"The Cyber Kill Chain offers a great starting point for developing a proactive security strategy that takes into account the cyber attacker mindset and objectives", states Microsoft Security.
It breaks down a typical cyberattack into stages, helping to identify and stop attackers before significant damage occurs.
Implementing this framework requires a combination of threat intelligence, identity and access management, and advanced detection technologies to safeguard protected health information (PHI) and critical healthcare systems.
Threat intelligence
"One of the most important tools for protecting an organization from cyber threats is threat intelligence." It involves gathering data from across the healthcare organization’s network and analyzing it for patterns to identify potential attacks before they materialize.
This could include monitoring for suspicious activity like unauthorized access attempts to patient records which could indicate a breach.
Identity and access management
"Identity and access management solutions help detect anomalous activity that may be an indication that an unauthorized user has gained access."
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates that healthcare organizations safeguard patients’ PHI. So, organizations must implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to mitigate the risk of unauthorized PHI access.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
"SIEM solutions aggregate data from across the organization and from third-party sources to surface critical cyber threats for security teams to triage and address."
SIEM technology can consolidate logs from medical devices, servers, and user endpoints. Security teams can analyze this data to detect behavior patterns that indicate an active cyberattack.
For example, when a hospital’s SIEM system flags repeated failed login attempts to a patient database from an unfamiliar location.
Endpoint detection and response (EDR)
"In any one organization, there are hundreds or thousands of endpoints... it can be nearly impossible to keep them all up to date."
In healthcare, where devices like medical equipment, tablets, and computers are integral to patient care, organizations must maintain their security. EDR solutions help monitor all endpoints for signs of compromise.
For example, if a nurse’s tablet is infected with malware from a malicious email attachment, an attacker to track the nurse's actions within the hospital’s system. An EDR solution detects this unusual activity and isolates the device from the network before the attacker can escalate the attack.
Extended detection and response (XDR)
"Extended detection and response (XDR) solutions take endpoint detection and response one step further."
Healthcare organizations can use an XDR platform to monitor cloud-based patient portals, email servers, and endpoints. When an attacker tries to move laterally across systems, the XDR platform automatically detects and blocks the attempt, preventing the breach from spreading.
Managed detection and response
"To augment their existing security team, these organizations turn to service providers that offer managed detection and response."
Many healthcare organizations, especially smaller ones, don’t have the resources to maintain a full-time cybersecurity team. Managed detection and response (MDR) services provide 24/7 monitoring, giving these organizations expert help so they can quickly respond to emerging threats.
The MDR provider will isolate affected systems and restore data from backups before patient care is disrupted.
Are there any challenges in implementing the Cyber Kill Chain?
Yes, the Cyber Kill Chain focuses on malware-based attacks, which are common but not the only threat to healthcare cybersecurity. Healthcare organizations, with their mix of cloud services, remote workforces, and numerous endpoints, also face difficulties in keeping up with cyber threats.
Another critique states that the framework is “too linear." So, while many attacks follow this predictable sequence, others may deviate. For example, insider threats, where employees exploit their authorized access, are not always detected by the kill chain model.
Ultimately, healthcare organizations must adopt a holistic and adaptive security strategy to detect and mitigate potential threats.
Related: Phishing attacks in healthcare: How to protect your organization in 2025
FAQs
What is HIPAA?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets national standards for protecting the privacy and security of certain health information, known as protected health information (PHI).
HIPAA is designed to protect the privacy and security of individuals’ health information and to ensure that healthcare providers and insurers can securely exchange electronic health information. Violations of HIPAA can result in significant fines and penalties for covered entities.
Who does HIPAA apply to?
HIPAA applies to covered entities, which include healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses. It also applies to business associates of these covered entities. These are entities that perform certain functions or activities on behalf of the covered entity.
What is a data breach?
A breach occurs when an unauthorized party gains access, uses or discloses protected health information (PHI) without permission. Breaches include hacking, losing a device containing PHI, or sharing information with unauthorized individuals.
See also: How to respond to a data breach
