In the modern world, the development of innovative technologies has given the population a significant advantage in providing medical care. However, along with them, there were multiple threats to cyber security. Therefore, cyber-attacks began to appear with noticeable frequency, and the preservation of personal information of patients and hospitals is one of the primary tasks for healthcare. Special attention is required by the intensive care unit, in which constant monitoring of patients is carried out. Hence, studying the topic of cybersecurity in healthcare is a valuable source for creating the best ways to protect against hacker attacks.
It is impossible not to agree with the opinion that the protection of electronic information in hospitals is an essential aspect of healthcare. Cybersecurity in healthcare organizations involves protecting data from unauthorized access and use by external agents (Thapa & Camtepe, 2021). Furthermore, this aspect of the functioning of clinical institutions has several main goals. Among them is the protection of confidentiality, accessibility, and completeness of personal information. In such cases, hackers’ main task is to obtain a date for possible further distribution or even sale.
Cybersecurity and hacker attacks, as already mentioned, affect all countries without exception. Thus, approximately a significant part of the reported incidents related to cybersecurity relate to organizations that provide medical care to the population of Australia. It is especially worth noting the fact that many attacks are associated with the new modern coronavirus pandemic. Research shows that “the Annual Cyber Threat Report revealed more than 67,500 cybercrimes were reported in the 2020-21 financial year in Australia, an increase of 13 percent from the year before (“A cyber security threat”, 2021, para. 3). Therefore, it is necessary to introduce innovative technologies to reduce the occurrence of such incidents and preserve the personal information of patients and medical institution data.
Particular importance should be given to such an important department of medical institutions as the intensive care unit. It is designed to monitor and assist those groups of patients who are characterized by a high risk of mortality or serious diseases. Thus, in this department of therapy, the latest technologies are used for careful monitoring, stabilization, and treatment of patients. The need for their use arises from the fact that most people in the intensive care unit are unconscious and rely almost exclusively on special medical equipment to maintain vital functions.
A breach of the security of the intensive care unit of a hospital can occur with the help of special hacking equipment or by placing an attacker in a medical environment, which can significantly speed up this process. Cyber-attacks can use various kinds of information collected in this department of the hospital to their advantage. This may be from the patient’s level of stability to the plan of treatment provided to them and the statistics of the medical institution. The threat of electronic attacks in the intensive care unit is relatively high due to the use of innovative technologies. One of the results that may arise during an unauthorized access to the data is harming individuals by hacking medical devices or provoking political instability through blackmail and information theft. Moreover, the acquired knowledge about therapy patients can be sold and distributed through various channels without direct consent.
Currently, many data security specialists and clinicians are working to improve cybersecurity in the intensive care unit. One example of an effective strategy to get rid of this problem is the introduction of telemedicine. Sources define it as “the use of medical information, exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications, to improve patients’ health status” (Herasevich & Subramanian, 2019, p. 1). The main advantage of this technology is that it provides electronic services for monitoring patients and collects all the necessary information about the condition and dynamics of the patient. Despite the fact that this technology is considered quite dangerous in terms of cybersecurity, various data protection strategies have been developed that exclude the occurrence of such incidents.
Another example of an influential work of healthcare and cybersecurity specialists is the introduction of the UL 2900. This document is described as “a series of standards is three related documents titled Software Cybersecurity for Network-Connectable Products” (Yuan et al., 2018, para. 6). This innovation focuses on the description of the necessary tests that allow medical institutions to assess their ability to prevent the possibility of cyber threats to the security of confidential data. It offers specific test-oriented criteria for analyzing the cyber vulnerabilities of devices used in the intensive care unit and combating unwanted damaging programs.
Cybersecurity is a critical aspect of healthcare as it has a direct impact not only on this industry but also on its financial component. This makes it necessary to protect personal data and other critical medical data. Moreover, electronic security ensures the normal functioning of healthcare organizations. In each hospital and clinical institute, those responsible for this aspect of the functioning of the institute are appointed. The main barrier to combating cyber-attacks in the hospital should be a specialized security service. This body is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of confidential data of the medical institute, staff, and patients. Its importance is due to the rapid development of technologies that positively affect the provision of clinical services and expose classified information to danger. In addition, it is necessary to approve specialized policies that will help protect the safety and confidentiality of the population and ensure the adequate provision of medical care.
Moreover, a remarkable organization, which is called the Australian Digital Health Agency, has been established that provides assistance to medical institutions in matters of cybersecurity. It is a digital health cyber security center that gives necessary resources to improve the protection of electronic information about patients and healthcare facilities. Another example of productive interaction between cybersecurity organizations and healthcare providers is the case of CYFIRMA and Zuellig Pharma. The first is a specialized platform for detecting and protecting digital risks. Its distinctive feature and advantage are providing access to the surface, dark, and deep web (“Digital risk discovery and protection”, n.d.). This is a significant advantage as it makes it possible to identify potential threats by essential indicators of the activities of medical institutions.
Therefore, it can be concluded that cybersecurity is a critical component of the functioning of any medical organization. It ensures the safety and protection of the personal data of patients and clinics from hacker attacks. The main goals pursued by hackers can range from blackmail to selling information. Of particular importance in protecting confidential data are the involvement of specialists and the introduction of specific policies aimed at reducing cyber-attacks.
References
A cyber security threat is now reported in Australia every eight minutes. (2021). SBS News.
Digital risk discovery and protection. (n.d.). Cyfirma. Web.
Herasevich, V., & Subramanian, S. (2019). Tele-ICU technologies. Crit Care Clin, 35(3), 427-38.
Thapa, C., & Camtepe, S. (2021). Precision health data: Requirements, challenges and existing techniques for data security and privacy. Computers in Biology and Medicine, 129, pp. 104130.
Yuan, S., Fernando, A., & Klonoff, D. C. (2018). Standards for medical device cybersecurity in 2018. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, 12(4), 743-746.