Cyber Resilience in Healthcare: Mitigating Hospital Downtime
HealthTech Magazine
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Contributed by: Drex DeFord
Summary
The article explores the increasing issue of cyberattacks within the healthcare sector, emphasizing the necessity for organizations to develop cyber resilience strategies to maintain operations during and after an attack. Cyber resilience, as opposed to solely focusing on prevention, involves preparation for, response to, and recovery from cyber incidents, with a particular emphasis on minimizing downtime for critical healthcare systems and protecting patient information. The article highlights the importance of regular training, such as tabletop exercises and penetration testing, to identify security gaps and prepare for potential ransomware attacks. Furthermore, it discusses the role of backups and incident response plans in recovery efforts, as well as the utility of engaging law enforcement and cyber insurance in the aftermath of an attack. The concept of "zero trust" in managing authentication and access within healthcare IT environments is also mentioned as a foundational security approach. Overall, the piece underscores the critical nature of proactive and responsive cybersecurity measures in protecting against and mitigating the effects of cyber threats in the healthcare industry.