An Examination of Threats and Countermeasures Relating to Healthcare Cyber Risks: The Case of Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

Background Africa has seen an exponential increase in internet penetration and ICT affordances since the turn of the twenty-first century. Healthcare institutions are scrambling to put in place the appropriate safeguards to protect their patients' data from unauthorized access since the need to protect private information has become critical, particularly for cybercriminals eyeing the data of medical patients. This thesis investigates cyber security threats and countermeasures in healthcare, with a focus on Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). Given Africa's increased internet use and the critical need to protect patient data from cybercriminals, the study explores how data protection and cyber security influence healthcare delivery at the hospital.  Key Objectives To examine cyber threats and countermeasures employed by KNH as well as analyzing the impact of Kenya's Cybercrime Act.  Results The survey at Kenyatta National Hospital shows strong cybersecurity measures, with 89% having dedicated resources and 88% using computers regularly. Regarding the Kenya Cybercrime Act, 74% know how to detect and report hacks, though 8% have encountered malware and 12% lack basic malware knowledge. 78% have anti-virus software, and 63% verify email attachments, while knowledge of social engineering and email scams is limited, revealing a need for further education. The second objective looked at the impact of Kenya Cybercrime Act, as a local data protection laws on supporting patient- healthcare system at Kenyatta National Hospital. A significant majority, 74%, are aware of when their computer is hacked or infected and know whom to contact in such cases. The results also show that 79% of respondents have never encountered a virus or trojan on their computers. When opening email attachments, 63% of respondents always verify that the attachment is from a known and expected source. Knowledge of social engineering attacks is limited, with only 18% of respondents aware of these threats and 82% unfamiliar with them. Regarding email scams, 51% do not know what an email scam is or how to recognize one, underscoring a need for further training. Finally, while 85% of respondents believe their computers are not valuable to hackers, 15% recognize their potential as targets, reflecting differing perceptions of risk and emphasizing the need for ongoing cyber security education.