Providers pool resources to guard against cyberattacks

Healthcare providers are joining forces to fight the growing threat of online attacks on their data and information systems.

Intermountain Healthcare, the University of Utah and three other large healthcare organizations will collaborate on a security operations center, Intermountain CIO Marc Probst announced at a conference in Washington, D.C.

The providers set up a security operations center about two years ago and others have contacted Probst about collaborating, he said. More details will soon be announced, but the joint security center will be housed at the University of Utah.

Meanwhile, Maryland healthcare organizations also will collaborate to guard against cyberattacks. In the wake of the malware attack on MedStar Health, the hospitals and medical school affiliated with the University of Maryland will work together to prevent and mitigate future attacks, according to The Baltimore Sun.

The American Hospital Association has established a dedicated cybersecurity webpage that lists numerous resources for hospital leaders to understand the cybersecurity threats and incorporate cyber risk reduction and response into their strategic priorities.

"Cybersecurity is more than just an IT issue--it requires an organization level risk reduction and response plan, leadership support and board oversight, and vigilance from everyone with access to the network," AHA President and CEO Richard J. Pollack wrote in a blog post. "Getting involved in sharing information opportunities is crucial to staying ahead of emerging cybersecurity risks."