Hospitals play a critical role in our healthcare system. Not only do they provide direct care to patients, but they also help keep people healthy by identifying risks and spreading awareness. In addition to all of this, hospitals are now also adopting cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and IoT to improve patient monitoring and streamline operational processes. However, these new technologies also come with their unique security challenges. This article outlines four major advantages hospitals can gain from increasing their cybersecurity.
1. Better Care and Security for Patients
Hospitals have millions of dollars invested in patient monitoring technology that connects patients to their physicians through wireless devices. These devices are critical to monitoring patients’ health, from blood pressure machines to glucose monitors. However, they are also at risk of cyberattacks. Even though these devices are hospital-grade, they often lack basic cybersecurity features like encryption. Despite the lack of security features, connected devices are an excellent entry point for hackers. Once connected, devices can be used to spread malware and ransomware to other devices, shut down critical systems, or steal sensitive data.
2. Employee Awareness and Training
One of the biggest advantages of increasing cybersecurity is boosting employee awareness. Hospitals have thousands of employees who provide care and service to patients. These employees are critical to the hospital’s success and must be able to communicate and collaborate seamlessly. These employees must also be able to access and share critical information wherever they are. If hospitals don’t have the right cybersecurity, they risk opening their systems to attacks. This can result in breaches that put critical data at risk.
3. Streamlined Processes
Another advantage hospitals can gain from increasing their cybersecurity is the ability to streamline critical processes. Hospitals can streamline their operations with the right digital technologies, whether it’s the ordering process for supplies or how doctors review patient data. With the right cybersecurity, CISs can be used for more than just reviewing patient data. They can also be used to identify potential cyberattacks and alert users. This can help hospitals respond to attacks quickly. It can also help doctors and nurses identify critical information more easily by accessing it from their mobile devices.
4. Robust Infrastructure
Finally, hospitals can gain a major advantage from increasing their cybersecurity, and that’s a robust infrastructure. Hospitals are increasingly using cutting-edge technologies like AI, IoT, and blockchain. These technologies are designed to help hospitals provide better care and improve workflow. However, these technologies also come with their unique security challenges. Whatever device or technology hospitals decide to implement, it’s critical to have a robust cybersecurity strategy in place. Excellent cybersecurity helps hospitals stay on top of potential threats. It enables hospitals to identify potential breaches and close them quickly before they have a chance to do any damage.
Hospitals play an increasingly critical role in our healthcare system. Not only do they provide direct care to patients, but they also help keep people healthy by identifying risks and spreading awareness. This article outlines four major advantages hospitals can gain from increasing their cybersecurity. These include better patient care and security, employee awareness and training, streamlined processes, and a robust infrastructure.
