The healthcare sector has consistently faced the highest average cost of data breaches for the past 13 years. In 2023, the average cost of a data breach was $10.93 million, according to the IBM Security Report. That’s nearly double that of the financial industry, emphasizing the critical nature of safeguarding Protected Health Information (PHI).
The HIPAA Journal reported that phishing attacks, a favorite vector of hackers, accounted for 108 healthcare data breaches in Q1 of 2024 alone. Even with advanced spam filtering software, phishing emails sometimes slip through and wind up in your employees’ inboxes.
With the increasing amount of sensitive patient information being stored and transmitted electronically, healthcare organizations must take cybersecurity seriously and arm their employees with the knowledge and tools necessary to prevent attacks.
Email phishing attacks, which target employees to gain access to confidential data, are particularly concerning due to their potential to violate HIPAA regulations and compromise patient privacy. The SLAM Method provides a structured approach to effectively identify and mitigate these potential threats.
What Does the SLAM Acronym Stand For?
The SLAM Method comprises four key components: Sender, Links, Attachments, and Message. Each of these elements plays a critical role in identifying phishing attempts.
Sender
Always scrutinize the sender’s email address. Phishing emails often come from domain addresses that look similar to legitimate ones but may have subtle differences. For example, support@microsoft.com is a real email address at Microsoft. But support@m1crosoft.com, where the “i” is replaced by the number “1” is not. It might be easy to miss this red flag at a quick glance, especially if you are viewing the email on a mobile device. Verifying the sender’s domain address can help prevent unauthorized access.
Links
Cybercriminals often use deceptive link text, known as URL cloaking or URL obfuscation, to disguise harmful URLs. Before clicking any link, hover over it to preview the actual URL. Ensuring the link leads to a trusted site is essential in avoiding malicious software from being installed on the user’s device.
Attachments
Be cautious with unsolicited email attachments, especially those that arrive unexpectedly or from unfamiliar senders. Malicious attachments can introduce malware to your system, putting sensitive data at risk. If uncertain whether an attachment is malicious or not, it’s always best to forward questionable emails to your managed IT service provider so they can check for you.
Message
Analyze the content of the message. Phishing attempts often contain grammatical errors, strange wording, and urgent requests for personal information or payment. These requests are huge red flags. Phishing emails used to be easy to spot because they almost always had poor grammar and misspelled words. Unfortunately, AI is a scammer’s best friend, enabling the bad actor to create almost flawless emails. Nonetheless, be aware of awkward phrasing, which could signify a phishing email.
How to Identify Email Phishing Attacks
Because of the sensitive nature of the data held by healthcare organizations, cybersecurity awareness training can reduce the likelihood of a staff member falling for a phishing attempt. Ongoing training will help your employees spot the telltale signs of possible phishing messages, including:
Suspicious Sender
Always check the sender’s email address to ensure it matches the company’s official domain address. For example, an email might be from sender@micros0ft.com instead of sender@microsoft.com.
Urgent or Threatening Language
Phishing emails often create a false sense of urgency, prompting immediate action. Be wary of phrases such as:
- Your account has been suspended.
- Immediate action required.
- Update your information now.
- Your account has been compromised; reset your password immediately.
- Your invoice is overdue!
- Pay now to avoid penalties.
- We noticed suspicious activity on your account; please verify your details.
Requests for Sensitive Information
Legitimate organizations rarely ask for personal details via email. If an email prompts you to hand over personal information such as credit card details, Social Security numbers, or passwords, chances are the email is a phishing attempt.
Unusual Attachments or Links
Emails that contain attachments or links you weren’t expecting should be approached with caution. If in doubt, it’s best to reach out to the sender, using a known form of contact, to confirm the legitimacy of the attachment.
Contradictory URLs
A visible hyperlink might show a legitimate company’s website (e.g., www.fedex.com), but hovering over the link might reveal a fake website such as www.fedx.com or www.fed-ex.net.
Generic Greetings
Phishing emails often use generic greetings such as Dear Customer or Hi User instead of addressing you by name.
By training staff to recognize these signs, healthcare organizations can reduce the risk of falling victim to phishing attacks.
Implementing the SLAM Method for Phishing Identification
To effectively apply the SLAM Method, healthcare professionals can follow these detailed steps:
Educate Employees
Conduct ongoing security awareness training sessions to familiarize staff with the SLAM components and the latest phishing tactics. Your employees are the weakest links and pose the biggest threats to exposing sensitive patient data. Quarterly training and monthly or even weekly security tips will help users sharpen their phish-detection skills.
Regular Email Reviews
Encourage employees to routinely check email sender addresses, hover over links, and scrutinize attachments before taking action. Most security awareness training platforms can test your staff periodically by sending simulated phishing emails to test their skills in spotting fakes.
Create a Reporting Protocol
Establish a clear procedure for reporting suspected phishing attempts. Reporting allows the IT or security team to take action to prevent the phishing email from reaching other employees. It also allows organizations the opportunity to update their cybersecurity protocols, reducing the likelihood of successful phishing attacks in the future.
Leverage Technology
Utilize email filtering and security software to flag suspicious emails based on known phishing patterns automatically. Artificial Intelligence email assistance platforms such as Inky can help your users spot and identify malicious emails even if they do slip through a filter. Implementing and updating advanced O365 security policies and implementing Domain Message Authentication Reporting and Conformance, or DMARC, can further enhance a healthcare organization’s email security. Learn more HERE.
Responding to Phishing Attempts: What to Do When You Recognize a Phishing Email
When a phishing email is suspected, it’s crucial to act promptly:
Do Not Engage
Avoid clicking on any links or downloading attachments.
Report the Email
Notify your IT department or security team immediately. They can take steps to secure systems and inform other staff members.
Delete the Email
Remove the phishing email from your inbox to prevent accidental engagement later.
Follow Up with Training
Reinforce lessons learned from the incident in team meetings to enhance awareness and preparedness.
Conclusion
Implementing the SLAM Method is essential for enhancing cybersecurity in healthcare organizations, particularly in the fight against cyber attacks. By prioritizing these practices, healthcare professionals can significantly reduce the risks of data breaches and ensure compliance with HIPAA regulations. As cyber threats continue to evolve, it’s crucial for organizations to remain vigilant and proactive in their cybersecurity measures.
To learn how our team of cybersecurity experts can help protect your business, schedule a 15-minute discovery call today.