Cybersecurity vulnerabilities have become more prevalent around the world, and the healthcare sector has not been immune to these attacks either. In 2023, for the 13th consecutive year, the healthcare industry reported the most costly data breaches, with an average cost of $10.93 million, which is almost double that of the financial industry, according to points out the World Economic Forum.
The repercussions of such breaches are not abstract. When healthcare organizations lose control of their infrastructure, there are real risks to patient safety, continuity of care, and clinical decision-making processes. For example, if the systems that manage a patient’s electronic medical records (EMR) fail, the effects can be life-threatening. If a hospital’s prescription system is compromised, harmful drug interactions may go unchecked.
Despite these risks, many organizations are falling behind in their security measures: according to the Dell Technologies Innovation Index, only about a third (33%) of IT decision makers have taken comprehensive steps to protect data, highlighting a worrying gap.
Security equals infrastructure, and infrastructure equals security
The current healthcare cybersecurity landscape is riddled with vulnerabilities. Solutions such as antivirus software and firewalls, once considered a sufficient defense strategy, are no longer adequate. Ransomware-style attacks are some of the most frequent security events faced by healthcare institutions, and are increasingly increasingly common and complex. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently acknowledged Ransomware attacks hit critical infrastructure in particular, with healthcare and public health institutions at the top of the list of victims.
It’s clear that data security is paramount when it comes to improving healthcare outcomes. But a comprehensive strategy goes beyond just the data – it encompasses the machinery and apparatus that sits on top of it and ensures everything is accurate and in place. Simply put, security and infrastructure go hand in hand.
As with any aspect of healthcare, the patient should be the North Star when designing the strategy and exploring holistic cybersecurity strategies, or comprehensive solutions such as Dell Trusted InfrastructureWith the many advancements taking place in today’s technology, including the meteoric rise of AI and advances in personalized medicine, ensuring that data and the information it produces are secure and maintain integrity is non-negotiable.
Cultivating resilience through holistic solutions
This cyber storm is not something to be sidestepped, but actively combated. Healthcare leaders are on the front lines, and their technology partners are equally responsible. Moreover, strengthening defenses is not a one-person or one-department job. It requires a united front, from organizing regular red team exercises to simulate attacks, to educating all stakeholders across all operations on the merits and complexities of integrated solutions.
As a trusted partner in this ecosystem, Dell Technologies has a proven track record of success stories: The Phoenix Children’s Hospitalwhich implemented Dell ECS (Elastic Cloud Storage), has seen accelerated data restoration efforts, improved and enhanced user experiences, and lower operational costs. Staff have the peace of mind that they can rely on our technology in times of crisis, as well as confidence in their data backups.
The impact extends globally: in Thailand, N Healtha leading healthcare services provider, has modernized its infrastructure with new, scalable solutions like Dell PowerProtect appliances. As a result, hospitals using the platform now have greater confidence to continue delivering patient experiences beyond the hospital and drive regional expansion.
Dell’s work with leading healthcare organizations delivers compelling solutions for collaborative resilience in action: Working with Dell Technologies, these organizations are able to merge backup data from multiple centers into two secure data vaults managed by just a handful of people—an impressive feat that demonstrates the optimization power of well-implemented cybersecurity infrastructure.
AI: Advanced Threat, Strategic Ally, or Both?
Thanks to AI, a year from now, we are likely to live in a very different world. On the optimistic side, AI has the potential to proactively identify threats and bolster prevention strategies. Human vigilance, complemented by AI, promises a formidable alliance. Furthermore, AI’s ability to learn and adapt can enable organizations to take advantage of the vast amounts of data they collect on a daily basis.
Consider a hospital system with 25 sites in 15 states that manages an Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system: In theory, they could use AI to leverage billions of existing data points to improve patient outcomes. (Needless to say, the most important element of success in such an effort lies in building and training AI models—whether generative, extractive, or polymorphic—responsibly.)
At the same time, as we discover a wealth of ways to use defensive AI, we must also be aware that threat actors are exploring ways to weaponize it. The rise of AI-based cyberattacks and deepfakes poses a new level of risk that healthcare organizations and their technology partners must be prepared for.
Bottom line: AI is not a panacea, but it is a tool of unlimited potential. Using it effectively requires a delicate balancing act: embracing the promise of AI’s potential while countering the threats it can bring. As we navigate this complex terrain, healthcare leaders will need to lean on technology—including holistic solutions like Dell Trusted Infrastructure—as well as people and processes that work together to foster resilience. This cohesive approach can help ensure that “do no harm” extends beyond the physical realm and into the digital.
