HHS Cybersecurity Performance Goals: A Mixed Bag of Necessity and Redundancy

In the wake of escalating cyber threats, the healthcare sector's cybersecurity landscape is evolving. The recent release of the Healthcare and Public Health Sector-Specific Cybersecurity Performance Goals marks a significant step. But is this the same old complacency story?

The spotlight on healthcare cybersecurity is timely and crucial. With the sector facing an alarming rate of breaches, there’s an undeniable need for robust security measures. The idea of performance goals is commendable, providing a structured path for healthcare entities to bolster their defenses. The inclusion of a cyber defense matrix serves as a practical guide, aiding organizations in identifying and mitigating various cyber threats.

However, despite these positives, the performance goals raise some concerns. They seem to echo existing guidance like CISA CPGs and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, bringing into question their uniqueness. The approach, while foundational, might be too basic for today’s complex healthcare cybersecurity needs. It risks encouraging a 'business as usual' mindset, potentially overlooking advanced threats.

A glaring omission is the lack of emphasis on privacy. With privacy being a cornerstone in the cyber industry and considering the substantial fines for non-compliance, its exclusion is notable. A more modern cybersecurity industry integrates privacy controls (e.g., NIST's Cybersecurity and Privacy controls), a practice that these new goals could benefit from.

There's an underlying message in these goals that might undermine the rigor of HIPAA Security and Privacy rules. By outlining strategies without mandating comprehensive adoption, it may inadvertently suggest that not all measures are critical. This could dilute the intent of HIPAA.

While the new cybersecurity performance goals for the healthcare sector are a step in the right direction, they fall short in certain areas. There is a fine line between providing guidance and fostering complacency. The healthcare sector needs a dynamic, forward-thinking approach that not only addresses current threats but is also agile enough to adapt to emerging ones. Integrating privacy into the cybersecurity narrative and advancing beyond the basics are crucial steps towards a more secure and resilient healthcare sector.