- Personal health information is in high demand on the black market.Hacker attacks are on the rise
- Healthcare is one of the three most targeted industries in the region
- Kingston Technology claims its latest anti-infringement products can defeat threats and help hospitals and staff “reliably protect the data entrusted to them.”
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Boasting world-class data protection capabilities has never been more important for businesses across all industries. Although significant advances have been made in cyber security, the unprecedented transformation has inadvertently led to a significant increase in ransomware attacks. Certain sectors and organizations are becoming more strategic targets than ever before, with healthcare becoming a major area of interest for hackers.
Kingston Technology, an affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a global leader in memory products and technology solutions, urges healthcare organizations to be better prepared and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.
As breach attempts proliferate in the population health community, Kingston Technology claims its latest hardware encryption products can prove invaluable in protecting protected health information (PHI). Masu.
“Cybercrime is one of the most pressing and concerning issues healthcare organizations must manage and overcome, now and in the future,” explained Antoine Herb, team leader for the Middle East and North Africa at Kingston Technology. To do. “New threats continue to emerge, putting the sector under greater pressure than ever to prevent breaches. Hackers have identified the value of compromised health data. Volume of Attacks has increased significantly and this is a cause for great concern.
“However, healthcare organizations are well aware of the potential legal and reputational implications if PHI is compromised,” explained Antoine Herb, team leader for the Middle East and North Africa at Kingston Technology. To do. “We’re seeing a real determination to defeat these threats, all the way down to top-level leadership. This is understandable given the cost implications of not meeting data protection rules, regulations and requirements. , wise.”
For healthcare organizations, the reality is clear. PHI must be protected at all costs. The 2023 IBM Data Breach Cost Report clearly shows the consequences when PHI is compromised, highlighting that the average cost of a healthcare data breach worldwide reached $10.93 million in 2023. This is the highest of all industries and represents a significant increase of $53.3. % in just 3 years.
The cost impact in the Middle East is also less significant, reaching $9.186 million this year. This exceeds the region’s all-time high average of $8 million, including all sectors.
“While essential to the sustainable operation of all healthcare facilities, PHI is in high demand on the black market,” Herb continued. “Breaking into the systems of hospitals and other healthcare facilities and obtaining such sensitive information presents an opportunity for malicious actors to receive large sums of money and achieve their cyber business objectives. Cyber-attacks are on the rise. They are occurring with record frequency and adequate protection is a non-negotiable necessity.”
A striking example that highlighted the need for proper projection occurred in 2021 when Dubai Moorfields Eye Hospital suffered a cyberattack. Ransomware group ‘AvosLocker’ claimed responsibility after the hospital was forced to contact the affected patient as 60 GB of data was stolen and his PHI in various formats was decrypted. did.
But fast forward to 2023, and many healthcare organizations may experience similar breaches due to outdated security measures.Earlier this year, an authoritative report found that 72% of top hospitals in the UAE and Saudi Arabia lag behind in basic cybersecurity measures, with only 28% boasting the required level of protection. did[1].
Additionally, professionals within health care facilities also have a responsibility to protect PHI. According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), we have a legal obligation to protect patients from disclosure of their PHI without their knowledge or consent.
Aside from criminal penalties, including jail time and hefty fines, if intentionally disclosed, unintentionally violating HIPPA rules and regulations can result in large sums of money. For example, if an individual was unaware they were committing a violation, they could be fined up to $25,000 per year.
Kingston Technology remains firmly committed to the position that password-protected, hardware-encrypted USB drives are the best and most secure way to meet data protection regulations and operate world-class data defenses. Masu. The company’s secure Kingston IronKey product line ensures healthcare organizations of all types have the protection they need to eliminate cyber-attacks.
One of the smartest for organizations in the healthcare sector is the Kingston IronKey D500S Hardware Encrypted USB Flash Drive. Kingston IronKey’s focus on military-grade security makes it the brand you can trust to protect your sensitive information. A complete security solution for high-value data protection, data is encrypted and decrypted on the D500S without leaving a trace on the host system, offering more features than other drives in its class.
Others include the Kingston IronKey Keypad 200 series drives. It is an OS-independent, hardware-encrypted USB Type-A and USB Type-C drive with an alphanumeric keypad for easy access to your PIN. KP200 includes XTS-AES 256-bit hardware-based encryption, an enhancement that further increases the level of data protection. Its circuitry is covered with a layer of special epoxy, making it virtually impossible to remove without damaging components, and the drive is designed to reveal tampering to alert owners. Masu.
“Healthcare organizations and their employees must protect the data entrusted to them,” Herb added. “Failure to meet this requirement, whether intentional or accidental, can have serious consequences, which can be avoided with the help of the latest innovations available on the market.”
For more information, please visit the Kingston Technology website.
About Kingston Technology Europe Co LLP
Kingston Technology Europe Co LLP and Kingston Technology Company, Inc. are part of the same group of companies (“Kingston”). Kingston is the world’s largest independent memory products manufacturer. From big data to laptops and IoT-based devices such as smart and wearable technology, to design-in and contract manufacturing, Kingston helps deliver solutions used to live, work and play. . The world’s largest PC manufacturers and cloud hosting companies rely on Kingston for their manufacturing needs, and our passion powers the technology the world uses every day. We strive to look beyond our products and deliver solutions that meet our customers’ needs and make a difference. To learn more about how Kingston is with you, please visit: kingston.com.
Media contact:
Micheline Cassis
Beyond marketing and communications
micheline@beyondgcc.com
[1] Report finds UAE and Saudi hospitals exposing patients to cybersecurity risks – Arabian Business