Healthcare practices are a major target for cybercrime in Australia. If you run a medical, dental, veterinary or allied health practice, your patient records and business systems are valuable to attackers. While cyber security can feel complex, many attacks start with simple issues that can be reduced with the right support and basic safeguards.
Cybercrime against healthcare is increasing in Australia. Recent reporting shows ransomware incidents in the sector have doubled, creating risk for both patient care and business continuity.
The ASD’s ACSC has also reported that healthcare incidents are more likely to succeed than incidents in many other sectors. A key reason is simple: practices rely on their systems every day, so even a short outage can cause serious disruption.
Patient data is also valuable to criminals because it can be used for fraud and identity theft. That makes healthcare an attractive target, even when a practice is small.
The OAIC’s recent data shows health service providers reported the highest number of data breaches of any industry, accounting for 18% of all reported breaches.
Size does not remove the risk. A solo GP, dental practice or veterinary clinic can still be targeted if attackers find weak passwords, outdated software or poor security processes.
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Most attacks do not start with anything dramatic. They often begin with a simple email, a reused password or a system that has not been updated.
Phishing emails are a common starting point. A staff member might receive what looks like a message from Medicare, a pathology lab or a software provider, click a link, and accidentally share their login details.
Ransomware is when attackers lock access to files or systems and demand payment to restore them. For a practice that relies on patient records and appointment systems, this can quickly stop normal operations.
Business email compromise is when someone pretends to be a trusted contact, such as an accountant or supplier, and sends false payment instructions. It can be hard to spot until money has already been sent.
Australia has introduced new cyber security laws. One important change is mandatory reporting for some ransomware or cyber extortion payments.
In general, businesses with annual turnover above $3 million, and some critical infrastructure entities, may need to report these payments within 72 hours.
Some specialist practices may fall into this category. Paying a ransom is not illegal in Australia, but it may trigger a reporting requirement.
Smaller practices still have privacy obligations. Most healthcare providers are covered by the Privacy Act and the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme, regardless of turnover.
The main point is that protecting patient data is not just good business practice. It is also part of running a compliant healthcare business.
Most successful attacks take advantage of common issues: old software, weak passwords, too many admin permissions or poor backups. These are areas your IT provider can help you review.
A good place to start is the Australian Government’s Essential Eight. It is a practical checklist of basic security steps that can reduce common cyber risks. Credabl is not a cyber security provider, so this is something to work through with your IT adviser or specialist support.