The Healthcare Industry Embraces
Blockchain to Protect Data

The past couple of years have brought us a myriad of new cyber security issues, and this means that data breaches in every industry are on the rise. One of the most vulnerable industries is healthcare.

As cyber crimes are running rampant all over the world, the healthcare industry stands to lose much more than only dollars and time. Data breaches in healthcare actually increase the 30-day mortality rate in hospitals.

Of course, loss of time and money are also big concerns in healthcare with the average breach costing $6.5 million, or $429 per patient record. Not only that, but the effects of the breach are still felt three years down the road.

Unfortunately, the unique cyber vulnerabilities in the healthcare industry make this an easy and profitable target for cyber criminals. From outdated medical devices, to outdated software, to even hackable medical implants, the healthcare industry has not made cybersecurity a high priority.

One solution to this issue is the use of blockchain. Blockchain is a fairly new technology, which is essentially a ledger of transactions and assets. Using blockchain in healthcare would not only provide significantly better cyber security, but would also benefit patients and medical professionals in a variety of ways, including easier access to real-time medical data.