Healthcare and cybersecurity are the top concerns of healthcare industries today. On the other hand, the cybersecurity industry is also earning big from healthcare entities availing their services.
So in this article, let us see the connection between healthcare and cybersecurity.
The Connection Between Healthcare and Cybersecurity
The healthcare industry has a lot of sensitive data that is vital for patients and healthcare entities. Cybercriminals are constantly looking for ways to attack them and get the information they want.
As a result, healthcare cybersecurity has become a top priority of healthcare organizations. These organizations must make sure that their networks are safe from cybercrimes and they must invest in cybersecurity tools.
Healthcare cybersecurity is a relatively new term, but every healthcare organization needs to pay attention to it. This is because major breaches in healthcare can lead to several patient deaths.
HIPAA for Cybersecurity in Healthcare
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the main law governing the security standards of health data. It was passed in 1996. Until now, it serves as the foundation of healthcare cybersecurity. HIPAA requires all healthcare entities to protect patient information with strong security measures including encryption, authentication, access control, and auditing.
With these requirements, HIPAA aims to increase the safety of patient data. For instance, by enforcing strong security measures before sharing any data outside the network.
The Role of Healthcare Cybersecurity in Patient Safety
Security measures are important when it comes to ensuring patient safety in an increasingly technological world. Better safety measures mean better protection against cybercrimes, including ransomware attacks.
However, there are still some risks in using technology even if you have good security measures in place. For example, you can still fall prey to phishing scams or other social engineering attacks if you don’t know how to properly secure your devices or network.
Thus, it is important. For example, because it helps protect patient data on medical devices or hospital networks from being stolen by cybercriminals.
Cybercriminals are always looking for ways to steal large amounts of personal information from individuals and businesses alike. Their reasons may vary. But they are always looking for ways to make money out of this information. Perhaps by without getting caught by authorities or by the victims themselves. Some cybercriminals attack because they want money.
Furthermore, many cyberattacks target healthcare industries because these industries have sensitive data that can be sold online for big profits especially when it comes to patients’ information which can be used by identity thieves or other people who want access to sensitive information.
Healthcare Cybersecurity in the Next Five Years
Cybersecurity for healthcare is an important issue for everyone in the industry. Cyberattacks can cost healthcare industries billions of dollars depending on how severe the breach is.
So in the next five years, we can expect that there will be more investments in cybersecurity tools and more awareness about how to protect medical devices and networks from cybercriminals.
Healthcare organizations must try to develop stronger security measures for their networks and patients’ data. As mentioned earlier, investing in cybersecurity tools is important but it will not be enough if you don’t know how to properly use them.
