Private technology companies providing IT to the NHS need greater scrutiny over hacking threats to patient data amid “deficient” security monitoring.
Technology firms storing patient on online databases could be targeted by hackers, a report into healthcare cyber security has warned, with several US health technology companies hit by cyber-attacks and data breaches in recent years.
The report from Imperial College London said there were warning signs in the US that healthcare cloud providers were failing to stop cyber-attacks.
Expert Comments:
Jake Moore, Cybersecurity Specialist at ESET:
“In the wake of WannaCry, which attacked many organisations including the NHS, you’d think the security in place would have been stepped up to maximum strength. But the truth is that sensitive data of this magnitude will always carry a high level of risk and attract criminal attention.
More and more third party technology firms are brought into helping government organisations with their day to day work as outsourcing is seen as a cheaper option. However, when such third party operations are chosen, the main reason can sometimes be on cost alone which can inevitably put security and protection of the systems lower down the priority list
To see the NHS attacked again would be a disaster therefore protecting confidential health data on its patients should be seen as priority number one whatever the cost.”
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