There are mobile cybersecurity issues in healthcare, and the medical industry must solve them before it causes extensive damage. Cybersecurity threats are everywhere, but few sectors are as vulnerable as the healthcare industry. Healthcare facilities have endured an alarming string of attacks as criminals aim to steal patient information and access sensitive data. Subsequently, it could also cripple the facility’s ability to serve patients. These threats necessitate implementing healthcare cybersecurity measures for mobile devices that some facilities use.
Preventing Mobile Cybersecurity Issues
Leaders in the healthcare field must pay attention to the prevalence of cyberattacks and adopt strategies such as the following to prevent an incident.
Improve Password Security Measures to Solve Mobile Cybersecurity
The most common data security threats in healthcare often stem from credentials that are insecure at best. Indeed, many professionals in the healthcare field are guilty of writing their passwords on sticky notes, sharing them with colleagues, or committing any other indiscretion that could compromise their passwords. Healthcare facilities should improve password security measures to prevent this risk by requiring credentials to be updated intermittently on mobile devices. Facilities should also implement criteria for the complexity of passwords so that they’re more challenging to hack.
Invest in More Authentication Features
Particularly high-risk healthcare facilities may benefit from even more advanced security measures. Sometimes, it’s not enough to protect mobile devices with a password. Additional security may be necessary if these devices control crucial processes or contain confidential data. In these cases, authentication features such as fingerprint scanners can make operations safer. Cybersecurity healthcare coverage may cover losses stemming from compromised credentials, but it’s vital to prevent password compromise.
Ensure Information Is Encrypted
Encryption is arguably the best defense healthcare facilities have in the fight against cybercrime. Encryption hides information from viewers unless they possess the necessary credentials to access it. Healthcare facilities can encrypt data on mobile devices — including patient files, internal documents, and other sensitive information — by using the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). This system encrypts data using a coded key and can determine a password by accessing the key. Hackers and other cybercriminals cannot access any data that has been encrypted using this method.
Identify Potential Vulnerabilities
Prevention is the best way to minimize potential cyber threats to mobile devices. Healthcare facilities that can effectively expect attacks will be in an ideal position to strengthen their defenses.
Instead of waiting for a cyberattack, it is best to act proactively. Healthcare facilities should identify the vulnerabilities that may make mobile devices a potential target. Spyware and ransomware delivered via phishing attacks, for example, can make a device’s data available to unscrupulous cyber criminals. Healthcare facilities must identify these potential attack methods and develop strategies to ensure that mobile devices remain secure.
