Ransomware attacks cost healthcare orgs $20.8B in 2020

Ransomware attacks skyrocketed amid the pandemic when hospitals increased their use of remote work and moved more hospital data online, according to a July 21 report by cybersecurity consulting firm CynergisTek.

Advertisement

Five things to know:

  1. In 2020, 560 healthcare organizations were victims of ransomware attacks, the report said. 
  2. Ransomware attacks cost healthcare organizations $20.8 billion in downtime in 2020, double the amount it cost in 2019, according to a Comparitech report cited by CynergisTek.
  3. A separate IBM report found data breaches in the healthcare industry cost an average of $9.23 million.
  4. The cost of ransomware payments has put a strain on hospital budgets. Nonprofit hospitals and health systems have been especially affected by the costs of relentless cyberattacks.
  5. “Ransomware pay-outs and efforts to protect or ‘harden’ healthcare systems and cyber defenses are affecting hospital financial flexibility by increasing on-going operating expenses,” Fitch Ratings said July 22. “Attacks may also hinder revenue generation and the ability to recover costs in a timely manner, particularly if they affect a hospital’s ability to bill patients when financial records are compromised or systems become locked.”

Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit

Advertisement

Next Up in Cybersecurity

Advertisement

Comments are closed.