Cybersecurity in Hospitals
12 trends protecting the healthcare industry from cyber threats
Discover the 12 key trends in hospital cybersecurity, ranging from AI and machine learning to cloud security and IoT. Learn how cybersecurity awareness, data protection compliance, and managed security services play a crucial role in safeguarding the healthcare industry against cyber threats.
As the sophistication of cyberattacks continues to grow, the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks is becoming increasingly important.
The need for cybersecurity in hospitals is a top priority as hospitals are becoming increasingly reliant on technology, with electronic health records (EHRs), connected medical devices, and other digital systems now essential to patient care. This growing dependence on technology also makes hospitals more vulnerable to cyberattacks, which can have serious implications if preventative and curative measures are not taken.
As part of our commitment at Siemens Advanta to exploring this cutting-edge frontier in guarding against cyber theft, here are 12 crucial trends in healthcare cybersecurity that require careful attention.
These technologies are increasingly being used to detect anomalies in network traffic and respond quickly to potential threats.
The importance of cloud application and infrastructure security is increasing as hospitals increasingly adopt cloud services. To safeguard patient data, encryption technologies, strict access controls, and regular security checks are employed.
The growing connectivity of medical devices requires enhanced security measures to protect these devices from cyberattacks. Regular security updates and patch management, network segmentation, and the implementation of intrusion detection and intrusion prevention systems are effective in this regard.
Hospitals are investing more in staff training and awareness-raising to reduce human error and increase security awareness. The opening of phishing emails, insecure passwords and USB sticks are the focus here.
Hospitals are increasingly working with other organizations and authorities to share information about threats and security incidents and develop joint defense strategies.
The protection of end devices, such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets, is essential for cyber security in hospitals. New technologies such as Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) enable better detection and response to threats.
With the increasing use of telemedicine and mobile health applications, the need to protect these systems and applications against cyber attacks is also growing.
Hospitals must continue to ensure compliance with data protection regulations such as the GDPR and guarantee the protection of patient privacy.
Many hospitals opt for managed security services to outsource their IT security and focus on their core competencies. These services offer specialized expertise and continuous monitoring of security systems.
This plan should include clearly defined roles and responsibilities for the response team, establish communication protocols and provide a step-by-step guide for responding to security incidents.
This plan focuses on quickly restoring a hospital's critical systems and applications after a cyberattack or other disaster. It should include priorities for system and data recovery, recovery points and recovery times, and backup and recovery procedures.
Regular offsite backups and redundant systems can minimize the impact of cyberattacks and speed up recovery.
These trends provide a roadmap for healthcare institutions to strengthen their defenses by leveraging innovations such as AI and cloud security.
Navigating this complex terrain, concerted efforts to implement these trends will not only protect sensitive health data, but also strengthen the foundation of trust on which the healthcare system relies, ensuring a resilient and secure future for all.
Industry experts
