Smaller healthcare providers face a heightened risk of cyberattacks, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Five takeaways:
1. Smaller organizations typically don't have the resources to invest in "robust" security tools, said Jennifer Barr, a healthcare analyst at Moody's Corp. who spoke to the WSJ.
2. Small practices also may not have a dedicated cybersecurity specialist to monitor and protect systems, according to Ms. Barr.
3. Companies may have to replace equipment and rebuild files after a ransomware attack, which can be costly and time-consuming.
4. Linn Freedman, the head of Robinson & Cole's privacy and cybersecurity practice, told the WSJ that some small organizations don't have the financial resources to recover from a cyberattack. For instance, Battle Creek, Mich.-based Brookside ENT and Hearing Center permanently closed in April after a cyberattack.
5. In 2018, about 57 percent of U.S. medical practices had 10 or fewer physicians, according to American Medical Association data pulled by the WSJ. About 15 percent were run by independent practitioners.