manager, requesting to update payroll information or modify vendor payment details. If employees comply with these requests, funds can be transferred directly to cybercriminals, and sensitive PHI may be exposed.
• Spear phishing: Spear phishing is a type of phishing attack that targets specific individuals, such as executives. A physician or executive may receive a personalized email referencing publicly available information but containing a malicious document disguised as a patient case review or an urgent request. Cybercriminals target physicians due to their EHR privileges and executives for their ability to conduct wire transfers.

How healthcare organizations can prevent falling for phishing attacks

Preventing phishing attacks in the healthcare industry begins with employee training, strong authentication, granular access controls and clear incident response plans.

Train healthcare employees on phishing awareness

Employees are primary phishing targets, making ongoing security awareness training crucial. Clinicians, billing staff, administrators and IT teams must recognize suspicious emails before interacting with them. Healthcare staff should be trained to identify spoofed email domains, hover over links before clicking, never download unsolicited attachments and report suspicious emails. In addition to regular training, healthcare organizations should run simulated phishing tests regularly to identify which areas employees need to improve in security awareness.

Require Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) everywhere

Because some phishing attempts will still succeed, enforcing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is necessary. With MFA enforced, stolen credentials cannot be used solely for unauthorized access to healthcare systems. Healthcare organizations should require MFA for employee email accounts, EHR systems, telehealth platforms and all privileged accounts. Some MFA methods are more phishing-resistant than others; hardware security keys, passkeys and biometrics are better MFA methods than SMS-based codes, which can be intercepted and exploited.

Enforce least-privilege access and zero-trust security

Limiting access to PHI reduces the potential damage of a compromised account. With least-privilege access, users are granted access only to the systems and data they need to perform their jobs. For example, a nurse should not have full access to billing data, and third-party vendors should be restricted to only the resources they need. Role-Based Access Controls (RBAC) support this least-privilege approach by assigning permissions based on job titles rather than on an individual basis. When combined with zero-trust security principles, in which every access request is continuously verified, healthcare organizations can prevent cybercriminals from moving laterally across their networks if credentials are compromised.

Improve email security with anti-phishing filters

Having an advanced email security solution can stop many phishing attempts before they even reach a healthcare employee’s inbox. Modern anti-phishing filtering systems use AI-based threat detection, URL scanning and domain authentication protocols to analyze links and attachments for malicious intent. Even with advanced filtering in place, employees should still verify that links or attachments are safe before clicking or downloading.

Create a strong incident response plan

Healthcare organizations must assume that some phishing attempts will succeed, even with strong preventative measures in place. A clear incident response plan minimizes potential damage and ensures security incidents are handled as quickly as possible. An effective incident response plan should do the following:

• Define clear procedures for reporting suspicious emails
• Establish protocols for compliance teams
• Outline steps for isolating compromised accounts on the network
• Make procedures for forensic investigation

Invest in a secure password manager

If healthcare employees use weak or reused passwords across multiple systems, a single compromised login can provide cybercriminals with access to many privileged accounts. A secure password manager like Keeper^® helps healthcare organizations eliminate password reuse, generate unique passwords for every account, securely store credentials and safely share access among team members. In environments that require shared access, secure password management is crucial.

Protect patient data with Keeper

Phishing attacks in the healthcare industry directly jeopardize patient safety and regulatory compliance. To take a proactive approach to phishing, healthcare organizations must assess their existing security practices, run phishing tests, enforce phishing-resistant MFA and train employees on phishing awareness. By improving defenses with a secure password manager like Keeper, healthcare organizations not only protect PHI but also safeguard their staff and patients.

Start your free trial of Keeper today to secure patient data and sensitive clinical workflows across your organization.