HHS cybersecurity center to help healthcare orgs fight cyberthreats
The Department of Health and Human Service is planning to launch a National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center by June, HHS Chief Information Security Officer Chris Wlaschin said during an ACT-IAC Mobile Health Forum panel in Washington on April 20.
The center will educate healthcare organizations and patients about the risks of using mobile data and apps, according to Federal News Radio. The center will be modeled after the Homeland Security Department’s NCCIC -- but with a focus on healthcare.
Initial operating capability should be achieved by June.
[Also: The biggest healthcare breaches of 2017 (so far)]
“We’ve provided grants to the National Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center to encourage a broad participation,” Wlaschin said. One that will not just try to reduce the noise but “analyze those and deliver best practices and the two or three things that a small provider, a small office, a doctor in a box can do to protect his patient’s privacy and information security around those systems.”
The collaborative partnership is a logical step, as many healthcare organizations lack consistent tools to identify and mitigate cyberthreats, a July Ponemon Institute report found. HHS said the health NCCIC will let the agency collaborate with developers to improve security on patient data.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is also considering a similar concept. Mark Scrimshire, CMS’ entrepreneur in residence told Federal News Radio.
Twitter: @JessieFDavis
Email the writer: jessica.davis@himssmedia.com
