As new cyberattack techniques emerge and evolve, strategies for protecting AI systems in healthcare environments must also change. And AI-enabled cybersecurity efforts at hospitals and health systems must keep pace.
Sunil Dadlani, chief information and digital officer at Atlantic Health System, said CIOs, CISOs and other IT and security leaders must learn how to bridge the gap between AI security and cyber defense, including leveraging their combined strengths to drive advancements in both areas.
Dadlani will describe techniques that leverage this interdependence to create an innovative and sustainable digital health landscape at the HIMSS Healthcare AI Forum in Boston. The session titled “Case Study: Dynamic Defense: The Interplay Between AI Security and Cyber Threat Mitigation” is scheduled for Thursday, September 5.
We recently interviewed Dadlani to get the inside scoop.
Q. What is the focus of the HIMSS AI session at the Healthcare Forum and why is it important in healthcare today?
ONE. The focus of the session was on the urgent need for secure AI systems in healthcare as AI becomes an integral part of standard care, impacting every aspect of the industry. Ensuring the integrity, security, and usability of AI technologies is paramount.
To deploy AI safely, reliably, ethically, and transparently, it is essential to develop robust AI systems that are able to protect against vulnerabilities that could compromise patient data, clinical decisions, and healthcare operations.
Additionally, this topic emphasizes the important role of AI in Improving cybersecurity in healthcare. As the industry rapidly transitions to digital, the integration of AI and cybersecurity has become essential. AI enhances security by enabling advanced threat detection and rapid response, identifying anomalies and potential breaches in real time.
In contrast, robust cybersecurity measures are essential to protect sensitive patient data and ensure the integrity of AI systems used in diagnosis, treatment planning, and administrative tasks. This combination of AI and cybersecurity not only protects against sophisticated cyber threats, but also ensures the safe and effective deployment of AI technologies in healthcare, leading to improved patient outcomes and operational efficiency.
Q. What are some examples of this type of AI and cybersecurity being applied at your organization?
ONE. One example is organizations leveraging the implementation of AI-based identity and access management (IAM) systems with advanced machine learning technology and deep neural network-based intrusion detection and prevention systems.
These AI-driven systems enhance the security of our healthcare networks by continuously analyzing user access patterns and behavior to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive patient information and critical systems.
Q. What do you hope seminar attendees will learn and be able to apply back to their service organizations?
ONE. First, a comprehensive approach to AI security. Attendees will learn the importance of taking a comprehensive approach to securing AI solutions in healthcare. This includes ensuring data security and privacy, implementing robust model development practices, and following secure deployment and integration processes.
By understanding these important aspects, attendees can effectively protect sensitive patient data and maintain the integrity of AI systems, leading to safer and more reliable healthcare operations.
And second, AI defense vs. offense in cybersecurity.
AI plays a dual role in cybersecurity, serving both defensive and offensive purposes. On the defensive side, AI enhances threat detection, response, and prevention by continuously monitoring network traffic and user behavior to identify anomalies in real time.
Automate incident response, rapidly mitigate threats, and minimize damage. AI-powered predictive analytics predict potential threats, enabling proactive measures.
However, AI is also being used by cybercriminals to launch sophisticated attacks. They use AI to automate phishing campaigns, develop advanced evasion techniques, enhance social engineering attacks, and exploit vulnerabilities.
Understanding this dual role is critical to deploying proactive AI-enabled security measures, staying ahead of evolving threats, and continually improving defense strategies to combat sophisticated cyberattacks.
Attend this session at the HIMSS AI Forum in Healthcare scheduled for September 5-6 in Boston. Learn more and sign up.
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