How Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Can Help Your Healthcare Practice

Managed detection and response (MDR) use within the healthcare industry is growing. Overall, Gartner projects spend to reach $4 billion in the next four years because technology is not enough to defend against today’s and tomorrow’s cyber threats. Healthcare organizations need trained security analysts to monitor, investigate, and triage alerts on a 24/7 basis. Security professionals in the healthcare industry are turning to MDR services to gain 360-degree visibility into the most vulnerable aspects of their healthcare networks and devices. In this blog, we share the main pain points healthcare organizations face when trying to protect themselves from cyberattacks and the questions we recommend asking when evaluating managed IT services for healthcare.  

Healthcare is one of the largest and fastest-growing industries that require around-the-clock cybersecurity support. Below are the pain points that healthcare organizations face when trying to protect themselves from cyberattacks:

We know there are many options available, but how will you know if adding MDR services is the right move to protect your healthcare network from threats? Gartner suggests that you consider an MDR provider if you need remotely delivered, modern, 24/7 SOC functionality when there are no existing capabilities or when an organization needs to accelerate or augment existing capabilities. Healthcare cybersecurity and risk management leaders should consider an MDR provider to help mature their cybersecurity posture. When evaluating healthcare managed detected and response providers, we recommend asking these questions: 

• Technology stack: What tools are you using now? Can your MDR provider make you better while leveraging some of your existing investments?

• A fit with your policies: Does the MDR provider’s containment approach integrate with your organization’s policies and procedures?

• On-premises and cloud assets monitoring: Can the provider support your on-premises and cloud environments?

• Custom reports including compliance: Does the MDR provider offer customer reports including those needed for HIPAA?

• Real-time alerts backed by human intelligence: Does the MDR provider have a fully managed and monitored log? Does the provider offer real-time alerts? Are the alerts reviewed by experts to alert you only when action is needed to stop an attack?

• Incident response and remediation: Does the MDR provider offer incident response capabilities? Can the provider help minimize losses and prevent future incidents?

• Experience with your industry: Does the provider have experience with your industry? Does the provider work with other organizations that are similar in size to yours?

As you begin your search, you want to find managed IT services for healthcare that works best for your organization’s infrastructure. Learn more about MDR for healthcare practices and how to choose the best option for your organization in our eBook, 5 MDR Considerations for Healthcare.