A combination of significant staff shortages , cybersecurity threats and budgetary constraints is putting pressure on management teams and having a flow-on impact on both staff and patients .

This situation was confirmed by research conducted by Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society ( HIMSS ), in partnership with Extreme Networks . In a report titled Emerging from the COVID Pandemic , the organisation noted hospitals had to find a balance between meeting existing patient needs and upgrading facilities and infrastructure for the future .

The report highlighted the fact that hospitals need to continue to invest nextgeneration IT equipment and applications to ensure they could continue to deliver the best possible standard of medical care . This infrastructure must also be secure at all times to prevent disruptions by cyberattacks .

According to the HIMSS report , cybersecurity was nominated as a challenge by survey respondents , along with the cost of the technological advancement needed to ensure first-rate care could be provided .

Frustratingly , a recent research paper prepared by the Ponemon Institute found only 30 % of organisations believe they are effectively keeping up with a changing threat landscape .

One topic upon which the vast majority of respondents ( 93 %) agreed was that their data network is considered a strategic asset that is essential to the success of a hospital ’ s operations .

In this article , Carmelo Calafiore , ANZ Regional Director at Extreme Networks , explores why investing in resilient , secure networks is essential to address significant challenges in healthcare , including staff shortages , cybersecurity threats and budgetary constraints .

This demonstrates an acute awareness of the importance of modernising and investing in a network that is resilient and able to withstand cyberattacks . It needs to be able to safeguard patient data , uphold operations during an ongoing influx of devices , and provide the best possible healthcare to patients . The Ponemon Institute survey also found that 59 % of respondents rank technology modernisation and digital transformation as a top-three priority .

These often-competing demands pose constant challenges for a hospital ’ s network . It can be difficult for IT teams to find a solution that drives

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