The healthcare setup is becoming tech-savvy as time passes by, and so is getting prone to cyber-attacks as well. That is why cybersecurity in setups like hospitals, clinics, etc., is crucial for patient safety.
The sudden rise in the frequency of information breaches from hospitals or the overall healthcare industry is appalling. It has now become one of the most targeted sectors by cyber-attacks globally.
Coordination between cybersecurity and patient safety will help your healthcare organization protect your patients’ safety and privacy,
Moreover, work to ensure continuity of high-quality care by resolving disruptions that may negatively impact clinical outcomes.
Why does Cybersecurity In Hospitals Or Healthcare (Entirely) Receive Threats?
You may think, what good is information about someone’s blood report? But, for cyber thieves, this information is of high monetary and intelligence value.
They look for targeted data which includes the patient’s protected health information (PHI), most importantly, their financial information, such as credit card and bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, etc.
It is a known fact that stolen health records sell up to 10 x higher than a stolen credit card number.
How Cyber-Attacks Threaten Patient Privacy And Clinical Outcomes Making Hospital Cybersecurity Crucial.
Cyber thieves’ attack on e-health records threatens patient privacy since hackers access PHI and other sensitive information.
If you do not opt for good cybersecurity for your hospitals, the patient records, and your organization’s information is on the verge of a leak and could face substantial penalties.
The most important thing is patient safety and medical service delivery that will be hampered. Losing access to lifesaving medical records and devices will considerably lower the ability to care for your patients.
Cyber thieves’ gain to private patient data can be potentially fatal if they intentionally or unintentionally alter it.
Protection Via Cybersecurity – A need for time
Cyber thieves’ main agenda is to gain control of the information that may be even remotely come in handy someday. The best defense starts by making cyber risk a business and strategic risk management issue. At least one full-time person should be assigned to lead the information security program, and the role should be prioritized to ensure effective authority, standing, and independence. Additionally, you and your team should be regularly updated on your organization’s strategic cyber risk profile and whether appropriate actions are being taken to mitigate evolving cyber risks dynamically.
Finally, the most important defense is to build a cybersecurity culture around patient safety. This allows healthcare organizations to leverage their existing patient care culture to instill a complementary cybersecurity culture. A cybersecurity culture in which employees see themselves as active defenders of patients and their data can significantly mitigate cyber risks to the organization and patients.
Final Words
If you want to know more about cybersecurity, contact a professional from Ranger’s WiFi, we will be more than happy to answer your queries and provide whichever service suits you best.