The new measures will help protect more than 60 million rural residents.
IT company Microsoft has announced a new cybersecurity program aimed at supporting hospitals serving more than 60 million people in rural areas of the United States. The initiative, developed in collaboration with the White House, the American Hospital Association (AHA), and the National Rural Medicine Association (NRHA), aims to strengthen critical health infrastructure in the face of growing cyber threats.
The need to strengthen security is due to a sharp increase in the number of hacker attacks on medical institutions. According to the NRHA, the number of ransomware attacks in the healthcare sector has increased by almost 130%. At the same time, rural hospitals and clinics are particularly vulnerable, as they often do not have sufficient resources to counter cybercriminals.
According to the company's press release, Microsoft will provide discounted prices and significant discounts on its security products to independent rural hospitals and emergency departments. These small institutions will be able to get discounts of up to 75% on cybersecurity solutions. For large rural hospitals that already use Microsoft products, the company will offer the most advanced security suite for free for one year, as well as free Windows 10 security updates for the same period.
In addition, Microsoft will conduct a free cybersecurity assessment to identify risks and vulnerabilities in rural hospital systems. The company will also provide free training for rural hospital employees, which will allow them to better manage the daily security of their systems.
The new program complements Microsoft's initiatives to improve healthcare. The Microsoft AI for Health program works with non-profit organizations, researchers, and organizations working on global health issues to promote telemedicine and improve clinical decision-making and forecasting.
IT company Microsoft has announced a new cybersecurity program aimed at supporting hospitals serving more than 60 million people in rural areas of the United States. The initiative, developed in collaboration with the White House, the American Hospital Association (AHA), and the National Rural Medicine Association (NRHA), aims to strengthen critical health infrastructure in the face of growing cyber threats.
The need to strengthen security is due to a sharp increase in the number of hacker attacks on medical institutions. According to the NRHA, the number of ransomware attacks in the healthcare sector has increased by almost 130%. At the same time, rural hospitals and clinics are particularly vulnerable, as they often do not have sufficient resources to counter cybercriminals.
According to the company's press release, Microsoft will provide discounted prices and significant discounts on its security products to independent rural hospitals and emergency departments. These small institutions will be able to get discounts of up to 75% on cybersecurity solutions. For large rural hospitals that already use Microsoft products, the company will offer the most advanced security suite for free for one year, as well as free Windows 10 security updates for the same period.
In addition, Microsoft will conduct a free cybersecurity assessment to identify risks and vulnerabilities in rural hospital systems. The company will also provide free training for rural hospital employees, which will allow them to better manage the daily security of their systems.
The new program complements Microsoft's initiatives to improve healthcare. The Microsoft AI for Health program works with non-profit organizations, researchers, and organizations working on global health issues to promote telemedicine and improve clinical decision-making and forecasting.
