CYBER SECURITY BREACHES – a 21st century phenomenon that should concern us all

SPONSORED – Unfortunately, many of us have become somewhat blasé about cybersecurity, we live under the foolish misconception that breaches and database hacks are something that happens to other people and other organisations.

Clearly, this is no longer the case, consider Optus, Medibank, and more recently Latitude Financial Services, all prestige companies with literally millions of customers having their client’s personal data stolen for nefarious reasons.

It is certainly commendable that the Federal Government has significantly increased penalties for Australian organisations that are found to be negligent in the protection of their client’s personal data, however, the perpetrators of these malicious attacks are invariably offshore, are virtually untraceable, and as such seemingly untouchable.

Consequently, the onus is squarely on the enterprise that’s collecting the client information to secure this data to the very best of their ability by utilising the smartest available technology to protect themselves and their clients from disruption and financial penalties. The Residential Aged Care industry is no exception to this requirement.

Undoubtedly, IP protocols and digital transformation significantly improve RAC operational efficiencies and client experiences, driving real-time data collection to enhance decision-making processes. It can also deliver seamless integration of other IP-based facility monitoring systems like CCTV, telephony etc. However, it can expose critical infrastructure systems to potential risks posed by cybercriminals.

Cyber-attacks are generally launched for financial gain, the motivation behind cyber-attacks can be as varied as the offenders themselves. Whether it’s cybercriminals, hackers, or industrial spies, the common ground these individuals share is their agility, and how sophisticated their attacks are becoming. 

In our Residential Aged Care world, a cyber-attack could render a nurse call system virtually inoperable, it also has the potential of destroying or stealing critical client and operational data. Consequently, every possible care must be taken to prevent unauthorised access to the infrastructure.

Alexys recognised the cybersecurity threat when developing its IP-based nurse call solutions and subsequently became an early adopter of the IT industry’s leading anti-hacking technology – Zero Trust Architecture. 

Alexys’ Zero Trust Architecture focuses on implementing ZTA’s exacting standards thus ensuring every access request is fully scrutinised. This includes the initiating individual, the accessing device, as well as the asset or resource being requested.  Access is only granted and only on a per-session basis when fully authenticated.  Thus, delivering maximum protection to a RAC’s facility systems and accordingly the well-being of its clients.

Whilst no infrastructure can ever be 100% protected against a cyber-attack, it is incumbent on all RAC managers, to urgently review their current cybersecurity strategy and embrace a posture that aligns with the 2022 security legislation to ensure uninterrupted, safe, and reliable operations.

The successful implementation of ZTA’s core principles within the Alexys Aptus CMS (Critical Messaging System) was acknowledged by the presentation of the prestigious “Excellence in Cyber-Security” award at the 2022 ITAC National Congress.

Fortunately, as cyber threats evolve so do cyber solutions, should you have any concerns regarding the security of your nurse call and communications system, please call Alexys on 1300 253 997. We have the expertise, the team, the experience, and the technology to assist RAC facilities in securing the integrity of IP communications infrastructures.