Boosting health-care cybersecurity is a top priority for federal authorities

TLDR:

Health-care entities are increasingly targeted by ransomware attacks, causing disruptions and threats to patient safety. Federal authorities are providing free cybersecurity resources to help enhance the sector’s cyber defenses. The article highlights the challenges faced by health-care providers, the importance of a systemic approach to cybersecurity, and the efforts being made by the Department of Health and Human Services to boost health-care cybersecurity.

Federal Authorities Work to Boost Health-Care Cybersecurity

Ransomware attacks against the health-care sector are on the rise, with recent incidents impacting organizations like OneBlood, Change Healthcare, and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. The attacks not only disrupt medical services but also pose threats to patient safety. To combat these threats, federal authorities are providing free cybersecurity resources to help strengthen the sector’s defenses.

Challenges Faced by Health-Care Providers

Health-care providers face steep pressures to pay ransoms due to the critical nature of their services, as failure to do so can have life-threatening consequences. Small rural health-care organizations often lack the financial resources for robust cybersecurity measures, and the complexity of legacy IT systems further complicates the maintenance and update processes. Collaboration and awareness about available cybersecurity tools and assistance are vital in addressing these challenges.

Sectorwide Approach to Cybersecurity

Experts emphasize the importance of a systemwide approach to cybersecurity in the health-care sector. The Department of Health and Human Services is working on providing cybersecurity advice, resources, and potentially mandating requirements to enhance the sector’s cyber readiness. The federal government is allocating funds to support hospital cybersecurity, and ongoing efforts aim to improve preparedness and response to cyber attacks in the health-care sector.

Overall, enhancing health-care cybersecurity is crucial to safeguarding patient data and ensuring uninterrupted delivery of critical medical services in the face of increasing cyber threats.