Cybersecurity Hygiene in Health Care: Practical Steps for Clinicians to Protect Themselves and Their Organizations

Abstract

Cybersecurity has become a critical determinant of patient safety, business continuity, and organizational resilience in health care. Health care organizations are increasingly targeted by ransomware, data theft, and related attacks that disrupt clinical operations, threaten patient safety, delay care, and compromise sensitive information. Although often viewed as technical failures, many incidents originate in routine human behaviors, including phishing responses, credential misuse, unsafe downloads, and inappropriate use of personal devices or applications. This review focuses on clinician-level actions that can reduce both personal and organizational risk, including strong and unique passwords, multifactor authentication, phishing recognition and reporting, timely software updates, secure network use, careful management of personal devices and apps, and avoidance of risky removable media or untrusted downloads. It also emphasizes preparedness for extended network downtime, including familiarity with business continuity processes for documentation, ordering, communication, and care coordination when core digital systems are unavailable.