Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities in Healthcare: A Threat to Patient Security

Healthcare information systems hold significant importance; hence, their cybersecurity is crucial. Exposed networks make it easy for cybercriminals to launch cyberattacks and access healthcare data. Thus, concerns regarding cybersecurity and its link to healthcare privacy, confidential data, and medical devices are growing. Therefore, cybersecurity vulnerabilities in healthcare and patient security are significant issues. Healthcare information systems comprise correlated networks and play a vital role in treating and saving patients. However, advanced circulated ransomware attacks on hospitals prevent access to electronic health records for providing appropriate patient care, thus forcing doctors to turn to other facilities. These cyberattacks can leak patient data, and regaining control of information systems and patient data is highly expensive, thus resulting in extensive monetary losses. Cyberattacks aimed toward electronic medical records, information technology systems, and medical devices have corrupted the best systems across clinics and small offices with physicians, as well as merged health systems. There is an urgency to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities in healthca