Cybersecurity in Healthcare: Online Conference Series to Address Sector’s Key Cyber Challenges

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The EU Agency for Cybersecurity and the Danish Health Data Authority Kick Off European Conference Series on eHealth Security.

Tomorrow, the EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) and The Danish Health Data Authority will launch the 6th annual eHealth Security Conference: “Working together towards secure eHeath”. This year’s programme consists of a series of panel discussions about the major cyber challenges facing Europe’s healthcare sector. The series will span three months, with each month exploring a different cybersecurity topic of eHealth. The conferences will be in a virtual format.

EU Agency for Cybersecurity Executive Director Juhan Lepassaar said: “eHealth is a critical infrastructure that has become an even more important healthcare service for EU citizens this year. The EU Agency for Cybersecurity continues to support hospitals by providing cybersecurity guidance and by facilitating information exchange. This series of eHealth Conferences will bring awareness to the very real cybersecurity challenges this sector is facing, and will reinforce the path forward to tackling them.”

Danish Health Data Authority Deputy Director General Vibeke van der Sprong said: "In an ever-changing digital environment, the importance of having a robust IT-landscape is becoming more and more vital. The Danish recipe to tackle the current extraordinary situation has been a solid cybersecurity effort and a pinch of luck."

COVID-19 has tested the capabilities and endurance of the healthcare system. Hospitals have been stretched to the limit in handing this extraordinary pandemic and remain vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks.

This conference series aims to support the healthcare system by addressing the security challenges and risks of ICT facing the sector in Europe. Healthcare professionals and cybersecurity experts will join forces to share their lessons learned, good practices and foresights into what’s next for the healthcare sector. Confirmed keynote speakers include Danish Health Data Authority Deputy Director General Vibeke van der Sprong, Policy Officer of Cybersecurity and Digital Privacy at the European Commission Christian D'Cunha, and EU Agency for Cybersecurity Executive Director Juhan Lepassaar, in order of appereance.

Event Schedule

1- Cybersecurity in Healthcare in times of a pandemic – 23 September at 14:00 to 16:00 CET

2- Cybersecurity in COVID-19 tracing mobile apps – 23 October at 14:00 to 16:00 CET

3- Incidents response while in crisis (technical session) – 23 November at 14:00 to 16:00 CET

The kick-off event, “Cybersecurity in Healthcare in times of a pandemic” will be opened by Ms. Van der Sprong, and will be moderated by EU Agency for Cybersecurity Network and Information Security Expert Dimitra Liveri. Panellists from the Cybersecurity Agency of Catalonia, Milan’s Policlinico University Hospital and the Bulovka Hospital in the Czech Republic will discuss ways towards boosting security in healthcare. They will also provide the hospital’s perspective in this overwhelming situation for both physicians and IT professionals; and share the perspective of authorities on monitoring and providing guidance.

Video Trailer

Background

The EU Agency for Cybersecurity acknowledges the significance of eHealth as a critical information infrastructure, and provides cybersecurity advice to support hospitals and the healthcare sector against the increase of cybercrime. The Agency shares best practices on cybersecurity with national cybersecurity bodies, and supports the Commission and the Member States in cybersecurity activities such as the Commission’s common EU toolbox for the use of contact tracing mobile apps.

The Agency has worked extensively on supporting the exchange of cybersecurity information between healthcare organisations and providing guidance where needed. Last year, the EU Agency for Cybersecurity issued security guidelines to support hospitals make informed decisions with regards to cybersecurity when procuring services, products and infrastructure. More information on the Agency’s work in this field on eHealth topic web-page.

Further Information

About the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, visit www.enisa.europa.eu | @ENISA_EU.

About The Danish Health Data Authority (Sundhedsdatastyrelsen), visit sundhedsdatastyrelsen.dk | @DCIS_SUND.

Press Contact

For questions related to the press and interviews, please contact press (at) enisa.europa.eu.