By now many people have received at least one alert that their personal information may have been impacted by a company’s data breach. Here in the United States of America, where I live, more than one in three adults say they have received notification that their accounts or personal data were compromised at least once.

Unfortunately, it has become so common that the experience has become almost routine.

Healthcare data breaches are particularly personal
All data breaches are serious. They’re expensive, can erode customers’ trust and threaten an organization’s reputation. Sometimes they can even be a matter of personal safety particularly in healthcare.

Hospital mortality rises in the aftermath of an attack have been reported. Doctors are unable to look up past medical care or check patient allergies, for example. Scheduled surgeries can be canceled, or ambulances rerouted because a cyberattack has disrupted electronic communications, access to medical records or other systems.

Why is healthcare such a target?
Why have healthcare organizations become such a target? Part of it is the economic reality of the criminal underground. Medical records command multiple times the amount of money that a stolen credit card does. And unlike a credit card, which can be quickly canceled, a person’s medical information is permanent.

Part of it is opportunism. As the saying goes, you are only as good as your weakest link. And in modern healthcare, there are a lot of links.

Web-enabled medical devices connect to the cloud. Systems that patients and home healthcare workers use to track care at home upload information automatically. Visiting nurses upload records of patient visits while they are in the field. And of course, software and malware protections that are not updated, a system that is configured incorrectly or a malicious link in an email that an employee clicks on by mistake all can create a weak point a malevolent actor can exploit to gain access and wreak havoc.

Global shortage of security talent creates vulnerabilities
At the same time, an overall surge in cyberattacks and a global shortage of security talent are making life science organizations, from pharmaceuticals to medical device companies, increasingly vulnerable. Two-thirds of organizations face additional risks because of cybersecurity skills shortages, according to a World Economic Forum report. Cybercriminals, often backed by state sponsors, can sell stolen intellectual property to competitors or use it to create counterfeit drugs and devices, bypassing the government oversight and protection protocols that keep our medicine manufacturing pipeline safe.

All these risks are real, but so are the protections organizations now have available to protect themselves, their patients and their research. Enter generative AI.

Generative AI bridges the data security talent gap
The era of generative AI (gen AI) has given us new and powerful tools that can bridge the data security talent gap. Microsoft Copilot for Security, for example, arms data security professionals with lightning-fast processing, rapid pattern recognition and continuous learning and improvement to rapidly identify, investigate and mitigate new and growing risks.

Supported by Microsoft’s global threat intelligence, Copilot for Security equips security teams to:

Rapidly identify an attack, assess its scale and start remediation.
Hunt threats and vulnerabilities using simple natural language prompts that examine an IT environment for breaches.
Report on incidents at speed by quickly summarizing incidents and threats, preparing customized security reports for informed decision-making.
Address security talent shortages by getting junior analysts rapidly up to speed with training designed to bridge any skills gap.

But where to start?
Innovative technology, especially groundbreaking technology such as gen AI, can be complicated to understand, let alone incorporate into an organization’s systems and protocols. Here I am proud to say that we at Avanade are uniquely positioned to help.

As members of Microsoft’s Design Advisory Council for Copilot for Security, we have a deep understanding of how the technology works and how to get the best from it. Together with Microsoft, we’ve helped shape its functionality, ensuring it has the capabilities and features to protect our clients from always evolving cyberthreats now and into the future.

Our holistic approach, combining advisory, consulting and managed security, is complemented by an in-depth knowledge of AI learned from our work across 6,000+ AI projects for more than 350 clients. This means we can help you create genuine human impact with Copilot protecting your organization, patients, employees and data.

First steps to a more secure environment
Together with you, our security experts develop an in-depth understanding of the value Copilot for Security brings your healthcare or life sciences system. We start by working with your security team to take a deep dive into your pain points and identify any weak links in your security chain. We then build a proposal for deployment to help you achieve your security goals.

And we do it in a way and at a pace that works for your organization. Options to get started:

Learn and Discuss session / 1-2 hours: In this free discussion, you will learn more about how to get started with Copilot for Security, including an exclusive demonstration and readiness assessment.
Copilot for Security workshop / 2 hours: We identify your three top pain points and show you how they can be transformed with generative AI. You come away with a detailed roadmap outlining how to deploy and modernize your security system with Copilot for Security.
Deploy and Modernize / 6 weeks to 6 months: Here, with our expert support and guidance, we partner with you to make your deployment plan a reality.

Freeing you to reach your full potential by unlocking the power of Microsoft
Unfortunately, threats from malicious actors will continue to evolve. Avanade – the world’s leading Microsoft expert – will work with you to help future-proof security systems, making sure your defenses remain strong before the next cyberattack happens.

Interested in learning more? My colleague Corey Hamilton and I have written about healthcare security as a national imperative, offering additional steps companies can take to protect themselves. You can also contact Avanade to schedule a Copilot for Security assessment or workshop.

Healthcare data security: A matter of personal safety