The rapid proliferation of connectivity and medical data has outpaced the implementation of rigorous cybersecurity around health care. As a result, online health care information today is one of the most susceptible, and profitable, targets for cybercrime, according to a recent article in Radiology Today by Ralph Tomei, Vice President of Sales at Key Equipment Finance.
Imaging providers can find themselves at a heightened risk, compared with other specialties. The recent 2020 Unit 42 IoT Threat Report from Palo Alto Networks’ global threat intelligence team reports that 51% of threats for health care organizations involve imaging devices, disrupting the quality of care and allowing attackers to exfiltrate patient data stored on these devices.
But the outlook for imaging providers may not be as bleak as it seems. By investigating which security systems are best suited to safeguarding your organization and researching payment strategies and options, providers can be on the road to cybersecurity faster than you may think.
The price of security
Although there are essential, low-cost, everyday precautions that can help ward off cyberattacks, industry analysts and healthcare IT staff concur: To safeguard data and business viability, it’s important to ensure that cybersecurity receives a substantial part of the IT budget.
Beyond the primary role of safeguarding your data, there are additional valuable benefits from investing in cybersecurity. An effective security system costs less than the cumulative damages incurred by a cyberattack and can help do the following:
- Enable continuity of operations
- Protect reputation and integrity
- Maintain the value of your service
