The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released new guidance that encourages healthcare organizations to consider “cyber decoys” as a practical option to strengthen cyber defenses and improve early threat detection. While cyber decoys are not a replacement for existing security controls, CISA said realistic fake assets, such as files, accounts and credentials, can help security teams identify malicious activity quickly while generating fewer false alarms than traditional monitoring tools.
Any activity from the decoys will signal possible compromise, making them a potentially cost-effective layer of protection for hospitals facing increasing ransomware risks and persistent workforce constraints. According to CISA, these techniques can assist in the timely detection of intrusions, target the use of limited cybersecurity resources, and offer significant insight into attacker behavior.