The paradox of technology penetration is that the improvement of medical institutions, the development of IT systems increases the efficiency of the services provided, however, at the same time makes medical institutions more attractive for cybercriminals.
The medicine
The healthcare industry is increasingly relying on the technology connected to the Internet: from records of patients and laboratory research results to x-ray equipment and hospital elevators.
The paradox of technology penetration is that the improvement of medical institutions, the development of IT systems increases the efficiency of the services provided, however, at the same time makes medical institutions more attractive for cybercriminals.
Why a healthcare industry is so attractive for cybercriminals?
• A huge amount of confidential data. Unfortunately, many security vulnerabilities in health care can compromise patient data. Without careful control, valuable information can quickly get into the hands of intruders.
• Development of remote services. Using vulnerabilities in web applications can paralyze the operation of the entire system.
• Outdated IT systems. Many medical institutions have long been obsolete according to a large number of vulnerabilities.
• Equipment. More and more medical equipment is connected to the Internet. Cybercriminals have the ability to intercept control over such equipment.
The main threats of information security for health facilities:
• Malicious programs and encrypters. Cybercriminals use malicious programs and encrypters to infect systems and files, making them inaccessible to the organization. In some cases require redemption to return access. When this happens, critical processes slow down or fully stop.
• Cloud Threats. More and more information about the health of patients is stored in the "cloud". Without proper encryption, this can lead to information security threats.
• Phishing attacks In order to obtain confidential information from users.
• Employees. They can leave health care organizations vulnerable for attacks due to low awareness of the threats of information security, weak passwords and violations of regulatory requirements.
• Refusal of service (DDOS) attacks. Such attacks may provide a serious problem for health care providers who need access to the network to ensure proper patient care or Internet access to send and receive e-mail, recipes, records and information.
Despite the fact that such attacks can occur in other sectors, in the field of health care, cyberouts may have consequences that are beyond financial losses and confidentiality violations.
Tasks of information security in healthcare :
• Security of corporate resources (information infrastructure, web resources);
• Protection of end devices;
• Protection of sensitive information and personal data;
• Compliance with the requirements of regulators;
• Prevention of information leaks;
• Identification of internal abuses and disloyal employees.