“You micro-segment the crap out of this,” Decker said. “This is where you spend a lot of time. This is where you spend a lot of cycles.”
Anderson added that the secure access design would not allow a device in Tier Two to access a device in Tier Zero.
“We’re not saying that these principles can’t access each other,” he said. “We’re saying they can’t access the thing that controls everything. The whole idea is that we’re protecting the thing that controls everything.”
Decker emphasized that this design model is secure by design and secure by default.
“It’s not a model to prevent ransomware – it’s a model to prevent ransomware attacks,” he said. “We’re not trying to protect data. We’re trying to protect the key to the kingdom.”
Organizational buy-in is key
Implementing this privileged access security design requires broad organizational buy-in, Decker and Anderson stressed.
“If you don’t have organizational buy-in, this is going to be a marathon,” Decker said. “This is going to be a very long marathon. If you have it, it’s going to be a sprint.”
He recommended starting with the IT leadership team.
“They need to be on board with this,” he said. “They need to understand the value of this. They need to understand what this is going to bring to the organization.”
From there, it’s about building relationships with the rest of the organization.
“This is how we’re going to protect the organization and make sure that we’re up and running every day,” he said. “This is how we’re going to protect patient data. This is how we’re going to protect the reputation of the organization.”
Ultimately, Decker and Anderson emphasized that the effort involved in implementing this privileged access security design is well worth it in the long run.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it,” Decker said. “It’s ultimately worth it. It’s worth it for the organization. It’s worth it for the patients. It’s worth it for the community.”
By building defenses around the most common ransomware attempts and implementing a secure-by-design and secure-by-default model, healthcare organizations can significantly reduce their risk of falling victim to cyber attacks. It may require a marathon effort from IT and security teams, but the benefits in terms of protecting patient data, organizational reputation, and overall security are invaluable.
“The idea behind this is privilege-to-access workstations” is a crucial concept in the realm of cybersecurity and IT management systems. The goal is to secure sensitive data and prevent malicious actors from gaining unauthorized access to critical systems. Implementing privileged access workstations is a key component of this strategy, as it ensures that only authorized personnel can access specific tiers of the system.
Anderson, a cybersecurity expert, emphasizes the importance of setting up privileged access workstations to protect against potential threats. By utilizing separate machines for different tiers of access, organizations can effectively control and monitor who has access to sensitive information. This model requires IT staff to use designated workstations based on their tier, ensuring that credentials are not exposed to lower levels of access.
Convincing IT teams to adopt this model may require patience and persistence. Anderson stresses the need to communicate the security benefits of privileged access workstations, even if it means facing resistance from team members. By emphasizing the security advantages and minimal impact on productivity, organizations can successfully implement this model without compromising efficiency.
Completing the process of setting up privileged access workstations involves identifying all system administrators and ensuring that credentials are securely managed. Anderson highlights the importance of cleaning up credentials across various machines and monitoring access to prevent unauthorized usage. Continuous monitoring and policy enforcement are essential to maintaining the security of privileged access workstations and preventing potential security breaches.
To gain leadership buy-in for implementing privileged access workstations, Decker suggests emphasizing the potential risks of not securing sensitive data. By discussing the potential consequences of a security breach and the importance of implementing robust security measures, organizations can persuade key stakeholders to prioritize cybersecurity initiatives. Ultimately, implementing privileged access workstations is a proactive step towards enhancing cybersecurity and protecting critical systems from malicious threats. Ensuring patient safety within healthcare environments is of utmost importance, and one key aspect of this is keeping our front doors open. However, in today’s digital age, the threat of cyber attacks looms large, with bad actors constantly looking for ways to infiltrate systems and cause harm.
According to experts like Decker, it is crucial to adopt a proactive mindset and prioritize privileged escalation prevention to safeguard against potential security breaches. This may involve implementing barriers and security measures to deter attackers and make it more difficult for them to succeed in their malicious intentions.
The level of effort required to maintain a strong defense against cyber threats may seem daunting, but the stakes are high, especially when it comes to protecting patient data and ensuring continuity of care. By staying vigilant and constantly reassessing security protocols, healthcare organizations can reduce the risk of falling victim to ransomware attacks and other cybersecurity incidents.
The ultimate goal is to make healthcare organizations such hard targets that attackers are discouraged from even attempting to breach their systems. By investing in robust cybersecurity measures and staying ahead of emerging threats, healthcare providers can create a safer environment for both patients and staff.
In conclusion, prioritizing cybersecurity and maintaining a proactive stance against potential threats is essential for safeguarding patient safety in healthcare settings. By working together to strengthen defenses and mitigate risks, we can ensure that our front doors remain open to those who need care, while keeping out those who seek to do harm.
For more information on cybersecurity in healthcare, feel free to contact Andrea Fox, senior editor of Healthcare IT News, at afox@himss.org. Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication dedicated to providing insights and updates on the latest developments in healthcare technology and security.
