Cyber-liability is a common trend today for the healthcare industry in South Africa. This is true especially to private practices looking to protect themselves. Cybercrime in the country has tremendously increased. That is why private practices are leveraging cyber-liability to handle cases of ransomware and data breaches.
It is common for cybercriminals to target health and banking data. As a result, healthcare organizations have no choice but to strengthen their security. This vital, especially now when more people are working from home. The providers will have to rethink their cyber-liability to ensure the ultimate protection.
Essential Details of Cyber-Liability in South Africa
Most malpractice policies cover Cyber-liability in South Africa. However, it usually comes with some limits and exceptions. So, private healthcare should go for a comprehensive policy. That way, they will get covers for hiring IT experts to assist when the time comes. The professionals can assist with fixing data breaches and paying a ransom. These policies also address the hiring of public relations experts. The coverage also takes care of hiring attorneys to defend the practice from lawsuits.
Some people may be concerned about the costs of these policies. But a lot of factors can influence it, including the size of the organization. Even though it may seem like an unnecessary investment, not having it first is even riskier. For instance, with more data exchanged between practices and other entities, the risks increase. So, it only makes perfect sense to get cyber-liability coverage no matter the costs.
How Cyber-Liability Will Help
Cybercrimes come in many ways. Even if a practice isn’t directly targeted, it can still be liable for lost data. Ideally, every move and fight against cybercrime is a shared responsibility. That is why doctors and third parties should work together. Every stakeholder in practice has a role to play in keeping safe.
But why do cybercriminals attack healthcare organizations? These entities have valuable information like birth dates, patient names, and identification numbers. Others also have banking details and medical aid information. When the attackers get these vital details, they will do more harm than good. Smaller practices, like the larger counterparts, are at similar risk. It is common for smaller practices not to encrypt patient information. And that is just one of the recipes for a potential breach.
Whether small or large, a practice should have an elaborate protection method. For one, a smaller practice may be more vulnerable to these attacks. A larger practice, despite the possible protection techniques, will be vulnerable as well. Having cyber-liability coverage is just one of the ways to be secure. When combined with the latest security measures, it will ensure long-term security.
Final Words
The Protection of Personal Information Act is pushing for more investment in cyber-liability. The emphasis here is for healthcare practices to protect their clients’ data from loss and damage. Unlawful access to these details is yet another concern the act addresses. Healthcare practices should implement both technical and organizational-based measures to protect clients. They should identify and seal all internal and external risk spots. Also, they should be updated with current trends in data security.
