D I G I T A L D I A G N O S T I C S
Healthcare providers juggle many digital priorities driven by their central commitment to improving patient care . This means leveraging technology like the Internet of Medical Things ( IoMT ) to improve efficiency and effectiveness . Their primary mission is , however , tempered by intense budgetary pressure , with a need to reduce spending and do more with less .
Lurking behind these budgetary pressures remains the necessity to safeguard healthcare infrastructure against cyberthreats to protect patient well-being and privacy . A continual string of cyberattacks hitting healthcare providers worldwide highlights that the sector has become a primary target for cybercriminal gangs .
While they may often seem at odds , patient care , cost-effectiveness and cybersecurity are closely interlinked and can all be achieved by getting a firmer grasp on managing connected assets . Here ’ s how improved asset management can enable better and more cost-effective patient care while tackling cyber-risk .
The security risks of unmanaged connected technology
The average frontline care provider is host to a growing number of connected devices . This includes everything from vital sensors , IoMT hardware such as MRI machines and insulin injectors , all of which can provide more efficient patient care by making critical information more accessible . It also includes the array of standard connected devices common in many workplaces , such as HVAC and CCTV systems .
Ty Greenhalgh , Healthcare Industry Principal at Claroty , explores why a strategic approach to asset management can tackle some of the biggest tech issues in healthcare .
But while these assets undoubtedly improve patient care , digitisation is a double-edged sword that can also create more risk . Unless properly secured , every connected device on the network presents a potential entry point for cybercriminals . At the same time , disruptive attacks like ransomware can also render IT systems inoperable , shutting down everything from patient databases to medical equipment .
This risk is exacerbated by the fact that many healthcare providers have no true idea of their connected IT landscape . A freedom of information request found that roughly a third of NHS trusts have no processes in place for tracking the Internet of Things ( IoT ) devices connected to their networks . Of
TACKLING THE BIGGEST TECH ISSUES IN HEALTHCARE CYBERSECURITY
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