The Importance of A Cybersecurity Checklist in the AI-GPT Era

The use of checklists has been proven to improve safety and reduce the risk of human error in industries such as aviation and medicine.

With the increasing digitization of healthcare data, cybersecurity has become a critical issue for healthcare organizations. To ensure patient data is protected from cyber threats, a strategic cybersecurity checklist should be developed and implemented. The checklist should include regular employee training, encryption of data, use of strong passwords, regular risk assessments, access controls, regular software updates, a response plan for data breaches, secure communication channels, activity log monitoring, and addressing physician burnout and fatigue. By taking proactive steps and using a cybersecurity checklist, healthcare organizations can safeguard patient data and maintain operating efficiencies.

People like lists. And in many instances, a checklist can be a practical, powerful, even lifesaving tool. Two well-established checklists come to mind:

In the OR. The WHO safety checklist is a tool developed by the World Health Organization to improve patient safety during surgical procedures. It consists of three parts: before induction of anesthesia, before skin incision, and before the patient leaves the operating room. The checklist helps reduce the risk of errors, improve communication among team members, and ensure that critical steps are not missed. It is designed to be flexible and adaptable to different surgical procedures and healthcare settings and is a valuable tool for improving patient safety.

In the cockpit. The use of checklists is mandated by many aviation authorities. These authorities require that pilots use checklists for specific procedures, such as pre-flight checks, takeoff, landing, and emergency situations. The use of checklists is considered a fundamental part of safe aviation operations, as they help to reduce the risk of human error and ensure that procedures are consistently followed.

As technology continues to advance and data becomes increasingly digitized, healthcare data security has become a critical issue. Healthcare organizations and professionals must take steps to safeguard patient data from cyber threats while maintaining easy access to medical records for clinical purposes. Given the well-established success of checklists in medicine and tech-based industries, it might make sense to develop a “strategic checklist” to help organizations begin to focus on key areas of cybersecurity. Some are turnkey operations while others are more complicated, but all are essential.

• Train Employees: Healthcare organizations must provide regular training and education for employees to ensure that they understand the importance of data security and are aware of the latest threats and best practices.

• Encrypt Data: Encrypting data is one of the most effective ways to protect it from unauthorized access. Healthcare organizations should ensure that all patient data is encrypted, both in transit and at rest.

• Use Strong Passwords: Strong passwords that are difficult to guess or crack can help protect patient data. Healthcare organizations should require employees to use strong passwords and implement multi-factor authentication for added security.

• Conduct Regular Risk Assessments: Regular risk assessments can help identify vulnerabilities in the organization’s data security infrastructure and allow for proactive steps to mitigate risk.

• Implement Access Controls: Access controls limit the number of people who have access to patient data and can help prevent unauthorized access.

• Regularly Update Software: Regular software updates help to keep healthcare systems and devices secure by patching known vulnerabilities.

• Develop a Response Plan: A response plan for a data breach or cyberattack should be developed and tested regularly to ensure that the organization can respond quickly and effectively to any incidents.

• Use Secure Communication Channels: Healthcare organizations should use secure communication channels when exchanging sensitive patient data, such as using encrypted email or secure messaging platforms.

• Monitor Activity Logs: Monitoring activity logs can help identify suspicious activity and potential data breaches. Healthcare organizations should regularly review activity logs to detect and respond to any anomalies.

• Address Physician Burnout/Fatigue: Physician burnout and fatigue can lead to a decline in attention to detail and an increase in errors, including those related to data security. Addressing these issues through increased support, improved workflows, and reduced workload can help prevent data breaches caused by human error.

From the OR to the jet cockpit to a clinician’s handheld device, optimizing healthcare data security is crucial for protecting patient data from cyber threats. Healthcare organizations must take proactive steps to safeguard patient data and sustain operating efficiencies. And while this process can be laborious and difficult, crafting a strategic checklist is a great place to start.

This article was sponsored by AT&T Business, but the opinions are my own and don’t necessarily represent BBN Times and AT&T Business’s positions or strategies.