Cybersecurity firm Cylera has secured a foothold in the Middle East by partnering with Oman telecommunication provider Omantel.
The internet of things (IoT) cybersecurity company offers a solution to protect patient data and mitigate risk of cyber-attacks, with a platform for asset management, risk analysis and threat detection. The system provides a centralised dashboard for IT teams to view, profile, manage and risk assess all an organisation’s connected devices.
Omantel, the largest integrated telecommunications service in Oman will play a major role in the digitalisation of the country. Oman is embarking on an ambitious project to construct 11 new hospitals in response to its expanding population. The Ministry of Health is leading this initiative to cater to the healthcare needs of both Omani citizens and residents. Scheduled for completion between 2023 and 2025, the hospitals will be strategically located in different regions of the country.
A GlobalData Thematic Research report, Cybersecurity in Healthcare for 2022, has forecasted cybersecurity in medical devices to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3% from $869 million to $1.23 billion between 2020 and 2025. The report showed in the same period, cybersecurity spending by healthcare providers and payors would grow slightly faster, at a rate of 8.1%, from $4.59 billion to $6.77 billion. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the cost of global cybercrime is expected to reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025.
Timur Ozekcin, CEO of Cylera said, “The increased global usage of IoT and the internet of medical things (IoMT) in healthcare settings is critical to helping improve patient care and safety. However, with these organisations being a continued focus for cybercrime, hospitals must be able to view and map their entire connected landscape including their unmanaged and unknown devices, to efficiently assess risk”.
In 2020 it was estimated that 646 million new and legacy devices worldwide were connected to hospital networks. The uptake reaffirms the need for cyber protection as attackers seek vulnerabilities rather than attacking all potential weak points indiscriminately.
The deal strengthens Cylera’s presence in the Middle East following rollouts of the company’s cybersecurity and asset management platform in the UK, US, and Europe.
