Back 50 years ago, selling non-medical technology to hospitals was very tough. In 1970, few of the United States hospitals had used the facility of computers, approximately 40%. At that time, doctors said, this machine was not reliable and also very difficult to use. Also, it does give the correct information. According to them, the computer is the device that creates more problems rather than attempting to resolve them. 

Despite all of these concerns, there were many clear reasons that hospitals should adopt this technology. Back then, inefficient record-keeping meant that up to a third of hospital bills were inflated. Additionally, around half of the test results were proven wrong just due to handwritten mistakes and poor knowledge of math. 

Since then, digitizing healthcare has become one of the biggest improvements in the last hundred years. Today, computer systems are crucial for modern hospitals worldwide, greatly enhancing patient care and making hospital operations more efficient.

There are many new risks involved with these new technologies. Hospitals that used computer systems also became the targets of different types of crimes. One of the common threats is ransomware attacks. In it, criminals steal ‌patients’ data and demand large amounts of money to keep it private. One of the recent studies revealed that one of the Russian groups named Qilin has been behind many of these attacks, especially in healthcare, over the past two years.

Stopping cybercrime is becoming impossible with time. Many hackers easily hack the data of any organization, simply by using computers and different skills, whether it’s a Serbian utility company or a Bangladeshi bank. During the upgrade of the system, hackers find ‌a new way of breaching the rules and hacking important information. 

The growing number of everyday objects connected to WiFi, known as the “internet of things,” only increases the chances for cyber criminals to access any controversial information.

Hospitals are very commonplace, where many attacks have occurred. This is because hackers easily steal the sensitive information of patients. 

The impact goes beyond just data breaches; for example, a cyberattack on a UK pathology firm earlier this year caused delays in cancer surgeries. This level of harm is so extreme that a former FBI counter-terrorism expert suggested these attacks could be seen as a form of terrorism.

Given this, it is important to treat cyber threats to healthcare as a major national security issue. Hospitals and medical services are key parts of a country’s infrastructure, and if their systems are compromised, the consequences can be serious and widespread. Therefore, governments should be proactive in safeguarding these institutions and invest heavily in their cybersecurity, just like they do with other critical national assets.

How to make a healthcare center strong and secure?

In today’s digital age, it is crucial to make the private healthcare sector more safe and stronger. Keeping the patient’s data private is the responsibility of the healthcare center. So, they should build a strong focus on patient care that also includes protecting patient data. Also, it is important to understand the importance of good software, the same as advanced hardware, even if it’s not something donors or patients see. Every healthcare sector should have staff that have expertise on how to stop cyberattacks. Also, every staff member knows basic IT security to save their institute from many issues. 

The UAE is a leader in setting up strong cyber-security measures. The Cyber Security Council is creating partnerships to make healthcare more resilient and secure. In Abu Dhabi, the Department of Health has established clear rules for cyber-security that all healthcare providers must follow.

It is important to move past the days when healthcare workers were afraid of using computers. Also, people should ensure that improving digital security is their top priority.  This is the only way to ensure that one’s data is protected from hackers.