LAS VEGAS – The Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council Cyber Working Group is making strides in cybersecurity, one year into its five-year Health Industry Cybersecurity Strategic Plan. Chris Tyberg, chair of the CWG executive committee and chief information security officer for Abbot, emphasized the need for more involvement from the healthcare industry during his keynote at the Healthcare Cybersecurity Forum at HIMSS25 in Las Vegas.
In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, security threats are constantly expanding. The HSCC CWG has developed 28 free resources to help healthcare organizations enhance their cyber resilience and mitigate risks to patient safety, data privacy, and care operations. While the healthcare industry has shown great engagement with these resources, the focus now is on mobilizing the community to take action collectively.
Tyberg highlighted four key pillars of the HSCC centered around the idea that cyber safety is essential for patient safety. The first pillar emphasizes the importance of access in healthcare and cybersecurity, ensuring that all organizations have access to the resources needed to secure their systems. Tyberg noted the absence of small-to-medium-sized healthcare provider organizations at the cybersecurity forum and stressed the need to reach out to these entities.
The second pillar focuses on the healthcare cybersecurity workforce, with the introduction of the HSCC Academic Partnership program. This initiative aims to cultivate the next generation of cyber defenders by engaging with academic institutions to encourage students and graduates to pursue careers in healthcare cybersecurity.
The third pillar, community, advocates for mutual aid among healthcare organizations, drawing inspiration from other critical industries. Despite challenges, mutual aid presents an opportunity to train and develop new skills in the workforce.
The fourth pillar, innovation, highlights the importance of investing in innovative cybersecurity technologies to protect small-to-mid-size healthcare organizations from evolving threats. By leveraging innovation, the healthcare sector can enhance its preparedness and response capabilities.
In conclusion, the HSCC CWG is committed to advancing cybersecurity in healthcare and encouraging industry-wide collaboration to address emerging threats. With a focus on access, workforce development, community engagement, and innovation, the healthcare industry can strengthen its cybersecurity defenses and safeguard patient safety.
Andrea Fox is senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Email: afox@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.
