Following new research revealing that the majority of healthcare professionals in the UK frequently send patient data via SMS or potentially unsecured apps such as WhatsApp. Dr Nithin Thomas, founder and CEO of security startup SQR Systems have the following comments on it.
[su_note note_color=”#ffffcc” text_color=”#00000″]Dr Nithin Thomas, Founder and CEO of Cybersecurity Firm SQR Systems :
“The revelation that the majority of our doctors routinely send sensitive patient data via SMS and potentially unsecured apps demonstrates the general lack of awareness of the threats facing our data. Cyber criminals are becoming increasingly inventive, and using unsecured communication channels for personal data is an open invitation for theft and fraud.
“Smartphones are the perfect tool for medical professionals to communicate with their peers swiftly and efficiently to better tackle difficult health concerns, but this should not come at the expense of patient confidentiality and privacy. It is not only the data that is stored on the devices but every conversation through text, voice or video using an app that is potentially exposing sensitive data that can be exploited by criminals.
“There is a common misconception that unsecured apps are the only way for people to send information without specialised equipment or technical expertise, but in fact government-level encryption is now readily available for users in all fields. Anyone who routinely handles sensitive personal or corporate data must be able to ensure they have end-to-end security for all of their communications.”[/su_note][su_box title=”About Dr. Nithin Thomas” style=”noise” box_color=”#336588″]
Nithin Thomas is a technology entrepreneur with expertise in development and commercialisation of technology research, having developed much of the early technology at SQR Systems during his academic career at the University of Bristol. He is the CEO and Co-founder of SQR Systems, where he has grown the company from a concept to early revenues, successfully delivering R&D projects through various private and public funded research programmes focussing on cybersecurity and secure data transmission. Prior to SQR Systems, Nithin worked in sales and marketing at a global technology consultancy.[/su_box]
