Connection to enable real-time sharing of threat intelligence and safeguarding sensitive operational, clinical and patient data.
PureHealth, the largest healthcare platform in the Middle East, announced the official integration of its in-house Cyber Security Operations Center (SOC) with the National Security Operations Center, operated and managed by the UAE’s Cyber Security Council. This first-of-its-kind move by a healthcare entity in the UAE aims to strengthen the country’s cybersecurity efforts and reaffirm its commitment to safeguarding sensitive clinical and patient data.
Building upon an earlier agreement signed by PureHealth and the UAE Cyber Security Council, which focuses on strengthening the UAE’s cybersecurity initiatives within the healthcare sector, this is a significant milestone following the initial announcement. The alignment will enable real-time sharing of threat intelligence, offering a comprehensive view of the nation’s threat landscape and delivering valuable insights, all while enhancing the capabilities of the SOC teams.
His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, expressed his satisfaction with the agreement that is signed with a leading company in the field of health care: “With the increasing reliance on advanced technology, cyber threats and terrorism have increased, which made it necessary for us to join hands and protect our national achievements against emerging threats. This agreement is the first of its kind, with PureHealth being the first healthcare entity to integrate into the cloud, confirming the proactive approach and readiness to raise the efficiency of our health systems to be able to address any threats to the privacy of individuals and institutions. The Cybersecurity Council has built a robust base and a strong infrastructure for cybersecurity in the UAE and is promoting a general cybersecurity awareness culture among individuals and institutions.”
Farhan Malik, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PureHealth, said, “In the ever-evolving digital healthcare landscape, cybersecurity is the guardian of our data. Aligning PureHealth’s Cyber SOC with the UAE Cyber Security Council’s SOC will allow us to enhance our cyber resilience through real-time threat intelligence sharing, as well as empower us to confront the escalating sophistication of cyber threats. Our commitment to harnessing pioneering IoT and artificial intelligence solutions is intrinsically linked to our journey, where we focus on taking healthcare to the cloud. Digital technologies will play a key role in our society’s development; however, we cannot ignore the threats this connected ecosystem will bring. Therefore, while we capitalize on Industry 4.0, we are also proactively building our reliance framework.”
Over the past 12 years, the healthcare sector has consistently experienced the highest average data breach costs among all industries, reaching a record-breaking global total of US$10.1 million. Notably, these costs have increased by 42 percent since 2020.
As a technology-driven healthcare platform with the largest integrated healthcare network in the UAE, PureHealth is spearheading the creation of a resilient healthcare ecosystem that harmonizes scientific innovation with cutting-edge technology, reshaping healthcare for future generations. Within this vision, PureHealth is committed to ensuring the data security and protection of its patients and its extensive network of healthcare facilities, proactively addressing escalating cybersecurity threats, and actively contributing to the broader enhancement of national cybersecurity.
