Cyber as a Digital Enabler - the HSE approach
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is at the forefront of a transformative journey to deliver the Digital for Care 2030 strategy. This strategy represents a bold vision to digitise healthcare, leveraging technology to support patient care and improve health outcomes. Central to this vision is ensuring that our digital services are seamless, secure, and connected, empowering both patients and providers alike.
The 6 principles of the strategy are:
- Patient Empowerment: provide patients with access to their own health information through tools like the HSE app and shared care records.
- Digitally Enabled Workforce and Workplace: provide our staff with a modern set of productivity tools and reliable secure connectivity to our solutions no matter where they work.
- Digitally Enabled and Connected Care: using electronic health records (EHRs) which can be shared across different health regions to improve care coordination.
- Data-Driven Services: using data to improve health outcomes, reduce hospital admissions, and make healthcare services more efficient
- Digital Health Ecosystem and Innovation: By fostering partnerships and innovation within the healthtech sector, the HSE is driving forward solutions to meet complex healthcare challenges.
- Secure Foundations and Digital Enablers: ensuring strong cybersecurity measures to protect patient data and maintain trust in digital health services.
As the new Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at the Health Service Executive, my priority is to make cybersecurity an integral aspect of our operations. Securing and safeguarding our patients' data is crucial for building and maintaining trust in our digital health services.
The Role of Cybersecurity in Digital Healthcare
In response to the 2021 cyberattack, the HSE has made cybersecurity a top priority. With the growing frequency of cyber threats targeting healthcare systems worldwide, the HSE is dedicated to a proactive stance. Recent incidents affecting the NHS underscore the ongoing vulnerabilities in digital healthcare systems.
Cybersecurity is not just about technical measures; it involves ensuring trust, maintaining continuity of care, and fostering innovation. Certainly, any national healthcare system is inherently complex, with numerous moving parts and technological challenges at every turn. The HSE is no exception. Like any sector, we face the continuous challenge of balancing innovation, evolution, and resilience. At the heart of our efforts is consistency. From a technological and cybersecurity standpoint, this involves managing all our assets in a uniform manner, with predictable and repeatable processes. Resulting in a more predictable and repeatable outcome, which in itself will reduce our risk and simplify our response to our next cyber-attack.
Certainly, any national healthcare system is inherently complex, with numerous moving parts and technological challenges at every turn. The HSE is no exception. Like any sector, we face the continuous challenge of balancing innovation, evolution, and resilience. At the heart of our efforts is consistency. From a technological and cybersecurity standpoint, this involves managing all our assets in a uniform manner, with predictable and repeatable processes. Resulting in a more predictable and repeatable outcome, which in itself will reduce our risk and simplify our response to our next cyber-attack.
Consistency in Policies and Procedures
Consistency in cybersecurity starts with well-defined policies and procedures. Serving as a blueprint for the HSE, ensuring our employees understand and adhere to best practices. Regular updates and training sessions helps embed a culture of security awareness. This continuous reinforcement ensures that security protocols are consistently followed, reducing the risk of human error, which is often the weakest link in cybersecurity.
Consistency in Technology and Tools
Adopting and consistently updating technology and tools is another critical aspect. Cyber threats are continually evolving, making it essential for the HSE to maintain up-to-date defences. Consistent use of these technologies helps in early detection and mitigation of potential threats.
Consistency in Incident Response
Having a consistent incident response plan is crucial. This means having a predefined process for identifying, managing, and mitigating security incidents. A consistent approach ensures that when a breach occurs, the response is swift and effective, minimising damage and recovery time.
A Call to action for all HSE Staff
Every HSE staff member plays a role in protecting our systems and patients’ data. Whether it’s securing devices, staying vigilant for potential threats, or following best practices, your actions contribute to a safer, stronger healthcare system.
Conclusion
Consistency is the bedrock upon which effective cybersecurity is built. It ensures that policies, procedures, technology, and incident response are harmonised and continuously improved. In a landscape where threats are ever-changing, consistency provides a stable foundation for proactive defence and resilience.