The digitalization of the healthcare sector has brought significant improvements in the quality of care to patients, but also opened new vulnerabilities. Il Clusit Report 2024 found that the healthcare sector was among the most affected by cyber attacks in 2023, highlighting the need for cybersecurity strategies advanced cybersecurity. As highlighted by Michael LamartinaRegional Vice President Italy, Greece, Cyprus & Malta of Palo Alto Networksthe adoption of modern technologies It has improved the efficiency and quality of services, but has also expanded the attack surface, exposing hospitals, clinics and patients to increasing risks.
Michele Lamartina – Palo Alto Networks
The Growing Risk of Attacks in the Healthcare Sector
Il healthcare sector has seen a dramatic increase in cyber attacks: 624 attacks in 2023 compared to 304 the previous year, a growth of 100%. Patient data, including personal and financial data, are valuable targets for cyber criminals. This data can be exploited for identity theft and blackmail, making the sector particularly vulnerable. Furthermore, many healthcare facilities still operate with outdated technologies, increasing the risk of compromise.
Innovations such as telemedicine and security challenges
The telemedicine and remote patient monitoring are transforming healthcare, providing patients with easier access to medical services, especially in remote communities. However, these technologies open up new cybersecurity challenges. The use of electronic medical recordsremote monitoring devices and virtual visits requires more robust IT infrastructure protection, with data flowing through multiple channels, including data centers, cloud providers and SaaS solutions. The growing use of decentralized models of care extends the attack surface, making protecting the entire network more complex.
Connected Devices and New Vulnerabilities
L’Internet of Things Medicale (IoMT) is now a consolidated reality in healthcare facilities. Devices such as magnetic resonance imaging machines, IV pumps e blood pressure monitor are just some of the tools connected to the Internet and therefore vulnerable to attacks. Protecting these devices is essential to prevent them from becoming vectors of attacks that could compromise not only data, but also the physical safety of patients. The lack of a full visibility across all connected devices makes it difficult to secure in distributed environments like hospitals and remote clinics.
Complexity of Medical IT Environments
Managing IT infrastructure in healthcare has become increasingly complicated. medical applications run across data centers, clouds, and through SaaS providers, using connected devices that often run on legacy operating systems that are not easily upgradeable. For security teams, securing these environments is a challenge that requires significant technical resources. Isolated and non-integrated security solutions contribute to complexity that makes threat management difficult.
Consolidation and unified protection: the key to the future
The healthcare sector needs a holistic approach to cybersicurezza that is unified and holistic, no longer based on point and disconnected solutions. Cyber threats are evolving rapidly, requiring the ability to identify and prevent threats both known and unknown in real time. To ensure the continuity of care and data protection, it is crucial to prioritize three aspects: the safe delivery of care, the protection of connected devices and the simplification of security operations through the Consolidation of solutions.
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Source: diarioinnovazione.it
