Cyber Intruders Breached Change Healthcare’s Systems Just Before Cyberattack

Cyber Intruders Breached Change Healthcare’s Systems Just Before Cyberattack

In light of the recent cybersecurity incident involving Change Healthcare on February 21st, enhancing the protection of medical records and sensitive patient data must be a vital consideration. It’s imperative to recognize the value of robust security measures such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), which serves as a barrier to unauthorized access. Unfortunately, the initial breach occurred through a system lacking MFA, demonstrating the critical nature of this security layer.

Expanding on security, monitoring, and managing how individuals move within your network is essential. A managed detection and response system can detect unusual internal activities, preventing the kind of lateral network movement that allows bad actors to escalate their access. Such systems serve as an early warning, enabling you to intercept and isolate threats before they cause substantial harm or incur significant financial consequences. The incident with Change Healthcare underlines the high stakes, costing the organization heavily to recover, well beyond the immediate ransom paid to the attackers. Safeguarding your network is not just a technical necessity but a fiduciary responsibility to limit potential financial losses due to cyber threats.

Key Takeaways

• Protect sensitive data with multi-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access.
• Implement managed detection and response systems to identify and mitigate lateral movement within networks.
• Understand the high financial implications of cyberattacks and ensure proper network security measures are in place.

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Summary of the Incident at Change Healthcare

Disclosure of the Security Incident

On February 21st, it was revealed that Change Healthcare, a significant processor of medical records, suffered a security breach. As a response to this event, steps were taken to deactivate equipment on that day.

Intruder Activity Duration

Before the public was notified, unauthorized personnel accessed the network on February 12th and investigated it for entry points to deploy their attack.

Functions of Change Healthcare

Change Healthcare is primarily involved in administering pharmacy billings and is linked to the medical records of numerous individuals, representing about one-third of the patient population.

In the aftermath of the incident, it has been advised that security be enhanced by implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) to help prevent such breaches. MFA could have delayed or even prevented unauthorized access. In the scenario where an attacker might bypass MFA, Manage Detection and Response (MDR) should be deployed. MDR effectively identifies and responds to unusual network activities, such as unwarranted lateral movements.

The financial repercussions of the breach have been substantial. A reported sum of $22 million in Bitcoin was paid to secure patient information, with the total cost of the breach to the company reaching approximately $870 million. Therefore, it is imperative to have robust cybersecurity measures, including tools like MDR and MFA, to safeguard against such significant financial losses. If you’re unfamiliar with these cybersecurity measures or lack them in your system, you must seek expert assistance to fortify your defenses and avoid similar incidents.

Significance of Layered Security Measures

Breach Point of Attack

Hackers typically gain initial entry by exploiting weak points, such as unsecured user accounts. In a recent example, attackers infiltrated a healthcare company’s network because an account lacked robust security measures—specifically, multi-factor authentication (MFA). Implementing MFA can significantly impede unauthorized access, creating a vital barrier at the entry point.

• Accounts with access to critical systems must employ MFA.
• Tools like Duo can add a layer of security.
• Preventive step: Ensure all essential accounts are safeguarded with MFA.

Defense Mechanisms Against Unauthorized Access

Once inside the network, attackers often navigate laterally, seeking sensitive data or further vulnerabilities. Technologies like Managed Detection and Response (MDR) can identify and isolate unusual internal traffic patterns, effectively containing the threat.

• MDR can detect and prevent suspicious lateral movements within the network.
• An example from healthcare: The cybersecurity team quickly mitigated an irregularity detected at a nurse station.
• Actionable strategy: Equip your network with MDR to detect and halt anomalous activities promptly.

By applying these strategic security layers—MFA at the entry level and MDR for internal monitoring—you’re actively defending your network against costly breaches. The repercussions can be extensive: a recent case saw a healthcare entity facing an $870 million fallout. Protecting your business from such financial and reputational damage is critical, so consider strengthening your security with these tools. If you’re unfamiliar with setting up MFA or MDR, seeking professional assistance from an experienced IT support company may be a beneficial next step.

Controlling Horizontal Network Penetration

Importance of Proactive Threat Monitoring

In the dynamic network security environment, ensuring multi-factor authentication (MFA) is essential for securing access points into your systems. However, even with robust authentication protocols like MFA, adversaries can and do infiltrate networks. Their ability to move laterally within a system underscores the need for vigilant surveillance and response mechanisms.

Implementing advanced threat detection services tailored to your organization’s needs is vital in identifying unauthorized movements within your network. For example, implementing a Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service can be pivotal in healthcare settings where patient data is sensitive. MDR services monitor for anomalous behaviors that indicate that a network is being scanned or accessed without authorization and respond swiftly to isolate affected systems.

• Why MDR is crucial:
  • Monitors for irregular network patterns
  • Quickly isolates compromised systems
  • Prioritizes immediate response over system continuity to prevent larger breaches

Example of Intervention in the Healthcare Sector

In the context of digital protection for healthcare institutions, immediate action in response to irregular network activity can significantly mitigate risk. Imagine a scenario where a nurse’s workstation exhibited signs of scanning the internal network, an action outside of standard workflow patterns. An effective MDR service detected the unusual behavior and promptly removed the workstation from the network.

• Steps taken in such incidents:
  1. Detection of suspicious network activity
  2. Immediate disconnection of the implicated system from the network
  3. Post-incident analysis and response to prevent reoccurrence

Such decisive actions illustrate how MDR can protect an organization from the far-reaching consequences of data breaches, which can result in substantial financial losses and erosion of trust.

Remember, while safeguarding against external threats is crucial, the capacity for timely detection and response to internal network anomalies is equally imperative to maintain operational integrity and protect sensitive information. Should you seek assistance in implementing protective measures such as MFA or MDR, professional support is available to ensure your network remains safeguarded against potential compromises.

Economic Consequences of the Security Incident

Payment of Ransom via Cryptocurrency

A detailed analysis of recent cyber incidents indicates that in response to safeguarding sensitive patient details, a considerable sum of $22 million in Bitcoin was disbursed to cybercriminals to prevent data misuse. This data pertained to a substantial portion of patients whose information could have been compromised due to unauthorized access gained by the attackers.

Anticipated Expenses for United Health

Current estimates disclose that United Health’s total financial burden due to the cyberattack has escalated to approximately $870 million. This figure underscores the immense potential costs associated with such security breaches, which extend far beyond the initial ransom payment to include long-term damage control and system fortification measures against future threats.

Security Reinforcement Measures:

• Implementation of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): To mitigate the risk of unauthorized entry that could have been thwarted or delayed.
• Managed Detection and Response (MDR): To detect unusual movement within a network, promptly identifying and isolating threats to prevent further infiltration or damage.

Securing Your Network Infrastructure

Grasping the Basics of Multi-Factor Authentication and Intrusion Detection

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a critical security measure that requires multiple verification forms before granting access to a system. This could have deterred or even prevented unauthorized entry, as seen in the February 21st breach involving an entity that played a significant part in managing many medical records.

Ensuring that every critical system with network access employs MFA is crucial. Imagine systems like Duo, which require additional confirmation steps, providing an extra security layer that could significantly hinder potential intruders.

If an intruder manages to bypass the MFA protections, it’s imperative to have measures in place that detect unusual internal network activities. This is where managed detection and response (MDR) steps in. An MDR service can identify abnormal lateral movements within the network—such as unauthorized scanning or unusual data traffic patterns frequently indicative of a cyber threat. Upon detecting such activities, MDR services can isolate the affected device, thus thwarting further unauthorized actions and mitigating the risk of a substantial data breach.

Cybersecurity Assistance Offered by Colorado Computer Support

Colorado Computer Support provides solutions tailored to enhance network security. We specialize in deploying tools like Duo and Blackpoint to fortify your network against malicious activities.

The financial repercussions of a breach can be devastating. While large organizations like United Health have seen breaches totaling hundreds of millions, smaller businesses can also suffer significant losses.

Contact us if you are unfamiliar with MFA or MDR or seeking to strengthen your network’s defenses. Visit our webpage at coloradosupport.com to learn how we can help protect your network infrastructure and prevent potentially crippling cyber incidents.