Speakers
Synopsis
In today’s interconnected digital landscape, the traditional “castle wall and moat” approach to cybersecurity is increasingly inadequate, especially for critical sectors like healthcare. The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud infrastructure, personal devices, and remote work has rendered isolated security measures like firewalls and intrusion prevention systems insufficient. Zero trust has emerged as a more adaptive and comprehensive solution, addressing the complexities of modern systems. However, implementing zero trust in healthcare presents unique challenges due to the sector's high interdependencies and the critical nature of uninterrupted workflows.
Healthcare systems are under siege, with cybersecurity threats—such as ransomware and denial-of-service attacks—becoming alarmingly common. These threats jeopardise sensitive patient data, disrupt care delivery, and undermine trust in healthcare institutions. In some cases, cyberattacks have even led to compromised patient safety and fatalities. While zero trust offers a promising framework for mitigating these risks, its application in healthcare must account for the critical need for seamless clinical processes. The complexity of medical devices, outdated systems, and protocol vulnerabilities further complicate implementation, as disruptions can have life-threatening consequences.
This presentation will explore the concept of zero trust, with a special focus on its adaptation to the clinical environment. We will discuss the unique cybersecurity challenges healthcare organisations face and how they can benefit from a zero-trust model while addressing the obstacles of safeguarding highly interconnected medical systems without disrupting patient care.
