Why rural facilities need a strategic blueprint to fortify cyber defenses

Travis Tidwell emphasises the urgent need for improved cybersecurity in rural healthcare institutions that often lack nearby alternatives to their solitary hospitals. The risk is significant, with data breaches costing an average of $10.93 million in the healthcare sector in 2023, the highest of any industry. Cyberattacks can risk patient safety, disrupt services, undermine trust in healthcare providers and potentially halt important pharmaceutical research. Strong cybersecurity involving technical solutions, employee education, proactive monitoring, and regular security audits is required to manage these threats.