THE NETWORK SECURITY (NS) OF HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL FACILITIES: AN ANALYTICAL OVERVIEW OF THE EMERGING CYBERSECURITY THREATS/RISKS AND COUNTERMEASURES

This research study discusses key issues concerning the Network Security (NS) of the healthcare and medical facilities. Particularly, it aims to shed light on the emerging cybersecurity threats and risks encountered by these facilities and the proposed countermeasures that can prevent, detect and respond to security threats (e.g., cyberattacks), vulnerabilities, and risks (e.g., financial or operational risks), and can serve to mitigate any damages and/or disruption caused by the exposure to any of the aforesaid incidents. In the current qualitative study, the researcher adopted the Analytical Approach as the research method that was utilized for the sake of gathering, analysing, interpreting the available literature of the subject -under investigation-, and eventually making inferences and reaching conclusions. Based on carrying out the previously-mentioned Analytical Literature Review, several findings were revealed by this study. Precisely, the study demonstrated that due to the Digital Transformation and the Digitization adopted by the healthcare sector, the vulnerability and fragility of the healthcare and medical facilities security networks and information/operational systems have been increased. Such deficit in the cybersecurity level had eventually led to the exposure of these facilities to several types of cyberattacks, network penetration, and many other cybercrimes. The findings of the study also demonstrated that the cyber threats can take the forms of: Malware, Ransomware, Phishing, and Insider Threats. Similarly, the cyberattacks types include Network Attacks, Wireless Attacks, Malware Attacks, and Social Engineering Attacks. Finally, the study revealed several cyberattacks countermeasures, include: 1) Raising the awareness of the healthcare and medical facilities workforce 2) Keeping the organizations software and systems fully up to date 3) Implementing Endpoint Protection Software 4) Installing a Firewall 5) Backup the organizations data 6) Securing the organizations Wi-Fi network and 7) Managing the healthcare and medical facilities employees personal accounts. Further countermeasures include the implementation of Risk Assessment, Authentication, Data Retention.