Boost Your HTM Cybersecurity Game with the Magic of Staff Augmentation

Today, healthcare organizations stand at the intersection of technology and patient care, balancing the need to adopt new technologies, such as Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices, with the challenges inherent to securing these devices.

As the healthcare industry continues to ride the wave of digital transformation, adopting emerging technologies, healthcare technology management (HTM) teams must adapt. Teams no longer oversee and maintain standalone medical devices. Instead, they must implement robust cybersecurity program management to protect healthcare systems and connect devices. Unfortunately, many HTM teams still grapple with reduced budgets and staffing, stretching existing resources to the limit.

There is a solution. Staff augmentation is an effective solution for healthcare organizations struggling to establish a comprehensive HTM cybersecurity program. With staffing augmentation, HTM professionals can quickly and easily augment their in-house teams. Just as HTM teams are experts in managing medical technology, seasoned cybersecurity professionals offer specialized risk reduction services, defending the “cyber front lines” so healthcare facilities can focus on what matters — patients.

The Changing Landscape of Healthcare IT

Everything changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pace of digitization accelerated to meet hybrid and remote work needs, cyber attacks became commonplace, and hospitals found themselves operating on razor-thin margins.

HTM teams have undoubtedly felt the impact. These teams are responsible for all medical device oversight and maintenance – in addition to supporting and training other healthcare staff. As IoMT devices continue to increase within the healthcare sector, HTM teams have added cybersecurity to their list of responsibilities. While IoMT devices greatly enhance the patient care experience, it’s easy to overlook how convenience and connectivity can be risky.

For example, when a new medical device joins a hospital network without IT’s knowledge it can create risks. Medical devices manufactured before updated U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cybersecurity guidance can have critical vulnerabilities or internet flaws. This is a lot for any HTM team to manage and a good opportunity for staff augmentation.

What is Staff Augmentation in Healthcare IT?

Even under the best of circumstances, hiring full-time employees can be expensive and time-consuming. Staff augmentation is a flexible outsourcing approach that enables healthcare organizations to outsource critical IT services, usually by partnering with trusted third parties.

By leveraging staff augmentation, HTM teams can onboard specialized cybersecurity experts with the skills and knowledge needed to address the unique risks posed by connected devices. As a result, HTM teams can implement and scale their cybersecurity program management without overburdening their current staff. Whether a healthcare facility is looking to strengthen its incident response capabilities or needs assistance in regulatory compliance, staff augmentation provides flexibility, accelerates timelines, and bridges skill gaps.

Some core functions of HTM cybersecurity program management that benefit from staff augmentation include:

Device Inventory and Management

For healthcare organizations to have a complete and accurate picture of their risk profile, they must identify all IoMT and standard IT devices on the network. A purpose-built IoMT platform can provide visibility into how many connected devices are on the network and which devices are vulnerable to high-risk attack vectors. With an expanded staff, HTM teams can ensure that each device is tracked, monitored, and secured.

Vulnerability Management

All devices on the network require robust monitoring to detect and resolve critical vulnerabilities. Unfortunately, passive vulnerability scanners are usually ineffective at detecting and mitigating the weaknesses in IoMT devices. HTM teams can leverage their asset inventory to enable proactive vulnerability remediation planning. Staff augmentation also ensures teams have the resources to identify, prioritize, and patch vulnerabilities while minimizing downtime.

Incident Response and Recovery

A quick response to cyber incidents is the best way to minimize downtime and protect patient safety. HTM teams can leverage augmented staff to assess baseline behaviors within their network, mapping the communication patterns of all devices and alerting on anomalous behaviors. Additionally, should a cyber attack occur, augmenting an existing team with cybersecurity experts can help with swift containment, root cause analysis, and full recovery.

Regulatory Compliance & Policy Management

Healthcare organizations must comply with strict regulatory standards, and failure to comply can result in fines or punitive actions. Many hospital CISOs need help meeting compliance standards and designing policies. HTM teams can consider using staff augmentation to onboard professionals well-versed in the latest regulatory requirements. They can assist in developing policies, managing compliance, and ensuring that all security measures meet or exceed regulatory standards.

Risk Assessment and Mitigation

Risk assessments help HTM teams identify cyber risks and reduce the probability of experiencing a cyber attack. Augmented staff can conduct thorough assessments of your organization’s cybersecurity posture, identifying gaps and weaknesses. From there, they can develop and implement mitigation strategies to minimize risk, ideally by prioritizing securing the most at-risk devices.

How does HTM Staff Augmentation Work?

Typically, the staff augmentation process is facilitated by partnering with a staff augmentation provider. These agencies have deep talent pools and expertise in matching the specific skill set requirements of the healthcare organization with the right external tech talent. 

HM teams can use staff augmentation for short-term projects or long-term commitments, depending on the organization’s internal needs. The key steps to begin the staff augmentation process include:

1. Identifying any skill gaps among the existing team
2. Assessing the scope and duration of the support needed.
3. Collaborating with a staff augmentation provider to source candidates with the necessary specialized expertise. Alternatively, teams with highly complex IT environments may partner with security vendors with experience managing healthcare attack surfaces.
4. Integrating these skilled professionals into the team to collaborate with in-house staff.
5. Managing the augmented staff as part of the team for the duration of their contract.

In the sphere of healthcare IT and security, some roles are particularly well-suited for staff augmentation due to the specialized skills they require. For example:

• Cybersecurity Experts: Many cybersecurity roles require highly specialized expertise. These skills professionals can assist with conducting risk assessments, help teams meet stringent regulatory standards, and handle device and vulnerability management. In the event of a cyber-attack or data breach, these experts are usually the first line of defense, providing incident response and triage capabilities. 
• Network Monitoring Specialists:  These professionals can help oversee and maintain the network infrastructure, ensuring reliable access to healthcare applications and data.
• Software Developers: For custom healthcare software solutions, including electronic health records (EHRS) and patient management systems, software developers can be brought on board.

These roles represent just a small slice of the possible areas where staff augmentation can provide significant benefits. By leveraging the specialized expertise of temporary staff, healthcare organizations can meet the evolving challenges head-on without the delays associated with traditional hiring practices and without unnecessary strain on operational budgets.

When to Choose Staff Augmentation?

There is no hard and fast rule for when healthcare organizations should consider staff augmentation. However, staff augmentation can benefit organizations with budget constraints, complex IT environments, or lean HTM and security teams. Some contributing factors include:

• Complex workload: During high-pressure periods (such as flu season or during extreme weather events), rising patient volumes may divert resources from security and IT. Staff augmentation provides the necessary personnel to assist the current team, preventing security from slipping through the cracks.
• Technological transformation: From EHRs to IoMT devices, healthcare IT has grown complex, necessitating professionals who can integrate, manage, and enhance these systems.
• Streamline Monitoring: Proactively monitoring networks and connected devices is critical to preventing cyber incidents. Augmented staff can assist in inventorying, monitoring, patching, and upgrading endpoints, ensuring at-risk devices are secured.
• Regulatory compliance: Maintaining compliance with regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is challenging. Engaging cybersecurity experts through staff augmentation can help with continuous IT surveillance and compliance audits and bolster the organization’s overall security posture, protecting sensitive patient data.

Staff augmentation facilitates faster implementation of HTM cybersecurity program management, reducing risk and downtime that could negatively impact patient care and operational efficiency. By employing this model, healthcare organizations can control operational costs, paying only for the specialized skills and assistance they need when it’s required, without incurring the expense and commitment of full-time salaries and benefits.

Scale Your Team Effectively with the Right Skillsets

HTM teams have a lot on their plate, transitioning from a global pandemic to rapid digitization. As the healthcare sector continues to embrace technical innovation, teams must secure healthcare technology against a dynamic landscape of cyber risks.

A trusted partner can help augment existing teams and provide bespoke services tailored to the specific needs of healthcare organizations, helping them manage IoMT cybersecurity risks throughout the entire device lifecycle. From initial device integration to ongoing maintenance and security updates, the right partner ensures that healthcare facilities remain protected against evolving cyber threats.

Asmily has been a trusted partner for healthcare organizations looking to reduce their risk. We’re ready to help empower teams to scale their cybersecurity program management.