The Importance of Cybersecurity in a Healthcare Environment

Abstract

Ensuring the cybersecurity of patient data is particularly challenging for healthcare organisations, and healthcare professionals play a vital front-line role. Healthcare professionals must have the knowledge and skills required to identify and respond to various cybersecurity incidents. This thesis aims to provide the current landscape of cybersecurity in the healthcare sector. It identifies the impact of cybersecurity attacks, cybersecurity training, and awareness among health professionals, and proposes a tool to help empower healthcare professionals with the required cybersecurity knowledge. A literature review approach (SALSA framework) was utilised in conducting research. Interviews were also conducted to uncover cybersecurity challenges faced by healthcare professionals. Key findings indicate a general lack of awareness and understanding of cybersecurity threats and attacks. Phishing is a major threat to healthcare systems, highlighting the need to address the human element. The findings from the literature and the interviews were utilised in developing a memorable and straightforward checklist. The tool included a cybersecurity checklist to support busy healthcare workers in implementing effective cybersecurity measures to secure sensitive data and guarantee patient privacy. The checklist called “LOCK” stands for Logging Out every time you leave your computer, Checking e-mails before opening links, and Keeping safe. Building a human firewall against threats should be the first step in every cybersecurity defence. Keep calm and LOCK on.