Cybersecurity Now Plays a Leading Role in the Healthcare Industry
The principle of cyber security, which has an important position in every sector, takes its place as a pioneering phenomenon in the health sector. In this respect, it is shaped differently in this sector to benefit from the blessings of technology.
Technology has provided convenience to the health sector in many areas, such as electronic patient information, remote monitoring of patients, medical devices reshaped by automation, and most importantly, remote surgery opportunities. This convenience brought by the Internet has integrated business and information sharing between institutions in the health sector. However, in parallel with all these developments, this sector has also become open to cyberattacks at the same rate.
Cyber security includes a set of technological structures to control all data in the digital environment and protect all data accordingly. In this way, it tries to pave the way for the health sector to continuously benefit from technology without being affected by the disruptions caused by security vulnerabilities.
What are the dangers of cyber security breaches in the health sector?
- Access to private information of employees in the health sector,
- Unauthorized access to the system for the follow–up of patients,
- The possibility of remote access and control of devices working with the Internet,
- Access to pre–archived medical records, insurance, identity, and billing information of patients, etc.
From this point of view, in the face of violations that may occur in the health sector due to cyber security, in addition to the irreparable results in human life, negative consequences such as the closure of companies and the unemployment of health workers may emerge. For example, in the case of technological vulnerabilities that may threaten human life, the attackers accessing the digital devices to which patients have connected in a life-threatening manner or changing patient data transmitted to doctors with patient tracking devices used for remote monitoring can be given as examples of the risks that such attacks may pose. In addition, hackers who infiltrate computers in many areas of the health sector, which are among the computer crimes, can shut down the system or change it according to their wishes and give direction. In return, it may drag the other party into financial difficulties.
At this point, to ensure cyber security, some gaps must be completed most appropriately, and a solid foundation must be laid. Otherwise, you may be faced with enormous problems that are irreversible. So what exactly are these vulnerabilities?
Gaps Created by Cyber Security in the Health Sector
- Public network connection,
- Authorization available to everyone,
- Using outdated devices and software,
- Systems without network security monitoring,
- Access right provided with unsecured mobile devices,
- Deleting the recorded data of the patient does not mean that the information cannot be accessed. Therefore, the hard disk must be eliminated.
As stated above, if these foreseen problems are compensated, and the gaps are tried to be closed, cyber security problems in the health sector can be prevented, and the sense of reliability in the society, health workers, and companies can be increased this way.
At this point, the health sector, which keeps up with the digital transformation while trying to keep up with the new developments, may experience difficulties due to the weaknesses that they can give at specific points. In this case, health workers in the sector, company owners, and many people in society, in general, affect negatively. And because of this sphere of influence, society involuntarily tends to build a physical and mental barricade against this sector. However, in line with the measures to be taken, these mental barricades can be prevented, and reliability can always be kept fresh in the face of society. For this reason, cyber security is an indispensable element for the health sector and a sensitive issue that causes them to walk on ice. In this, cyber security should be emphasized, and a reliable flow should be ensured with a solid infrastructure. Therefore, at this point, sector companies have a great responsibility. Each institution should determine the security vulnerabilities that may pose a risk according to the technologies they use, prepare a report accordingly, find the appropriate solution and act accordingly.
