Security firms called in to swine flu battle

Computer security firms are playing a vital but little known role in the global fight against swine flu.

Secure electronic communications allow governments and health agencies to keep up to date on how the virus is developing worldwide.

“The secure and rapid dissemination of information has been – and will continue to be – a central plan to health agencies’ IT strategies in dealing with the Swine Flu outbreak,” said Roy Adar, vice president of
product management at security Cyber-Ark, which is supporting the UK and Israeli governments with swine flu communications.

According to Adar, security is essential when medical issues are being discussed due to patient confidentiality, and the possibility that virus details could fall into the wrong hands.

British health agencies are using Cyber-Ark’s Inter-Business Vault technology to share medical information about the swine flu outbreak with doctors, clinics, and hospitals.

In Israel, the Israeli Ministry of Health uses the same technology to connect all its hospitals.

“It’s interesting to note that, as details of the Swine Flu started to reach the newswires, Israel was able to quickly supply reliable and accurate details as opposed to rumours of its outbreaks to the relevant world agencies – and the media – in a timely and efficient manner,” said Adar.

“The fact that Israel was able to supply this information in a timely manner, and so help to allay the fears of the public, shows the value of early detection and rapid information flows.”