Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting healthcare organizations to reap sensitive data. The focus on health systems is not unwarranted -- on the digital black market, this data is now around ten times as valuable as stolen credit card credentials. Industry experts are racking their brains to devise adequate countermeasures. Cybersecurity solution development is now of utmost importance for a sector that has seen its information digitization efforts far outpace its security considerations.
Healthcare providers are often ill-equipped to handle the ongoing threat against their stable of interconnected IoT devices. This issue stems not just from lack of advanced security technology, but proprietary education on safety risk assessment. Moreover, efficient protocols need to be put in place for system response and recovery. Providers with limited resources are particularly vulnerable, as they must choose their battles carefully; a long-range investment in security might preclude allocations for quality patient care and other day-to-day concerns.
There are more and more healthcare products hitting the market that incorporate cybersecurity stopgaps as core functionalities. Philips has introduced a patient monitoring device called the Patient Information Center iX that automatically receives consistent, double-checked security patches and deployment assistance from the company. Another of its products, solutions visibility tool Focal Point, gives insight into the cybersecurity capabilities of the brand’s line of devices.
Providers are now tasked with building or augmenting care systems with security strength enough to inspire confidence in skeptical physicians and patients, while encouraging them to do their part through education and user-friendly device implementation.
