Cybersecurity in healthcare – how to ensure data protection at every level?

For several years, cybersecurity has been considered a strategic goal in ensuring the protection of key economic sectors, businesses, and citizens. The constant development of modern IT solutions means that cybersecurity requires continuous improvement, expansion, and awareness-raising among those who work daily using internet-connected devices.

Employees are aware of potential threats, but employers often fail to provide appropriate tools to protect institutions and companies from hacker attacks. But how can we ensure personal data protection and properly manage cybersecurity? What solutions can be used to meet the requirements imposed by lawmakers?

Cybersecurity and information security management

The topic of cybersecurity gained significant attention shortly after the introduction of the National Cybersecurity System (NCS) Act on August 1, 2018, which is based on the NIS Directive (Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union). The introduction of the NIS aims to ensure an adequate level of cybersecurity in the country, particularly for operators of essential services, which include the transport, energy, banking, and healthcare sectors. The act imposes the obligation to implement appropriate security measures, control incidents, and assess risks, thus ensuring the continuity of operations in individual sectors.

Cybersecurity in healthcare

The proper functioning of essential service providers is a crucial issue for every citizen. Attacks occur daily on individuals, companies, and government institutions and facilities. Depending on the severity of the attack, the result can often be a loss of data access and a complete shutdown of IT systems, resulting in significant financial and reputational damage. Hackers often demand ransom payments to restore access to databases and compromised tools. A much greater problem, however, is the chaos caused by a sudden shutdown, which disrupts the proper operation of a medical facility, for example.

Cybersecurity for hospitals

The cybersecurity of medical facilities, as operators of essential services, should be at the top of the priority list. As we know, a hacker attack on a hospital or outpatient clinic directly endangers the health and lives of people in need of help or waiting for planned procedures. Due to the increased activity of attackers, it was decided to support medical facilities with funding from the National Health Fund, which will allocate significant funds to improve cybersecurity. Hospitals providing services such as inpatient treatment, spa treatment, rehabilitation, psychiatric care, and addiction treatment are eligible for funding. To receive funding, an application must be submitted along with a report from the Healthcare Statistics System by November 30, 2022.

What solutions can be funded by the National Health Fund (NFZ)?

NFZ funding can be used specifically for activities related to cybersecurity in healthcare facilities. The funds can be used to purchase hardware, software, and services that significantly improve security. These include systems for backup, access control, and permission management, network security, email security, and antivirus software for servers and workstations. A good solution that fully meets all the requirements of the act is the SecureVisio platform, designed specifically for detecting incidents and security threats.

Prevention, detection and response with SecureVisio

The tool implemented by OPTeam SA manages cybersecurity on three levels – prevention, detection, and response. How does it work in practice?

  • Prevention: rapid inventory of key IT assets and critical processes, fully automated cyber threat risk analysis, and vulnerability management capabilities;
  • Detection: support for users by detecting advanced threats and anomalies – leveraging machine learning (UEBA) and correlation rules (SIEM);
  • Reaction: automatic delivery of pre-built automated response scenarios that support the management of detected threats (SOAR).

Importantly, by implementing the full SecureVisio system package with the help of an experienced integrator like OPTeam SA, healthcare facilities meet the requirements of the external audit conducted by the National Health Fund (NFZ) during the settlement of program beneficiaries. This simple process, in just three months, provides a solution that both complies with healthcare requirements and fully protects individuals from cyberattacks. Furthermore, SecureVisio enables incident management and reporting to the selected CSIRT (Computer Security Incident Response Team). In the case of healthcare facilities, this is CSIRT GOV. This solution reduces the burden on those responsible for security management while enabling them to make better decisions.


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