How AI can help India’s healthcare system in cybersecurity? Experts say this

The healthcare industry in India has faced 1.9 million cyberattacks in 2022 till November 28, as per data published by cybersecurity think tank CyberPeace Foundation and Autobot Infosec Private Ltd.

Such incidents are putting the spotlight on the need for stronger cybersecurity infrastructure with the help of growing technology in the healthcare industry. Experts suggested that artificial intelligence can help the country’s healthcare system in preventing malware attacks. 

Speaking about the cyberattack on hospitals in India, Arpit Sharma, Senior Manager of Technology Research and Advisory at Aranca said that cyberattacks on prestigious institutions like AIIMS Delhi underscore the critical need for leveraging AI to bolster India’s healthcare system’s cybersecurity. 

“By harnessing AI technologies, India can strengthen its defense against such attacks and enhance the overall resilience of its healthcare infrastructure. The use of AI can significantly enhance threat detection capabilities, enabling healthcare institutions to identify and respond swiftly to evolving cyber threats, through advanced machine learning algorithms, analyze network traffic, detect anomalies, and pinpoint potential vulnerabilities,” Arpit Sharma told Livemint.

“The nation can build a robust defense mechanism that bolsters its healthcare system’s cybersecurity, ensuring the protection of valuable medical data and uninterrupted delivery of quality healthcare services,” he added. 

In addition, Sanjay Kaushik, Managing Director of Netrika Consulting asserted that AI-backed solutions leverage machine learning algorithms to identify deviations, detect potential threats and vulnerabilities and respond to emerging risks through real-time monitoring and analysis of network traffic, which can help strengthen resilience against cyber threats.

“The AI-powered solutions can help India’s healthcare organizations anticipate potential cyber risks, allowing them to prioritize their cybersecurity investments and allocate resources,” Kaushik said. 

Ratan Dargan, cofounder and CTO of ThoughtSol Infotech stated that a number of tools have been created through technology to combat breaches and the significant increase in cyberattacks. 

“These tools apply AI techniques such as machine learning, deep learning, anomaly detection, and natural language processing to analyze huge volumes of data, detect suspicious patterns, and mitigate the risks of security threats,” Dargan said. 

He further recommended the Extended Detection and Response (XDR) tool, one of the most recent implementations which gathers threat data from previously compartmentalized security tools throughout the organization’s technology stack for simpler and quicker analysis, threat hunting, and response.

Citing an example of Aartas, Ayush Sharma, cofounder of Aartas CliniShare said that the company goes above and beyond to ensure comprehensive security measures are in place by employing end-to-end encryption, fortified by its own encryption/decryption algorithm which helps the organization in maintaining confidentiality and integrity of healthcare data. 

“We leverage secure standard cloud systems, including trusted platforms like Microsoft Azure, to further bolster our security architecture. These cloud environments employ password-protected access fortified by two-step verifications, ensuring only authorized personnel can access the data,” Sharma explained. 

Locally, Aartas reinforce data transfer security with advanced firewall systems, eliminating any vulnerabilities during information exchange, and implementing robust backup systems that encrypt and safeguard all stored patient information, the cofounder added. 

Updated: 09 Jun 2023, 07:36 AM IST