The following is a guest article by Errol Weiss,
Chief Security Officer at Health-ISAC.
The constant swarm of attacks from all sides aimed at the global health sector in recent years has reached even greater heights. A recent joint bulletin from the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Health-ISAC) raised alarms over a social media post referencing a coordinated, multi-city terrorist plot targeting U.S. hospitals.
While the FBI’s investigation found no credible threat, experts have warned that the viral post, whether real or fake, may still inspire copycat actions or lone-wolf attacks. Attacks like that can cause serious disruption in a sector already stretched thin because of competing resource needs. As a result, healthcare organizations now face the challenge of preparing for a threat that may not be real but could still have devastating consequences. Fortunately, there are steps hospitals can take to increase their resilience in the face of escalating threats.
This article covers the following points:
The Danger of a Poor Response
Move Fast and Move Together
Facing Reality
Fortunately, the outlook isn’t all bad for the industry. When the potential terrorist threat surfaced on social media, organizations spread the word and immediately began to strengthen physical and cybersecurity measures. That rapid response proves one thing: when the healthcare industry collaborates, shares threat intelligence, and moves together, it can protect both its systems and the lives that depend on them.
Read the full article in Healthcare IT Today. Click Here
