DUBAI, UAE – In an age where data is a cornerstone of modern healthcare, the industry faces an escalating threat from cyber criminals seeking unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Kingston Technology, a player in memory products and technology solutions, is urging healthcare entities to bolster their defenses against rising cyber threats.
Growing specter of cyber crime in healthcare
Ransomware attacks, in particular, have seen a dramatic uptick, with specific sectors becoming strategic targets. Among these, the healthcare sector stands out, drawing the attention of hackers keen on exploiting vulnerabilities and gaining access to Protected Health Information (PHI).
Antoine Harb, Team Leader for the Middle East and North Africa at Kingston Technology said, “Cybercrime is one of the most pressing and concerning issues healthcare must manage and overcome – now and in the future.”
Stakes for protecting PHI
The 2023 IBM Cost of Data Breach Report reveals that the average global cost of healthcare data breach reached a staggering US$10.93 million in 2023.
This figure represents the highest among all industries and signifies a drastic 53.3 percent increase in three years. In the Middle East, the cost implications are significant, reaching US$9.18 million in 2023, surpassing the regional average across all sectors.
“PHI is in high demand on the black market,” notes Harb. The compromise of healthcare data presents a lucrative opportunity for cybercriminals, making cyberattacks a prevalent and financially attractive menace. A glaring example highlighting the severity of such threats occurred in 2021 when Dubai Moorfields Eye Hospital fell victim to a cyberattack by the ‘AvosLocker’ ransomware group, resulting in the theft of 60GB of data, including various forms of PHI.
Challenges in healthcare cybersecurity
A 2023 report revealed that 72 percent of top hospitals in the UAE and Saudi Arabia must catch up on cybersecurity measures. Outdated security measures in many healthcare entities increase the vulnerability to cyber threats.
Ensuring that professionals within healthcare facilities adhere to cybersecurity protocols is also critical, given their legal obligations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
Under HIPAA, healthcare professionals are legally bound to protect PHI from unauthorized disclosure. Whether intentional or unintentional, violating HIPAA rules can result in severe consequences, including criminal penalties and substantial fines.
Kingston Technology’s solution
Kingston Technology advocates using password-protected, hardware-encrypted USB drives as a secure method to meet data protection regulations. Kingston’s IronKey product line, designed with security in mind, provides healthcare entities with the necessary tools to fend off cyber threats.
The Kingston IronKey D500S hardware-encrypted USB flash drive stands out as a comprehensive security solution with military-grade encryption, ensuring the protection of classified information.
Other offerings, such as the Kingston IronKey Keypad 200 series, provide OS-independent, hardware-encrypted USB Type-A and USB Type-C drives. Equipped with an alphanumeric keypad for PIN access, the KP200 incorporates XTS-AES 256-bit hardware-based encryption.