The Importance of Collaborative Efforts in Securing Healthcare Data Systems
In the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare, organizations are grappling with the twin challenges of budget constraints and workforce shortages. However, a balanced approach can help them effectively address cybersecurity issues, as demonstrated by several healthcare providers.
A strategic resource allocation, modernizing legacy systems, implementing comprehensive staff training, and embracing risk-sharing partnerships with healthcare security experts are key strategies that can strengthen cybersecurity defenses.
Updating legacy technology is crucial, as many healthcare providers still rely on outdated systems that lack modern security features, making them vulnerable to attacks. Retiring old hardware and enforcing regular software updates across devices, data centers, and cloud platforms is essential to reduce risks.
Prioritized spending on high-impact cybersecurity projects is another essential aspect. With tight budgets, healthcare CIOs and CFOs must justify spending by focusing on projects that deliver clear return on investment (ROI), such as cloud migrations that can lower hardware costs and outsourcing through managed service providers to reduce operational expenses.
Comprehensive staff training is another vital component. Human error is a significant cybersecurity risk, and training all user groups, from clinicians to administrative staff, on secure handling of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), password management, and compliance improves the security posture without large expenditures.
Risk sharing and collaborative cybersecurity models are also essential. Partnering with healthcare security experts, vendors, insurers, and regulators through a risk-sharing framework distributes financial and operational cybersecurity burdens. This collaborative approach supports threat intelligence sharing, coordinated incident response, and cost reduction.
Leveraging expert partnerships is another effective strategy. Healthcare CIOs who have effectively navigated constrained environments, such as Ms. Ismelda Garza and Mr. Eric Gasser, demonstrate that engaging with industry networks, adopting new technologies, and fostering internal and external collaborations enhances cybersecurity resilience even with limited resources.
Partnerships can also help healthcare organizations improve their security. For instance, HealthTech offers year-round security coverage, providing continuous support to healthcare providers in their cybersecurity journey.
Recently, October marked Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global initiative to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and promote best practices. The month-long event underscored the need for a concerted effort to combat cyber threats and protect patient care.
One healthcare organization that exemplifies this balanced approach is Luminis Health in Maryland. Their CISO, Mike Widerman, prioritized ensuring the same security protections and set of eyes and ears after merging two hospitals and preparing for growth. Similarly, Tanya Townsend, the senior vice president and CIO of New Orleans-based LCMC Health, discusses her decades-long career in healthcare IT and her path to becoming LCMC Health's first CIO in an interview titled "Q&A: LCMC Health’s Tanya Townsend on Industry Change and Workforce Retention."
Townsend emphasizes the importance of user education in cybersecurity, particularly regarding social engineering and phishing campaigns. She stands by her decision to establish the first information security office at LCMC Health in 2016, which has significantly improved the organization's cybersecurity posture.
In conclusion, a balanced approach that upgrades technology where critical, maximizes staff competency through training, adopts risk-sharing partnerships leveraging expert vendors and insurers, and focuses investments on initiatives with measurable security benefits can effectively mitigate sophisticated cyber threats like ransomware, insider risks, and data breaches while managing costs and workforce limitations effectively.
- Technology advancements in health-and-wellness sector can substantially enhance security protections, as seen in the strategic investment by Luminis Health in upgrading their systems, following the merger of two hospitals.
- Apart from technology, therapies-and-treatments organizations should also prioritize staff training, as demonstrated by LCMC Health, which established an information security office in 2016 to boost their staff's cybersecurity awareness and competency.
