Muddling through cybersecurity: Insights from the U.S. healthcare industry

Chon Abraham, Dave Chatterjee and Ronald R. Sims

Business Horizons, 2019, vol. 62, issue 4, 539-548

Abstract: The U.S. healthcare sector is inadequately prepared to deal with the reality of cyber threats. The increasing use of smart medical equipment and mobile devices is making healthcare organizations more susceptible to ransomware and other types of malware. The size and complexity of operations, coupled with the presence of numerous legacy and incompatible systems, make it difficult to implement effective cybersecurity measures. The daunting nature of the problem often results in an if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it stance among senior healthcare leaders. The preponderance of healthcare-related laws, compliance regulations, and security guidance frameworks serve to complicate the cybersecurity challenge further and too often results in senior leadership assuming a state of blissful ignorance. This study sheds light on the key factors contributing to the chaotic state of affairs and presents a roadmap to a more deliberate and proactive approach to cybersecurity risk management.

Keywords: Cybersecurity; Healthcare information technology; Cyber resilience; Cyberattacks; Cybersecurity risk management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:bushor:v:62:y:2019:i:4:p:539-548

DOI: 10.1016/j.bushor.2019.03.010

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