Information security: Definitions, threats and management in dubai hospitals context

Abstract

Information technology and high-tech systems used daily in hospitals increase the demand for measuring information security threats in the healthcare industry. The impact of complexity of using new healthcare information and communications technology (ICT) devices places more pressure on the healthcare community to perceive different information systems (IS) security threats as they involve different IS management models. This research study focused on measuring the healthcare community perceptions and on the following issues to include definition of information security; perception of information security threats; perception of information security management; and perception of information security in the context of another healthcare community. To assess to plan, design and implement a national information security strategy for their healthcare sector. A survey was developed and interviewed 60 healthcare employees from three hospitals based in Dubai. The research results assist in creating awareness for easy access to hands-on guidelines for the healthcare community, thereby increasing the awareness levels of information security in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These results assist the UAE government to further adapt the training and education programs for the healthcare community to increase their effectiveness and efficiency levels of IT and subsequent IS development. A discussion of the current status of Dubai hospitals privacy, confidentiality and security challenge is presented.

Keywords: Confidentiality, Health Information Security, Information Security, Information Security Management, Integrity, Perception, Privacy, Threats