HEALTH SERVICES AT RISK: AN UNANTICIPATED OUTCOME OF THE NEED FOR CYBERSECURITY

The need for cybersecurity extends across disciplines. The lack of sufficient numbers of cybersecurity specialists to fill existing and expected positions is a growing concern. Cybersecurity represents a substantive and ever-changing collection of issues that can have life-long or perhaps life-threatening consequences. Cybersecurity specialists who also possess in-depth knowledge of another area where expertise is mandatory such as in healthcare are in short supply. In the medical industry as well as in a host of other businesses cybersecurity specialists must protect systems and data. They must also maintain regulatory compliance. The importance of this work cannot be over-stated. In order to head-off the brewing crisis of a shortage of cybersecurity-medical professionals in the healthcare industry that has the potential to force the need to limit access to services, action must be taken. The threat of having to close medical facilities is real. The work here is designed to address this crisis. The study examines the shortage of cybersecurity-medical professionals, the potential impact that the deficit has on availability to healthcare, and to offer a possible solution that could produce relief to the problem.