Microsoft and Google will be offering free or discounted cybersecurity services to rural hospitals and health centers in the US as ransomware attacks continue to impact the country's healthcare sectors.
In a statement via CNN, Microsoft said it would be cooperating with Google and the White House to provide digital assistance to rural community hospitals highly vulnerable to cyberattacks.
This includes free security updates, cybersecurity assessments, advice, and hospital staff orientations to prepare them for any potential data breaches in the future.
The US government will also be implementing new cybersecurity requirements for all hospitals against cyberattacks and digital service disruptions.
The collaboration is expected to benefit over 1,800 rural hospitals in the country in need of IT resource assistance.
The new initiative came amid a surge in ransomware attacks in hospitals and healthcare providers over the past months.
Millions of Americans Affected by Healthcare Cyberattacks
With the recent string of ransomware attacks across the country, the federal government has been ramping up efforts to improve cyber defenses amid concerns that more Americans could be affected by the attacks.
The cyberattack on UnitedHealth alone compromised at least one-third of Americans after threat actors accessed customer and patient records last February.
This is not to mention its impact on patients who have to be relocated to other hospitals as digital operations and services were halted by the disruption.
The concerns coincide with a recent Director of National Intelligence report showing a 128% increase from 2022 to the next.
ALPHV/Blackcat, the same hacker group that targeted UnitedHealth, remains the most prolific cyberattack perpetrator in the US as it is responsible for 30% of all healthcare attacks worldwide.
As of writing, cyberattacks continue to wreak havoc across the US as pharmaceuticals and small hospitals have to temporarily pause their services to thousands, if not millions, of customers.
FBI Launches Crack Downs Amid Growing Ransomware Attacks
Amid growing concerns about ransomware attacks, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has also been increasing efforts to crack down on hacker groups and their platforms to disrupt their operations.
Unfortunately, many sites and groups taken down later resurfaced as other hackers took up the mantle to continue the aggressive operations in the US and other Western countries.
