A cybersecurity odyssey: Between Scylla and Charybdis

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the healthcare sector. In the face of waxing and waning caseloads, staff shortages, and supply chain issues, the topic of cybersecurity has often struggled for its time in the limelight. Behind the scenes, however, cybersecurity leaders and staff are burning out at a panicking rate. A dire shortage of skilled professionals continues to compound, as global affairs and an increase in the availability of information threatens leaves healthcare cybersecurity teams barely able to keep afloat. This article describes the nature and scale of the health and human resource challenges currently faced by healthcare organizations and offers several practical options for health leaders to plot a course to attract and retain staff during this period of upheaval.