## Datalyst Blog
Datalyst delivers expert managed IT services in Providence, RI. Optimize performance, secure your systems, and grow with us. Contact us today!
[ Categories ](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/blog/categories "Categories")
[ Tags ](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/blog/tags "Tags")
[ Categories: All Categories ](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/javascript:void(0); "Categories")
Search...Suggested keywords
[ x ](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/javascript:void(0);)
# 2020 Was Rough for Healthcare Where IT Was Concerned
[Datalyst Blog](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/blog/categories/blog) [Security](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/blog/categories/security)
[Daniel Mathieu](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/blog/blogger/daniel-mathieu)
Friday, 02 April 2021
[ 0 Comments ](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/blog/2020-was-rough-for-healthcare-where-it-was-concerned#comments)
[  ](//datalyst.directivesites.com/images/easyblog_shared/April_2021/4-2-21/147243616_healthcare_IT_400.jpg "2020 Was Rough for Healthcare Where IT Was Concerned")
2020 was, obviously, a challenging year for healthcare providers. In addition to the obvious issue of the COVID-19 pandemic creating serious operational, financial, and supply chain difficulties, cybersecurity concerns didn’t go away during this time. Let’s consider some of the additional stresses that IT security needs can, will, and have placed on healthcare providers.
The amount that healthcare practices invest in their cybersecurity services has been projected to exceed $65 billion in the span of time from 2017 to this year—but despite this, the industry isn’t improving. In fact, healthcare providers have had to turn away patients for these precise reasons… but the question remains: *why?*
## There Are a Few Reasons that Healthcare Providers Have Had Problems As of Late
### IoT Security Issues
Anyone who has been to a hospital in the past decade or so has likely noticed how connected many of these facilities have become. A nurse’s clipboard has been replaced by a laptop that they wheel around to input all information and logs into, while diagnostic equipment itself is now largely computerized.
This means that many of a healthcare provider’s tools can now be classified as Internet of Things devices, and as such, are prone to security inconsistencies and vulnerabilities as a result. Many IoT devices are notorious for iffy-to-non-existent security as it is.
### Ransomware
While ransomware can be, and is, an issue in every industry, the healthcare industry is particularly susceptible to its impacts for obvious, life-or-death reasons. Ransomware has been responsible for many organizations actually closing their doors, unable to sustain the damages. This is largely due to the reliance that their organizations have on the data that they need to treat their patients and manage the business—without the support required to properly protect this data.
### Insider Threats
Unfortunately, the employees in a healthcare organization are not infallible, which does sometimes lead to insider threats to data. In fact, some professionals have said that insider threats are the biggest challenge for hospitals and such right now.
## New Threats May Be On the Horizon
Of course, cybercrime of all kinds constantly advances, and that which targets the healthcare industry is no exception. In healthcare, these threats can be downright frightening.
For example, a research team in Israel managed to develop a proof-of-concept computer virus that could artificially paste tumors into CT and MRI scans so that high-profile patients could be misdiagnosed by their physicians.
With ingenuity like that, it is terrifying to consider what cybercriminals may do moving forward.
Regardless of your industry or the size of your business, cybercrime isn’t something to be taken lightly. Datalyst is here to help prepare for it. Give us a call at (774) 213-9701 to learn more about the solutions we have to offer.
[ ](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/javascript:void(0);) [ ](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/javascript:void(0);) [ ](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/javascript:void(0);)
Tags:
[Security](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/blog/tags/security) [HIPAA](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/blog/tags/hipaa) [Compliance](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/blog/tags/compliance)
[ Why Phishing Attacks are Such a Huge Risk for Your... ](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/blog/why-phishing-attacks-such-a-huge-risk-for-your-business)
[ 2FA Needs to be a Part of Every Massachusetts Busi... ](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/blog/2fa-needs-to-be-a-part-of-every-massachusetts-business-cybersecurity-strategy)
About the author
[  ](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/blog/blogger/daniel-mathieu)
[Daniel Mathieu](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/blog/blogger/daniel-mathieu)
[ ](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/javascript:void(0); "Subscribe to updates from author") [ ](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/javascript:void(0);) [ ](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/blog/blogger/daniel-mathieu)
Dan is a trusted IT advisor with a background of over 25 years in IT and continuously works on the challenges of putting the right people in place to drive business growth and customer satisfaction.
Author's recent posts
[More posts from author](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/blog/blogger/daniel-mathieu)
[ Friday, 31 July 2026 Are You Paying for Inactive Software? ](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/blog/are-you-paying-for-inactive-software)
[ Wednesday, 29 July 2026 3 Reasons Why Storing Business Files Locally is Obsolete ](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/blog/3-reasons-why-storing-business-files-locally-is-obsolete)
[ Tuesday, 28 July 2026 Combating Software Bloat and Cyber Risks ](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/newsletter-content/combating-software-bloat-and-cyber-risks)
Comments
No comments made yet. Be the first to submit a comment
**** Already Registered? [Login Here](https://datalyst.directivesites.com/home/login-logout?return=aHR0cHM6Ly9kYXRhbHlzdC5kaXJlY3RpdmVzaXRlcy5jb20vYmxvZy8yMDIwLXdhcy1yb3VnaC1mb3ItaGVhbHRoY2FyZS13aGVyZS1pdC13YXMtY29uY2VybmVk)
Tuesday, 04 August 2026
Subscribe to the blog (Please fill in your email address to subscribe to updates from this post.)
**Captcha Image**