Cybersecurity for Healthcare Professionals
- Johan Riekert
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Just 15 years ago, most practices operated with paper files locked in cabinets, face-to-face consultations only, handwritten prescriptions, and physical referral letters. Today, electronic health records, telemedicine consultations, AI-powered clinical tools, digital prescriptions, and cloud systems have become the norm. We email and WhatsApp our patients and colleagues daily.
Arlene Steyl, the Managing Director of Dire Wolf, shares insights on the importance of cybersecurity and how you can actively manage the situation.
Myth 1: "Cybersecurity is an IT problem."
Many healthcare professionals believe their IT provider handles security, leaving them free to focus solely on practising medicine. The reality? Accountability for protecting patient data sits with the practice owner. If a breach occurs, POPIA holds the practice responsible for reasonable safeguards, not your outsourced supplier.
Myth 2: "Hackers only target big companies."
Small businesses and individuals are actually prime targets because they often have weaker security measures. Cybercriminals look for easy opportunities, not just big payouts—and AI has made it possible to target many small practices simultaneously.
The Reality: It's About People, Not Just Technology
The overwhelming majority of breaches do not occur due to technology failures. You might have the best IT service provider money can buy, but most breaches come through people and process failures, such as clicking suspicious links, opening malicious attachments, or reusing passwords across platforms. Practical Steps to Protect Your Practice
Strong passwords and multi-factor authentication – Use unique passwords and a password manager; enable two-step verification on WhatsApp immediately
Automated regular backups – Daily backups make recovery far easier
Weekly security discussions – Keep your team aware of the latest scams
Vendor due diligence – Apply the questions above to all your service providers
System updates – Never skip security updates on any platform
Arlene won the Forbes Woman Africa Technology and Innovation Award in 2019 and was featured on the cover of Forbes Women Africa as one of the 20 New Wealth Creators on the African continent in 2019. She is currently serving as the chair of the non-profit Board of Click Learning, was selected for the International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) by the US Consulate in 2017 and is a global ambassador for She Loves Tech.
