November 06, 2025
Top FAQs for Healthcare Teams
1. What is phishing?
Phishing is a cyberattack where attackers impersonate trusted sources to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information like passwords, financial data or patient records.
2. Why is phishing a major concern in healthcare?
Healthcare organizations handle highly sensitive data. A successful phishing attack can lead to HIPAA violations, data breaches, financial loss and compromised patient care. Administrators handle financial, HR and vendor communications, and clinical staff handle patient data and interact with systems like EHRs, making them targets for phishing.
3. What does a phishing email typically look like?
A phishing email often looks suspicious or unprofessional, and may feature:
- Urgent or alarming messages
- Suspicious links or attachments
- Misspelled sender addresses
- Generic greetings like “Dear Customer”
- Requests for login credentials or financial info
4. What are examples of phishing in healthcare settings?
- Fake emails from “IT” asking for password resets
- Messages pretending to be from insurance providers
- Spoofed emails from leadership requesting wire transfers
5. What should I do if I receive a suspicious email?
- Don’t click on links or download attachments
- Report the email to your IT/security team
- Delete the email after reporting
6. What if I clicked a link or entered information?
Immediately notify your IT team. They can help secure your account and prevent further damage.
7. Are phishing attacks only via email?
No. They can also come through:
- Text messages (smishing)
- Phone calls (vishing)
- Social media messages
8. How can I verify if a message is legitimate?
- Check the sender’s email address carefully
- Hover over links to preview URLs
- Contact the sender through a known, trusted method
9. What tools can organizations use to prevent phishing?
- Email filtering software
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Security awareness training
- Incident response protocols
10. How often should I expect phishing training?
Most organizations offer phishing training on a quarterly or biannual basis. Staying engaged and requesting refreshers, when necessary, can help reinforce best practices.
11. What are the consequences of falling for a phishing scam?
- Exposure of patient data
- Operational disruption
- Financial penalties
- Regulatory and legal liability
- Reputational damage
12. How can I help protect my team?
- Share phishing examples during team meetings
- Encourage reporting without fear of blame
- Stay updated on new phishing tactics
13. What role does leadership play in phishing prevention?
- Model good cybersecurity habits
- Implement strong technical safeguards
- Support ongoing training
- Respond quickly to reported incidents
14. What are some red flags in attachments or links?
- Unexpected file types (e.g., .exe, .scr)
- Unexpected medical records requests
- Misspelled URLs
- Links that redirect to login pages
- Unknown IT email stating password reset required
15. Where can I learn more or get help?
- Contact your IT/security team
- Refer to internal cybersecurity resources
- Visit trusted sites like StaySafeOnline.org or CISA.gov
Examples of Phishing Scenarios
- Fake appointment confirmations requesting login.
- Spoofed emails from other departments asking for patient info.
- Messages pretending to be from medical device vendors.
- Fake invoices requesting urgent payment.
- Spoofed emails from leadership requesting wire transfers.
- Phishing messages pretending to be from insurance providers.
Cox Business Can Help Protect Against Phishing Attempts
Cox Business helps healthcare organizations strengthen their defenses against phishing attacks by delivering measurable outcomes that protect data, minimize disruptions, and accelerate response. These outcomes are supported by:
- Preventing data breaches through advanced email filtering that blocks malicious messages before they reach staff inboxes.
- Minimizing operational disruptions with continuous network monitoring that detects and neutralizes suspicious activity in real time.
- Reducing human error by equipping staff with training resources that improve their ability to spot and report phishing attempts.
- Accelerating incident response with 24/7 access to cybersecurity experts who help contain threats and restore normal operations quickly.
With Cox Business as a trusted advisor, healthcare providers can strengthen their security posture and safeguard sensitive patient data and operational systems through expert guidance and tailored solutions. Visit our site to learn more about cybersecurity solutions available and to schedule a free consultation.
Quick-Reference Checklist
- Verify financial requests through known channels.
- Do not open suspicious attachments.
- Report phishing attempts to IT and document the incident.
- Educate team members on phishing risks.
- Use secure login practices and MFA.
- Verify sender identity.
- Do not click suspicious links.
- Report suspicious messages to IT.
- Delete phishing emails after reporting.
- Stay updated on phishing tactics.
