Navigating the increasingly complex landscape of healthcare cybersecurity demands a proactive and collaborative approach. The Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council’s Health Industry Cybersecurity Strategic Plan (HIC-SP) emerges as a comprehensive roadmap for fortifying defenses against cyber threats. Developed over eighteen months with input from industry experts and government partners, this strategic plan sets forth ambitious goals to enhance patient safety, promote cyber equity, and establish a resilient cybersecurity framework. By fostering cooperation among stakeholders and emphasizing the shared responsibility for cybersecurity, HIC-SP aims to elevate healthcare cybersecurity to a stable condition by 2029, safeguarding the integrity of healthcare infrastructure and ensuring the well-being of patients.
In an era defined by digital innovation and interconnected healthcare systems, the imperative to safeguard sensitive patient data and critical healthcare infrastructure from cyber threats has never been more pressing. Recognizing the evolving threat landscape and the inherent vulnerabilities within the healthcare industry, the Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council has embarked on a transformative journey to strengthen healthcare cybersecurity. The Health Industry Cybersecurity Strategic Plan (HIC-SP) represents a collaborative effort to chart a course for the industry, providing guidance and actionable strategies to mitigate risks, enhance resilience, and safeguard patient safety. Grounded in the principles of shared responsibility and proactive collaboration, HIC-SP sets forth a bold vision for a future where healthcare cybersecurity is fortified, robust, and adaptable to emerging threats.
Charting a Course for Cybersecurity Resilience in Healthcare
Dubbed the Health Industry Cybersecurity Strategic Plan (HIC-SP), this initiative represents a pivotal call to action for the entire industry, providing crucial guidance for C-suite executives, health IT leaders, and government agencies alike regarding cybersecurity investments and the implementation of essential cybersecurity objectives.
At the heart of this endeavor lies the imperative to enhance and safeguard patient safety, as highlighted by Chris Tyberg, Vice Chair of the HSCC Cybersecurity Working Group and Chief Information Security Officer for Abbott. The plan, available for access on the HSCC Cybersecurity website, aims to assist organizations across the healthcare landscape in achieving vital cybersecurity goals, addressing operational, technological, and governance challenges prevalent within the industry.
Moreover, the plan emphasizes the importance of setting specific, measurable objectives to attain overarching cybersecurity goals effectively. Following the publication of HIC-SP, the HSCC Cybersecurity Working Group intends to develop a comprehensive set of measurable outcomes and relevant metrics to support the plan’s success, with plans for release slated by the conclusion of 2024.
Erik Decker, Chairman of the HSCC Cybersecurity Working Group and Chief Information Security Officer for Intermountain Health, underscores the collaborative nature of cybersecurity within the healthcare sector, stressing the shared responsibility among various stakeholders, including medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare delivery organizations, health plans, payors, and government policymakers.
The ultimate vision outlined in the plan is to elevate healthcare cybersecurity from its current “critical” status to a more stable condition by the year 2029. This transformation is envisioned to be achieved through the establishment of a robust cyber safety net, promoting equity among under-resourced health organizations, fostering workforce cybersecurity education and application, and implementing an industry-wide early-warning incident response and recovery system akin to a “911 Cyber Civil Defense.”
The unveiling of HIC-SP aligns with broader efforts within the healthcare sector to fortify defenses against cyber threats. In January, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services introduced voluntary cybersecurity performance goals for hospitals and healthcare providers to establish layered protection measures. These goals, which align with existing frameworks and strategies, underscore the collective responsibility to bolster cybersecurity resilience across the industry.
Central to the success of HIC-SP is the imperative for collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem to secure the design and delivery of technology. Erik Decker emphasizes the need for vigilance regarding third-party technology and service providers, which continue to pose significant risks to the health system. Despite advancements, the evaluation and management of vendor risks remain labor-intensive and resource-intensive processes, as highlighted by Kathy Hughes, Chief Information Security Officer of Northwell Health.
As the healthcare industry continues to evolve in the digital age, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated. The unveiling of the Health Industry Cybersecurity Strategic Plan marks a significant milestone in the collective efforts to fortify defenses against cyber threats and safeguard the integrity of healthcare systems. HIC-SP lays the groundwork for a more resilient and secure healthcare ecosystem by fostering collaboration, promoting best practices, and prioritizing patient safety. As stakeholders across the industry unite in pursuit of common goals outlined in HIC-SP, they pave the way for a future where healthcare cybersecurity is not merely a goal but a fundamental pillar of patient care and industry resilience.
