Three Ways Healthcare Organizations Can Improve System Security Right Now

The following is a guest article by Dr. Richard Searle, Vice President of Confidential Computing at Fortanix, Inc. Today’s world is increasingly driven by technology and digitalization, and the healthcare industry finds itself at a vital intersection between patient care and data security. The rise of cyberattacks, particularly in the healthcare industry, has shone a spotlight on the significant disparity between the healthcare sector’s commitment to cybersecurity and the continually evolving threats it faces.  This stark contrast between the magnitude of cyber risks and the allocation of resources to protect patient data has become an urgent concern. Here we will examine three steps healthcare systems can embrace to strengthen their defenses and protect sensitive patient and organizational information. Step One: Commit the Necessary Resources Multiple reports in recent months illustrate how much healthcare lags when it comes to committing resources to cybersecurity. A report by Moody’s labeled the healthcare industry as “cyber poor,” saying it needs to increase security investments to effectively protect patient data. Further, a survey by the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) found that most healthcare organizations allocate only 6% or less of their IT budgets to cybersecurity. If that sounds low, it’s because it is; multiple studies have found that enterprises spend anywhere from 10% to 20% of their IT budgets on ...
Source: EMR and HIPAA - Category: Information Technology Authors: Tags: Ambulatory C-Suite Leadership Health IT Company Healthcare IT Hospital - Health System LTPAC Security and Privacy Cyberattacks Cybersecurity Cybersecurity Policies Data Breach Dr. Richard Searle Fortanix Healthcare Cybersecurity Source Type: blogs