Cybersecurity and legal experts discuss cyber threats at Australian Society of Ophthalmologists
6 June 2023
Last weekend (Sunday, June 4, 2023), the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists hosted a discussion on cybersecurity featuring two expert presenters addressing threat awareness and organisational resilience.
Presenters
Deborah Jackson, Medico-legal Advisory Counsel for MDA National Insurance, emphasised how “leadership, continuous learning, and effective communication can foster beneficial behaviours.” She drew on experience with cyber breaches in specialist medical practices to illustrate the importance of cultivating organisational awareness.
Matt O’Kane, Director of Notion Digital Forensics, presented from a unique perspective combining professional cybersecurity expertise with personal experience in ophthalmology services.
Five Key Cyber Threats for Healthcare
O’Kane outlined five significant cyber threats targeting small to medium healthcare practices:
- Ransomware
- Rogue employees
- Business email compromise
- Managed service provider errors
- Data breaches
O’Kane also noted that “high-performing employees can inadvertently cause breaches.”
Teaching and Research
O’Kane’s investigative work informs both client cybersecurity enhancements and his teaching role at UNSW Canberra’s national defence programs.
Both presentations generated substantial audience engagement and detailed questions from delegates regarding practical threat mitigation and organisational preparation.