Tackling the Ransomware Pandemic: Healthcare Security Leaders Team Up with OnDefend for a New Defensive Approach

 A collaboration with hospital systems and their leaders, OnDefend’s new Ransomware Defense Validation service reimagines defense strategies through proactive and continuous security control validation.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– OnDefend, a leader in preventative cybersecurity testing and advisory services, today announced the launch of its Ransomware Defense Validation (RDV) service. Developed with direct input from prominent healthcare Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and launched in collaboration with major healthcare systems, RDV addresses the pressing need for organizations to proactively defend against ransomware threats.

The healthcare community faces a new pandemic—a cyber one—and the risks to patient safety, data security, and operational continuity have never been greater. As a managed service, RDV, powered by BlindSPOT, OnDefend’s proprietary Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) platform, equips organizations to regularly test and validate the effectiveness of their prevention, detection, and response security controls against known and emerging threats.

Data collected from OnDefend’s global security testing services found:

• 24% of malicious emails bypassSecure Email Gateways (SEGs).
• 7 out of 10 attack simulation engagements identify exploitable security tool failures.
• 5 out of 10 incident emulationsidentify notification delays or failure to meet Service Level Agreements (SLA) between the response vendors.

A Collaborative Approach to Solving an Industry-Wide Challenge

RDV originated from conversations between OnDefend’s security teams and healthcare leaders who shared concerns about common security control failures and the lack of regular visibility and validation.

“Cybersecurity isn’t about setting up defenses and hoping for the best. It’s about constantly testing, adapting, and staying ahead of threats. If you’re not testing your security, the attackers will do it for you,” said Larry Whiteside Jr., former CISO at Spectrum Health and Women’s Care OBGYN.

These discussions highlighted the need for a proactive solution tailored to the unique challenges of healthcare cybersecurity, going above and beyond current healthcare standards and regulations.

How Ransomware Defense Validation (RDV) Works

RDV is delivered by OnDefend as a managed service using BlindSPOT to safely simulate real-world ransomware attacks on a healthcare systems’ defenses to prove their:

Secure Email Gateways (SEGs): effectively filter malicious emails from reaching employee inboxes.

Threat Detection Tools (EDR, SIEM): effectively identify and alert security teams to real-world attack activity.

Threat Response Teams (SOC,MDR,NDR): immediately respond and neutralize real-world cyber threats in real-time.

“Ransomware Defense Validation provides security leaders with critical visibility into their defensive investments, ensuring they are resilient against the cyber threats targeting their industry,” said Chris Freedman, CEO of OnDefend. “The goal of this managed service is to validate security tools and hold monitoring vendors accountable, all while empowering our customers to demonstrate they are achieving the return on investment they deserve.”

RDV Outcomes & Industry Impact

Early access customers who implemented RDV found their security teams’ overall posture improved, showcased continuous risk reduction, proved return on investments, and are prepared to safeguard essential healthcare operations.

Read the case study: Prominent Healthcare System Implements Ransomware Defense Validation to Safeguard Patient Safety
and Data Security

This service is now available to healthcare organizations nationwide.

Learn More

To further understand Ransomware Defense Validation, we invite you to explore our additional resources here: https://ondefend.com/blindspot/ransomware-defense-validation/

About OnDefend

OnDefend, established in 2016, stands at the forefront of preventative cybersecurity testing and advisory services, a reputation further enhanced by the introduction of BlindSPOT, its advanced Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) Software as a Service (SaaS) platform. OnDefend is a trusted partner, empowering organizations globally to combat real-world cyber threats proactively. From ensuring compliance with industry standards to building out mature security programs, our mission is to ensure that the security resources our customers invest in are well-utilized, effective, and provide tangible results. For more information about our services and solutions, please visit www.ondefend.com.

OnDefend on Social Media

LinkedIn

Twitter (@OnDefend)

Contacts

OnDefend Media Contact:
Lauren Verno
Media@ondefend.com
904-299-3669