Such capabilities are vital given that human error is considered one of the common causes of data breaches . One recent example took place in Japan where a worker reportedly lost a memory stick that contained the personal data of all residents of a Japanese city after a night out . The data had been encrypted and password-protected , preventing unauthorised access .

The company made the statement as data breaches remain one of the biggest digital threats within the healthcare industry , thereby raising the need for stronger data security protocols and stringent compliance with relevant policies .

The average total cost of a healthcare data breach worldwide rose by almost US $ 1 million to US $ 10.10 million in 2022 , according to IBM Security analysis of research data compiled by Ponemon Institute . Healthcare breach costs have been the most expensive industry for 12 consecutive years , increasing by 41.6 % since the 2020 report .

Kingston maintained that hardware encryption can help bridge gaps by providing a fortified layer of data protection through an encryption process designed to be unbreakable or hard to intercept . Whether stored or transported , the medical data saved in encrypted hardware devices , such as USBs , can be accessed only through authentication codes set by authorised individuals .

The encryption feature is also separate from any PC , mobile phone or network systems to keep the data out of reach in the event a cybercriminal breaks into the gadgets or online networks . Security is also assured even if the encrypted device ends up being misplaced , lost or stolen .

“ Encrypted drives such as IronKey encrypted USBs are made to keep the data from falling into the wrong hands ,” said Antoine Harb , Team Leader Middle East and North Africa at Kingston Technology . “ Many are equipped with top-notch features that can also detect and respond to physical tampering and provide automatic data protection upon drive removal for added peace of mind .”

Hardware-based encryption not only offers strong and reliable protection but is also a practical and easy-touse approach to safeguarding private healthcare-related information . It offers out-of-the-box cybersecurity measures minus the need for regular updates like those required in the software-based encryption process .

IronKey , for example , allows either a complex password or a passphrase up to 255 characters long . After 10 invalid password attempts , the drive locks down with the option to reformat or destroy it .

Cybercrimes are on the rise worldwide , resulting in astronomical financial and reputational costs .

In the Middle East , IBM Security reported that the region had the second-highest average total data breach cost reaching US $ 7.46 million in 2022 from US $ 6.93 million last year .

Among other factors , the Middle Eastern countries ’ financial and economic status has been cited as one of the main reasons behind the online network attacks . �

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