CybersecurityandHealthcareInfrastructureintheAgeofDigitalTransitionandAI

Set within the Sale Folchi, Mazzoni and the Atrio Antico of the Azienda Ospedaliera San Giovanni in Rome, the conference organized by the ICSA Foundation, titled "Cybersecurity and healthcare infrastructure in the age of digital transition and Artificial Intelligence," was held on 5 December 2024.

The event brought together industry experts, institutional representatives and healthcare professionals: an important occasion to discuss the challenges that digitalization and artificial intelligence pose to the cyber security of healthcare infrastructure.

Focus of the conference

The discussion centered on application methodologies and operational models for preventing and mitigating the effects of cyber threats within the healthcare ecosystem. The protection, storage and dissemination of healthcare data, by public as well as private institutions, is today a strategic priority.

The risks of a cyber attack in healthcare go beyond economic, legal and reputational consequences: they can have a direct impact on services to citizens and on their physical safety.

Polis Consulting, an engineering firm specialized in the security of healthcare infrastructure, took an active part in the conference, presenting best practices and the most advanced prevention tools: defense models to protect critical infrastructure, from hospitals to the information systems that manage personal health data. Prevention was unanimously identified as the only way to mitigate risks and ensure operational continuity.

The risks of digitalization

Digital healthcare has brought extraordinary innovations, such as the electronic health record, telemedicine, electronic prescriptions and online bookings, which have streamlined spending and improved services for citizens. Yet these same technologies represent an opportunity for cyber criminals, who see healthcare data as a prime target.

The most recent reports confirm an exponential rise in cyber threats in the sector: extortion malware, theft and manipulation of sensitive data. Among the new risk scenarios are the use of personalized medical devices and the possibility of tampering with the results of diagnostic and electromedical equipment.

A shared conclusion

The conference reaffirmed the need for a systemic approach to cyber security, one capable of combining innovation and protection. Digital healthcare cannot be held back by cyber crime: it must be supported by a solid strategy that integrates advanced technologies, staff training and prevention tools.

The ICSA Foundation, supported by organizations such as Polis Consulting, continues to promote initiatives to guarantee the security and efficiency of the healthcare system, safeguarding citizens' health and their trust in institutions.