HITRUST Deploys ‘Honeypots’ to Gain Knowledge of Cyber Attack Methods

The Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST) and Trend Micro have created a deception-based threat detection collaboration platform that deploys “honeypots” across the healthcare ecosystem.

HITRUST CTX Deceptive deploys decoys that work together to deceive attackers and gain knowledge of their methods, processes, tactics and targets of interest. These decoys, or honeypots, are computer systems designed to attract and monitor attackers and are typically deployed as stand-alone systems within individual organizations.

HITRUST said it has taken the concept to the next level by designing a deception environment that spans across many healthcare organizations via the HITRUST CTX threat-sharing infrastructure. HITRUST has also deployed decoys of commonly used systems including leading EHRs, medical devices and other healthcare-specific systems. HITRUST facilitates the 24/7 monitoring of the activity.

HITRUST said this is the first time that multiple organizations have come together to undertake such a sophisticated and aggressive approach to cyber deception. By working together and sharing the different types of traps and decoys, as well as intelligence gathered related to specific threat actors, systems or medical devices, cyber defenders now have insight beyond basic IOC information.

HITRUST said CTX Deceptive will provide insight into how threat actors are infiltrating and exploiting networks, applications and systems while capturing complete malicious activity, IP addresses and domains.

Advanced tactical intelligence on attack behaviors and possible attack paths can be anticipated, and indicators of compromise data and alerts on threats to specific applications and medical systems can be shared with organizations to prevent an attack and reduce the risk of breach or compromise.

HITRUST said Trend Micro’s experience with honeypots allows it to understand the results of malicious activity within the HITRUST CTX and provide an advanced level of protection. With enhanced visibility into the network, early detection of attacks in the decoy environment can improve the industry’s time-to-respond with third-party integrations to isolate and block attacks.

HITRUST will not publicly disclose any information about the participating organizations or the target systems that decoys have been developed or will be in the future.