Delta Hospitals to get boost for cybersecurity | News
GREENWOOD – According to a Microsoft executive, cyberattacks against hospitals are on the rise.
We’ve seen it here in The Delta, and now the software company and the federal government are stepping in with some help.
“As you know the vulnerability of cyberspace is tremendous.
Rural hospitals are at risk for a number of attacks,” said Congressman Bennie Thompson.
In fact, in The Delta recently, North Sunflower Hospital ran into a cash crunch when a subsidiary of United Health Care was hacked, slowing payments.
That’s why Congressman Thompson, leaders from Microsoft, and Delta hospitals came together in Greenwood for a big annoucement about protecting The Delta’s hospitals from future cyber attacks.
“We’ll be providing a suite of training support and technology services including free security updates and cybersecurity assessments that are necessary to help you….” said Victoria Robinson of Microsoft.
Most of the cost will be paid through Government broadband funds.
“Microsoft has basically said, we understand the challenges… we commit to a zero cost for the first year in this operation. And at that point we will waive 75% of the cost going forward,” Thompson explained.
That’s important for hospitals like Sharkey Issaquena, which is still struggling to operate after last year’s tornado.
“Funding comes down to keeping the doors open or cybersecurity, keeping the doors open is going to win every time,” said Brandy Bradshaw of Sharkey-Issaquena Hospital.
It’s also vitally important for financially struggling hospitals like Greenwood-Leflore. “We’re gonna recieve some grants to further assess the cybersecurity risk that are associated with all these technologies,” said Gary Marchand of Greenwood-Leflore.
He and others hope that this program, which is starting in The Delta, will help other struggling rural hospitals here at home and around the country.
“I just see Clarksdale, Cleveland, Greenville Sharkey Issaquena and Greenwood Leflore as being actually essential for the healthcare of the people in the Mississippi Delta,” said Congressman Thompson.
And he says keeping those hospitals safe from cyber criminals, is a top priority.
