Data Breaches – Protected health information (PHI) has always been a lucrative target for cybercriminals. PHI breaches can lead to healthcare fraud through manipulation of medical records or identity theft to access prescription drugs. This could damage reputation and erode patient trust.
Obsolete technology – Extensive use of outdated technology and infrastructure often leaves the door open to vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit. Redesigning the technology function remains a costly and time-consuming endeavor and is often a barrier to change. However, the same KPMG study showed
Insufficient staff training – Given their training and job responsibilities, many healthcare employees may not understand basic cybersecurity protocols. Without proper training, the risk of threats like phishing is higher.
Regulatory non-compliance – Healthcare organizations around the world operate under strict regulatory rules regarding patient data. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in severe penalties.
End point complexity – Health systems face unique challenges in endpoint complexity due to their large employee populations and vast physical infrastructures. This requires organizations to manage devices used by thousands of staff, patients and visitors.
Interoperable EHRs – A recent research report from the Partnership for Healthcare System Sustainability and Resilience touts the benefits of establishing interoperable clinical databases and EHRs as a “goal of the utmost importance for all health systems.” This report also stated that these systems “have the potential to significantly improve daily patient care and create a rich and comprehensive source of population-wide data to aid in service planning and implementation, as well as as the research and development of new technologies. including artificial intelligence »2. Unusable EHRs also link to patient portals and allow remote access to medical staff, which is critical to improving experiences for both audiences. While these interoperable systems provide many benefits to healthcare systems, the very nature of the personal health information they contain puts them at risk of cyberattack.
