Why do healthcare organizations attract cybercriminals and how to prevent data breach in healthcare?

 

In this digital era where almost everything is gradually being digitized, doctor app development is no different. There are a lot of advantages when it comes to digitization as data gets easier to store and everything from appointment apps for doctors, online doctor scheduling app development, doctor booking app development to doctor consultation app development can be done from the comfort of our homes. But just like almost anything that comes with advantages, it comes with its fair share of disadvantages as well.

 

One of the biggest disadvantages of the on-demand doctor app development system becoming digitized is the surge of attacks by cybercriminals. In the last five years, there has been a tremendous rise in the attacks on the on-demand doctor application development, with one of the largest breaches impacting as many as 80 million people.

 

In 2018, there was a cyber-attack targeting the Singapore government’s doctor appointment software, almost accessing the data of 1.5 million patients. While over in the US, a cyber-attack on Anthem witnessed hackers breaching over 78.8 million patient records, including names, social security numbers, home addresses, and dates of birth which are all considered highly sensitive data. The data can be used for multiple reasons such as the usage of personal or personal information of thefts or other criminal activities.

 

One should not underestimate the power and danger what these practo clone app development breaches can cause but at the same time, one must not be overwhelmed and scared to even begin to store data in these practo clone scripts. It would be foolish to just disregard an entity because it has disadvantages; one must instead find ways to deal with the situation. Doctor appointment app development companies need to develop at a much faster pace if they want to keep up with the upcoming world trends. First, let us understand why these cyber-attacks take place.

 

Why do cyber-attacks take place on doctor appointment booking app developments and doctor appointment mobile app development companies?

 

In countries like the UK, the healthcare system stands as part of the critical national infrastructure alongside water, electricity, and transport. When a sector is given this much importance, hackers who want to create chaos find this an attractive prey. Other reasons for breaches include identity theft as there are vast amounts of personal information and data that are stored on these sites and apps. The stolen personal health information can be used by criminals and hackers to obtain medical services, insurances, or prescriptions and medications that otherwise would not be available to them.

 

Making matters worse, doctor appointment scheduling software struggle to find the budget to invest in new IT systems that would make the operation hacker-proof to a certain extent. It is integral and essential now that healthcare organizations work more effectively and carefully on their data security. When the stakes are this high, there need to be effective solutions as well. According to Becker’s Hospital report, data breaches cost the health care system approximately 5.6 billion dollars every year. So what can be done to make this situation better?

 

Strategies for improving data breaches in the doctor appointment web application

 

 

1. Establish a culture of security

To create a culture of security, the healthcare industry needs to emphasize that every member of the organization is responsible for protecting the patient’s data.

2. Mobile devices need to be protected

Mobile devices need to make encryption a must as these attempts are essential to ensure that all information on these devices is secure.

3. Computer habits need to be curtailed and maintained

No new employee should be admitted without proper training. They should only be included onboard after having gone through training and being sufficiently trustworthy with the data of thousands at their fingertips.

4. Installation of an anti-virus software

The healthcare department cannot just install antivirus software and expect everything to be safe from there onwards. The system must be constantly updated and renewed to ensure that they receive the best protection at all times.

5. Always plan for the unexpected

Life as it is unexpected and full of accidents, the healthcare system should know this more than anybody else. Thus, files should be backed up and all the information should stay away from the main system if possible.

 

6. User stronger and more complicated passwords and change them regularly

A report by Verizon reported that 63 percent of the data breaches that took place happened when the passwords were weak, stolen, or worse just a default setting.

 

7. Network access must be limited

The access to data should not be given away randomly to all employees. Data should only be accessed by those who are professionally trained in this field and have worked in the department in the faculty to be trustworthy employees.

 

8. Creating a safer space for physical access
   Just like data should be kept safely, one should make sure to keep physical devices in which the data is stored safely too. As data can be breached when physical devices are stolen as well. These gadgets and devices that contain protected information should be kept and stored in locked rooms.

 

The takeaway for doctor appointment booking system development and cybersecurity organizations and applications

 

There is no going back from this digital age so one might as well learn to deal with it better and tackle the problems that come with this fast-moving world. To improve cybersecurity in health care organizations and apps, one can start by hiring information and data professionals who know not how to collect and manage data but also know how to protect it.

 

There are professionals who do this for a living and thus it will not be hard to find one to help healthcare systems be more optimal. In the worst-case scenario, if and ever data is stolen one must not panic and especially not allow the patients to feel insecure. One must directly take this to the police and track the cyberattack as fast and as efficiently as possible.

 

It is time for healthcare organizations to re-invent themselves for the future and for future needs. They must learn to deal with new-age problems as well as old ones.