Microsoft and Google have announced initiatives to offer free or discounted cybersecurity services to rural hospitals across the United States, aiming to reduce their vulnerability to cyberattacks that have disrupted patient care and threatened lives, according to a joint statement from the White House and the tech companies on Monday.
In a statement to CNN, Microsoft revealed plans to provide eligible rural hospitals with free security updates, as well as security assessments and staff training. Google will offer free cybersecurity advice and launch a pilot program to tailor its cybersecurity services to the specific needs of rural hospitals.
The nation’s approximately 1,800 rural community hospitals are particularly susceptible to ransomware attacks due to their limited IT security resources and lack of cybersecurity-trained staff. These hospitals often serve as the only healthcare facility within a wide radius, so a ransomware attack that halts their operations can endanger patients’ lives.
This initiative follows private discussions between tech firms and the White House National Security Council, which has been increasingly concerned about cyber threats to hospitals. By leveraging the widespread use of Microsoft and Google’s software in hospitals across the country, the effort aims to strengthen the healthcare sector’s defenses.
This article has been indexed from CySecurity News – Latest Information Security and Hacking Incidents
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