In today's digital age, organizations across industries face threats from many angles, and the healthcare sector is no exception. The introduction of the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act highlights the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures in the healthcare industry. In the wake of recent cyber attacks on the healthcare industry, this bill and following the Cybersecurity Performance Goals of Health and Human Services (HHS) are more important than ever. This bipartisan bill aims to strengthen the cybersecurity defenses of healthcare infrastructure, emphasizing establishing better standards, promoting collaboration, and addressing the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals. However, one of the most crucial components of the bill is its focus on training healthcare professionals to mitigate cyber risks.

But what does this have to do with your organization? And how can having a strong cybersecurity management process in place improve your training and awareness programs?

1. Stronger Cybersecurity Standards Foster Better Training

One of the key provisions of the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act is the establishment of stronger cybersecurity standards. When these standards are implemented, organizations are not only required to adopt new technology but also ensure that their workforce is equipped to handle it. Having a process in place to manage your cybersecurity program both from a performance standpoint and an efficiency standpoint will narrow the gap between technical standards and workforce capabilities. When integrated into a cybersecurity management framework, training programs will naturally evolve to reflect these heightened expectations, making employees more prepared to prevent breaches and attacks.

An organization's cybersecurity plan should not be isolated from its training initiatives. By embedding stringent cybersecurity standards into your policies, you create a natural alignment between security goals and training objectives. This means employees are trained with purpose, fully understanding how to mitigate sector-specific risks such as phishing attacks, ransomware, and data breaches.

2. Comprehensive Cybersecurity Training through Collaboration

The Healthcare Cybersecurity Act emphasizes collaboration between healthcare organizations, cybersecurity advisors, and private-sector experts in developing training programs. This is a key insight that can benefit organizations across various industries. A cybersecurity management plan that is data-driven can guide your organization to foster partnerships with experts and collaborate with external cybersecurity advisors to enhance training content.

When organizations build their cybersecurity management plan around real data and collaboration, training programs become more comprehensive. They include industry-specific threats, real-world mitigation techniques, and best practices. A multi-perspective approach ensures your workforce is equipped with the most relevant and updated knowledge, making your training program much more effective.

3. Addressing the Workforce Shortage through Focused Education

One of the issues highlighted by the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act is the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals. The bill addresses this by providing training and education programs to fill the gap. Similarly, your organization's cybersecurity defense plan should identify any workforce weaknesses and invest in training to upskill existing staff. This can be done by conducting regular audits and skill-gap analyses to ensure that your team is constantly evolving and able to tackle emerging threats.

Moreover, an effective and optimized strategy ensures that cybersecurity training is targeted and specific. As seen in the healthcare sector, targeted training for the owners and operators of healthcare systems is a priority, ensuring those directly responsible for managing these systems understand the risks. In your organization, this can translate into role-based training that focuses on the specific responsibilities of each team member, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

4. Financial Incentives and Cybersecurity Awareness

Another critical aspect of the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act is the provision of financial incentives to help healthcare providers improve their cybersecurity defenses. Similarly, organizations that implement a well-structured cybersecurity program can see significant returns on investment when it comes to reducing the risk of data breaches or ransomware attacks. Financial incentives can also be linked to improving cybersecurity training by allocating funds for professional development, certification programs, and the purchase of advanced training tools.

By investing in employee awareness and skills, organizations not only protect their systems but also enhance the overall security culture. Employees who are regularly trained and understand the importance of cybersecurity measures are more likely to be vigilant and proactive, reducing the likelihood of human error, which is often the weakest link in cybersecurity defenses.

5. Promoting a Culture of Continuous Learning

Finally, the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act promotes information sharing and collaboration to better address cybersecurity threats. Within your organization, an optimized cybersecurity plan can serve as a foundation for promoting continuous learning and information sharing. Establishing policies that encourage regular updates, collaboration between departments, and shared cybersecurity responsibility can improve the effectiveness of your training and awareness programs.

By fostering a culture of continuous improvement, where employees stay informed about the latest cyber threats and security protocols, your organization becomes more resilient to attacks.

Conclusion

The Healthcare Cybersecurity Act provides a framework for how industries can strengthen the cybersecurity program by addressing critical areas like standards, training, and collaboration. The insights from this bill can be directly applied to any organization aiming to improve its cybersecurity training and awareness programs. By incorporating a strong cybersecurity program management, organizations can ensure their training initiatives are aligned with security goals, comprehensive, and capable of addressing both current and emerging threats.

Additionally, the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act closely aligns with the previously released Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended Cybersecurity Performance Goals (CPGs), reinforcing critical areas such as stronger cybersecurity standards, targeted workforce training, and collaboration. Both the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act and HHS’ recommended CPGs emphasize enhancing healthcare cybersecurity by addressing workforce gaps, promoting information sharing, and focusing on risk-based practices. By mandating stricter standards and encouraging alignment with the HHS’s CPGs, the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act ensures healthcare providers are better equipped to prevent cyber threats, improve employee training, and protect sensitive patient data. This unified approach strengthens the overall security and resilience of healthcare systems.

By following the guidelines of both the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act and the HHS, you can create a more secure organization where employees follow best practices and actively contribute to a robust cybersecurity posture.