Why is Cyber Security essential for the healthcare industry?

Every business and service runs using computers these days, and they all store a great amount of data, which is now considered to be one of the most valuable commodities in the world. That is why there are now so many security attacks being made on cyber systems, and every organisation needs to be on top of these. The healthcare industry is one which particularly needs to be concerned with this as the data they hold is extremely sensitive.

Much of the paperwork involved in the healthcare sector has been digitised in order to streamline what was an archaic system. This online solution has meant that information about patients can be shared more quickly and easily so a treatment plan can be determined in a more effective way. However, in doing this, healthcare data has become vulnerable to cyber-attacks which can be crippling.

The financial cost

One of the most obvious reasons to protect the healthcare industry from cyber-attacks is due to the massive cost implications. By putting this information into digital form, more patients can be seen as data can be shared more effectively amongst colleagues, departments and other healthcare institutions, hopefully bringing about a swifter resolution to their problems.

Cyber attackers aim to get their hands on this information so that it can be sold or so that the organisation can be held to ransom. The cost in repairing this, cleaning up systems and covering the legal fees or fines afterwards when such private data has been lost could be devastating.

Reputational damage

This was one of the biggest attacks, which hit the headlines for some time, however, there have been plenty of others. It is believed that email fraud in healthcare has risen by as much as 473% in just the last two years. The damage can not only bring organisations to a stop, but also damage their reputation in a massive way.

The data that is held is incredibly personal, and more members of the public are likely to be concerned or even angry if they feel that their information has been compromised. Unlike financial organisations, victims cannot simply change a few passwords to protect themselves, as their health information is so much more unique.

Details such as medication use, family connections and long-term conditions will be held in addition to personal information, which can be extremely valuable on the dark web for those who wish to commit identity theft or fraud.

Medical devices

Technological innovation has meant that many devices such as x-rays, insulin pumps and defibrillators are essential in our healthcare systems, but they can also be at risk too. Whilst they do not hold any data themselves, they can be used as part of a cyber-attack.

In some situations, it is even possible for devices such as this to be completely taken over by hackers as it will eventually give them access to other network devices, or it will give them somewhere to upload their ransomware.

Security of these devices is vital not only to keep them in good working order, but also to protect wider networks from even more damaging consequences.

Disruption

We all know what it feels like when out computers do not work properly. Suddenly, it feels as though we can do nothing, and this is just as true in the healthcare industry. If any systems fail, the disruption it causes can be massive.

Appointments, tests and operations can immediately be stopped, and this can be hard to catch up again, particularly if there is any significant downtime. In the healthcare industry, such a backlog is not just inconvenient, but in some cases in can be life-threatening.

Time Saving

Healthcare staff are all brilliant people who have studied for years to gain the skills that they have. They are fantastic at their jobs, but they are not IT experts, and are not trained to spot the many cyber threats that are out there.

By having proper cyber security systems in place, healthcare professionals have more freedom to do what they do best without having to worry about the attacks that might be coming from outside when they are already working long and demanding hours.

Connectivity

The modern world has meant that it is easier for healthcare organisations to be connected. It allows them to share patient information faster, ensuring treatment is more effective, but it can mean that cyber threats can also spread more easily.

A simply click of a button can send a virus out to so many more computers, and so having adequate security in place doesn’t just protect one system, it can protect many more within a network too.

Cyber attacks

Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic has been the biggest crisis that the NHS has faced for some time, we all remember when it had a different kind of enemy to fight. Occurring in 2017, a new virus struck, but it was not one that could be tackled on the frontline. The WannaCry ransomware was a malicious form of software that afflicted more than 200,000 computers across the world, including the ones belonging to the NHS.

It brought hospitals and GP surgeries to a standstill and thousands of operations were cancelled. This was due to a particular vulnerability in the system that the NHS used, and although the NHS did not pay the ransom that was asked for, it is estimated that the cost of the disruption that the attack caused was in the region of £92 million.

The healthcare industry has more responsibility than many others to make sure that they keep the data that they hold safe. A cyber-attack can not only put this very important information at risk, but it can also bring organisations that people are relying on to their knees.

It is therefore vital for healthcare providers to make sure that their cyber security is as robust as possible in order to protect everyone involved and to make sure they are functioning as well as possible.

Author Bio

Luke Watts is the director of RoundWorks IT, who are specialists in managed IT Support, Backup and Disaster Recovery, Cyber Security and more for businesses across East Midlands.