Health Data Management Editor-in-Chief Fred Bazzoli writes that data security is one of the top 12 trends for the healthcare industry this year as providers “face increased pressure from hackers and intrusion techniques grow more varied and complex.” So it’s not surprising that “Cybersecurity, Privacy & Security” is one of the main education topics for next month’s 2019 HIMSS Global Conference & Exhibition in Orlando. Nyotron will be there to help attendees address the technical and manpower challenges they face in 2019.
If the industry was a sick patient, it would be rushed to the ER. The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) reports it received notifications of 351 data breaches of 500 or more healthcare records, resulting in the exposure of 13,020,821 healthcare records. That’s more than double the number of records exposed in 2017. Reversing this trend requires addressing two key symptoms: weak and outdated defenses, and a shortage of skilled IT personnel.
Like virtually every industry, healthcare faces a cybersecurity talent shortage. Constrained budgets and competition among higher-paying industries make it more difficult for healthcare organizations to hire the experts they need.
From a technology standpoint, the infrastructure supporting the healthcare sector tends to be older legacy systems that are less secure than modern technologies. I saw this first-hand during a visit to my doctor and discovered the office’s AV subscription expired and the PCs were still running a long unsupported Windows XP.
In his article, Bazzoli also examines how more healthcare organizations are trying to address these technology issues by migrating more IT systems to cloud-based platforms. There’s no question cloud computing offers those benefits. However, realize too that employees create and store the vast majority of sensitive information on their endpoints, even after uploading files to the cloud. One key issue we want to address at HIMSS19 is the critical importance of protecting endpoint devices.
That’s why we will hold a live hacking session to show how easy it is for attackers to gain full control over your endpoints. The demonstration will include a unique attack that today’s antivirus solutions can’t stop. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can volunteer your laptop for the test (don’t worry, it will be returned unharmed). So join us on Thursday, February 14 at 3:15pm EST at Theater B inside the Cybersecurity Command Center (Session ID: CS80).
If you’re planning to attend HIMSS19, we welcome the opportunity to meet with you and hear about how you’re addressing your organization’s security challenges. Stop by our booth in the Exhibit Hall – 400-25. If you would like to schedule a specific day and time to meet, use info@nyotron.com to let us know what days and times work best for you.
