Report examines healthcare sector cybersecurity threats

U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released Thursday a white paper detailing present healthcare sector cybersecurity.

The report offers dialogue on a series of policy solutions to improve cybersecurity across the healthcare industry.

The white paper, Cybersecurity is Patient Safety, explores how within the last 10 years, healthcare sector cyber attacks have increased, with attacks on providers reaching an all-time high last year.

“Unfortunately, the healthcare sector is uniquely vulnerable to cyberattacks, and the transition to better cybersecurity has been painfully slow and inadequate,” Warner, chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, wrote. “The federal government and the health sector must find a balanced approach to meet the dire threats, as partners with shared responsibilities.”

Warner maintains improving healthcare sector cybersecurity requires collaboration from both the public and private sectors while improving federal leadership; strengthening healthcare providers’ cybersecurity capabilities; and building a response system to efficiently recover from attacks.

Authorities noted the white paper’s initial chapter addresses areas the federal government needs to address to improve the nation’s risk posture regarding healthcare sector cybersecurity; chapter two covers ways the federal government can help the private sector meet the threat via a combination of potential mandates and voluntary incentives to adopt best practices; and the final chapter examines policies to help health care providers respond to attacks in the event of a cybersecurity failure.

Warner noted the document was released with the intent of soliciting feedback from stakeholders on the potential options. Those interested should submit comments through letter or by email.