Healthcare businesses are already reeling from massive losses during the pandemic, and cyberattacks could cause further long-term damage beyond the initial attack. Research at Morphisec indicates that almost 3-in-10 consumers say they would consider switching providers if their records were breached in a cyberattack. Considering that same report found that 1-in-5 Americans say a cyberattack has impacted their healthcare provider in the past year, it’s undoubtedly worrying news for the entire industry. With this in mind, here are three avenues hackers are likely to exploit as healthcare becomes a more attractive target and what providers’ need to do to protect their sensitive data and safeguard the lives of their patients.
The Security Department at the El Centro Regional Medical Center maintained a compassionate, yet firm security presence, updating its pandemic response policies and processes, resulting in an orderly continuation of patient admissions and continuation of patient care.
The Security Department at the El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC) was put to the test, tasked with supporting the expansion of the hospital’s patient load to 50% above licensed capacity – far beyond any patient census in the hospital’s history. William DuBois, Security Department Manager at ECRMC, led the physical security through the pandemic, ensuring the Department’s updated mission of assuring the safety and security of patients, staff and visitors while maintaining the assets and business continuity of the hospital.
An online site used to book COVID-19 vaccines in the London area was attacked by bots, as thousands attempted to register for their vaccine appointments. According to the London Free Press, just before 10:15 a.m., the Middlesex-London Health Unit tweeted the booking system had experienced challenges. “We have addressed the issues and will continue to monitor the booking system closely,” the organization claimed.
According to the Emergency Nurses Association, healthcare workers account for approximately 50% of all victims of workplace violence. But they're not the only ones either. There are reports of increased domestic violence and workplace violence around the world as a result of lockdowns from the pandemic, increased stress levels and a lower threshold for confrontation.
Learn how to give healthcare security staff the tools they need to perform their varied job functions to the best of their ability, while maintaining safety and security for staff and patients, and encouraging a solid, trustworthy, honest and long-term security team.
Access to clinical applications and medical information in a digital healthcare environment is vital. Yet, careful consideration must be made to ensure data and systems are protected against unintended or malicious activities. Securing infrastructure and applications is essential and security professionals must not forget about the devices that facilitate, segregate and protect the network.
Repurposing video surveillance and artificial intelligence and analytics traditionally used for security initiatives within the healthcare space can increase positive patient interactions and bring additional value to your current electronic physical security solutions.
In a report titled, “COVID-19 Vaccine Security Assessment,” analysts at G4S detail the security threats – both physical and cyber – associated with vaccine distribution across the U.S. and around the globe.