BYOD in ehealth: herding cats and stable doors, or a catastrophe waiting to happen?

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publisher

Edith Cowan University Research Institute, Edith Cowan University

Faculty

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School

School of Computer and Security Science / eHealth Research Group

RAS ID

18844

Comments

Originally published in the Proceedings of the 3rd Australian eHealth Informatics and Security Conference. Held on the 1-3 December, 2014 at Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Campus, Perth, Western Australia. Available here

Abstract

The use of personal devices in the work environment has crossed the boundaries of work and socially related tasks. With cyber criminals seriously targeting healthcare for medical identity theft, the lack of control of new technologies within healthcare networks becomes an increasing vulnerability. The prolific adoption of personal mobile devices in the healthcare environment requires a proactive approach to the management of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). This paper analysed the current state of the problem and the challenges that this creates in an environment that has stringent privacy and security requirements. The discourse demonstrates that the issue is not solely technology based and requires a broader approach that is inclusive of technology yet needs an expansive and socially based perspective. Until the use of mobile technology outside the BYOD environment is understood better, definitive guidance for managing BYOD in healthcare will not provide sufficient and acceptable protection, although it is a sound starting point. It is imperative that healthcare rapidly catches up with BYOD use and steps up to the challenge of embracing the technology and human behaviour associated with its user, otherwise, the ‘horse will have bolted’ before any control can be established.

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