Medical institutions have implemented electronic health cards, remote consultations, and automated diagnostic systems since the age of digitalization is moving forward and innovative technologies are developing. New threats have come as well and cyber attacks on critical data have started to occur regularly.
Cybersecurity in healthcare is becoming an integral part of protecting patient privacy and providing quality care. The more often people prefer to use assistance like an AI Therapy chat, their confidential data become easy prey for hackers. In this article, we will find out key challenges and their modern solutions in the field of healthcare and protecting medical infrastructure from cyber threats. Have a pleasant reading!
Protection of information systems in public health: the main threats
There are some types of cyber threats in the medical field that can seriously harm both employees and patients of healthcare organizations.
- Medical facilities often become the target of attacks by ransomware programs that block access to important data and demand ransom for their unblocking. Viruses and trojans can infect the system, steal information, and even disrupt medical equipment.
- Fishing and social engineering. Attackers use methods of deception to draw out passwords and other confidential information from medical staff. For instance, fake letters from colleagues or managers prompt employees to click the buttons of malicious links.
- Hacking and unauthorized access. Hackers try to break into internal networks and databases of medical institutions to steal personal data and falsify medical records. They use methods like guessing passwords and exploits for the vulnerability.
- Vulnerability of medical devices. Hackers can interfere with the operation of some medical devices that are connected to a network, such as cardiac stimulators and infusion pumps.
Methods of data and systems protection
Modern healthcare cybersecurity is based on a comprehensive approach that includes data encryption to protect information when storing and transferring data, as well as multi-factor authentication that enhances the security of access to systems. Let’s take a look at the methods of ensuring cybersecurity in medical organizations in detail.
Data encryption
All medical data should be encrypted whether it is stored on stationary devices in hospitals and departments or transmitted between organizations. This prevents access to information in case it is intercepted by intruders. Modern encryption algorithms guarantee a high level of security and do not reduce the speed of systems at the same time.
MFA
Owners of medical equipment use passwords and additional authentication levels to gain access to medical systems. Among them are one-time codes, biometric data, and hardware security keys. These technologies significantly reduce the risk of account hacking, even if the password is compromised.
Network access control
The rights of users of the medical system should be clearly delineated since each of them has a unique level of access to information. For instance, the enforcement of the principles of least privilege helps to limit potential harm in an internal security breach.
Conclusion
The protection of information systems in healthcare has become a priority for many healthcare organizations. It requires an integrated approach and continuous improvement. Medical data always remains private and its theft can bring health risks to patients. These are the main reasons why entrepreneurs and managers have started to invest heavily in cybersecurity in medicine. Today it is also a moral obligation to society and not only a technical necessity.
