Cyber security leaders unite to protect digitised healthcare

A group of prominent leaders in the field of cyber security has united to establish an Advisory Council with the goal of addressing the multitude of security challenges encountered by the rapidly digitising healthcare sector.

The council has been formed by Cylera, an expert in healthcare IoT and medical device cyber security. Healthcare is an enticing target for cyber criminals due to the availability of valuable patient data and the potential to cause significant harm and disruptions to patient care.

According to a recent study conducted by Obrela Security Industries, an alarming 81% of healthcare organisations in the UK experienced a ransomware attack last year. As a consequence, two-thirds of these organisations had to cancel in-person appointments, highlighting the severe consequences of such attacks.

The cyber security risk to the healthcare sector is expected to intensify as digitalisation continues to advance.

Cylera CEO, Timur Ozekcin, who has recently appointed a new chief operating officer, remarked, "Healthcare is undergoing a profound digital transformation, with IoT spending projected to reach US$54bn by 2029.

“The number of remotely monitored patients has surged in the past few years. As healthcare environments become increasingly complex, further digital investments in the sector will introduce tens of thousands of additional devices into IT networks, many of which could pose security risks. This expansion enlarges the attack surface for threat actors to exploit."

Pointing to just some of the  potential risks involved, Ozekcin added: "Remote user access, unsegmented and potentially unmanaged networks, legacy operating systems, and limited visibility into IoT device risks are just a few of the security challenges that keep healthcare leaders and hospital IT heads awake at night as they navigate the complexities of today's interconnected device landscape."

The Cylera cyber security Advisory Council comprises a carefully selected group of members, including CISOs, CIOs and CTOs from major healthcare providers, hospitals, and private sector companies.

The council will convene at least four times a year to share best practices, insights, and strategies for addressing the unique security challenges posed by increasingly complex interconnected healthcare systems.

It will also provide guidance to Cylera as it pursues global expansion plans and develops cutting-edge innovations for its IoT device cyber security and intelligence platform.

"Cylera is at the forefront of IoT cybersecurity," said Tomás Maldonado, CISO at the NFL (National Football League) and a member of the Cylera Advisory Council.

"With the escalating digitalisation and rapid adoption of IoT devices across all industries, including sports and entertainment venues, it is crucial to stay ahead of the cybersecurity risks associated with the interconnected devices that constitute our new cyber-physical environments."