The following is a guest article by Nagaraj Kuppuswamy, Co-Founder and CEO at Beaconer

The healthcare industry has become a major target for cybercriminals in recent years. From large hospital networks to small clinics, healthcare organizations store massive amounts of sensitive patient data that is extremely valuable on the black market. At the same time, many healthcare networks rely on outdated technology and lack the cybersecurity resources and expertise found in other industries. This combination makes the healthcare sector particularly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Healthcare data breaches surged in 2022, with over 44 million patient records compromised in the US alone according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Role AI Can Play in Healthcare Cybersecurity

As cyber threats become more frequent and sophisticated, there is an urgent need for healthcare organizations to upgrade their cyber defenses. This is where artificial intelligence (AI) comes in. AI has the potential to significantly enhance healthcare cybersecurity and help organizations detect and respond to threats in real time.

AI-Powered Security Solutions for Healthtech

One of the biggest challenges in healthcare cybersecurity is that threats are evolving rapidly while attack surfaces are expanding. Healthcare networks are complex environments with a vast number of access points spread across multiple facilities. They interact with countless third-party vendors and service providers. This makes it extremely difficult for security teams to gain visibility into the entire network and all potential vulnerabilities. AI-powered security solutions can automate the process of mapping out networks, identifying risk points, and detecting anomalous behavior that could indicate a cyber attack. 

Identifying Threats And Vulnerabilities

AI algorithms can analyze patterns in network traffic and user activity in the healthcare ecosystem to flag any deviations from normal behavior, which could reveal a malicious threat actor moving laterally within the network. AI can also quickly sift through massive amounts of security data and identify threats or vulnerabilities that might be missed by human analysts. Natural language processing techniques can scan through documents and communications to identify signs of social engineering attacks or emerging cyber threats.

AI and Threat Intelligence for Healthcare

AI breach detection goes beyond just looking at technical signals – it can also incorporate threat intelligence on bad actors and new attack methodologies to enhance detection capabilities. AI solutions can autonomously gather information from threat feeds, security bulletins, and other intelligence sources to stay continuously updated on new risks relevant to the healthcare organization. This allows them to detect known attack patterns as well as novel threats that security teams may not even be aware of. 

Enhance Third-Party Risk Management

When it comes to third-party and fourth-party risk management, verifying the cybersecurity practices and posture of vendors, contractors, and other external partners continues to be a major headache for healthcare organizations. AI technologies can make this process faster and more effective. For example, AI can quickly analyze questionnaires, audit documents, security assessments, and other materials from third-party providers to evaluate their cyber risk levels in real time.

Natural language processing techniques can identify gaps, inconsistencies, or concerns in vendor documentation that require further investigation. AI algorithms can also compare vendor security policies against industry standards, best practices, and internal organizational requirements to determine compliance. These capabilities allow security teams to continuously monitor third-party cyber risk and make sure external partners are upholding their security assurances. 

Testing and Fine Tuning Response Plans

Once a cyber threat in the healthcare chain is detected, AI can support faster response times by automating containment and remediation processes. AI virtual assistants can take initial actions to isolate impacted systems and cut off attacker access. Bots can also accelerate incident response by scraping data from multiple sources to provide security teams with quick information on the threat. AI can even be used to simulate cyber attacks and model how threats will propagate through the network, allowing defenders to test and fine-tune response plans. 

The insights provided by AI are only useful if they are actionable for security personnel. That’s why it’s essential for AI cybersecurity tools to integrate and provide context to the security operations center (SOC). Security teams can leverage AI detections and alerts in conjunction with other threat data to determine and execute appropriate defensive measures. 

Conclusion

AI is not a magic bullet – it requires careful implementation, testing, and oversight to be effective. AI models must be continuously trained and validated to detect new attack patterns while minimizing false positives. However, AI technologies certainly have the potential to accelerate threat detection, improve visibility across hybrid healthcare networks, enhance third-party risk management, and ultimately enable more proactive and resilient cyber defenses. As cyber threats become more aggressive and complex, AI-driven security solutions will become a mission-critical investment for healthcare organizations looking to protect their patients, assets, and reputations.

About Nagaraj Kuppuswamy

Nagaraj Kuppuswamy is the Co-Founder and CEO at Beaconer, an esteemed enterprise specializing in managed third-party risk using the cloud-native AI-based solution. With an extensive portfolio of accolades and industry certifications, Nagaraj stands out as a seasoned expert, boasting over 16 years of dedicated involvement in the field of Cybersecurity.