HEALTHTECH: How have conversations around healthcare cybersecurity changed over the years? What will be a hallmark for conversations this year?
WOLF: In years past, cybersecurity fell into multiple buckets or isolated events. Some organizations were dealing with specific threats. Others dealt with “hostage situations” where data was being held in ransomware attacks. But in the grand scope of things, the industry was able to adapt and address issues.
What happened in 2024 changed everything: Our entire system was threatened. We had cybersecurity attacks on an unprecedented level. No matter who you were, you were probably affected. So, what’s changed in cybersecurity is the harsh realization that no matter the size of your organization, you can be impacted by a cybersecurity threat.
It’s no longer a vague threat or potential issue. Cybercriminals have really started to target healthcare specifically, and they do it every single day. So, the maturity around the threat and the understanding of what is needed to guard against it is changing rapidly
I think our entire predisposition and understanding of the threat has changed dramatically, and at HIMSS25, you’ll be able to learn insights and see the new tools, services and innovations in cybersecurity. In a way, we helping to create a checklist that people can keep referring to make sure that they’re not doing something that puts their system in a vulnerable situation.
DISCOVER: Why is a good cyber resilience strategy essential to business success?
HEALTHTECH: Are organizations getting better in terms of their AI and data governance? Or is that a continued challenge for healthcare organizations?
WOLF: We’ve always dealt with good and bad data in any industry, and healthcare certainly is no exception. What we’ve learned, and what we knew for quite a while on the HIMSS side, goes back to that mission statement about the power of information and technology. Information is everything, but information is derived from data. Data is useless by itself. We have to organize it. We have to analyze it. And in doing so, we can transform information into knowledge.
When we do that successfully, we create a better foundation for implementing tools such as AI and machine learning. With better data governance, we have better information to use in everything from operations to diagnosis and care delivery. This is where we are now in healthcare with a growing understanding of how to use our data.
There were times when people looked up and said, “Oh, this new technology is interesting; I’ll start using a new device or technology.” But by utilizing mature analytics strategies and cleaner data sets, you are better prepared to run day-to-day operations and also to make treatment decisions to help patients. From here, it begins to transform itself at scale, and health professionals can begin to ask really critical questions about AI, such as how should we use it, and where and when should we use it?
Now, the questions in the boardroom are what are our plans and our strategic targets for using AI as a specialized tool? What are the cautions, and what’s the governance that needs to be in place to ensure its safety as well its maximum value? How do we support AI adoption from a cybersecurity standpoint? How does it fit into our strategic plans for digital transformation? What do we have to do with our workforce in order to tie it all together to make sure we’re educated and can maximize these tools? That’s where we are across the entire global health ecosystem, and I think that’s what’s on the forefront of every health system leader, clinician and professional’s mind right now.
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