HITEQ Health Center Cybersecurity Defender Against the Dark Web

Health Centers are being inundated by an unprecedented surge in cybersecurity incidents that are having detrimental effects on healthcare worldwide. New, sophisticated threats seem to appear on a daily basis. Most importantly, these threats are primarily being targeted and spread through end users (vs health IT systems) through social engineering and phishing attack methods. 

Healthcare cybersecurity is the ultimate team sport. The responsibility goes beyond the IT staff and includes front and back office staff, doctors and nurses, patients, executives, and the board of directors. These resources are directed at all levels of the healthcare organization so that they may be proactive and aware and help to defend Health Centers against the Dark Web.

Take some time to read through some of the articles on this page and then fill out the submission form on the right and you will be rewarded with a Health Center Defender Against the Dark Web badge! This is an official badge that is submitted by the HITEQ Center as a proof of completion to the blockchain. Your credentials can be added to profiles such as LinkedIn and verified through accreditation services such as Accredible and Open Badge.

 

HITEQ Center, June 2025

This article uses the 2020 incident at the Family Health Center of Worcester (FHCW) to explore innovative strategies to bolster health centers' cybersecurity, including leveraging group purchasing organizations (GPOs) for discounted solutions and implementing bug bounty programs to proactively strengthen systems. Ultimately, it investigates how these approaches can protect vital community health resources from the escalating tide of cyber threats.

Virtual Learning Collaborative

Join our free learning collaborative designed to help health centers optimize technology to deliver care in dynamic settings. This series will focus on the unique challenges and opportunities of using EHRs and other health information technology in care settings such as mobile units, school-based health centers, street outreach programs, and correctional facilities.

HITEQ Center, March 2025

The exercise cards in this set present scenarios and response-related questions designed to provide a quick (5–10 minute) method for health center staff to: Refresh knowledge of the content in their emergency and cyber incident response plans; Examine and troubleshoot procedures in their emergency and cyber incident response plans; Identify improvements to their emergency and cyber incident response plans; and Increase staff capacity to operationalize the actions outlined in their...

NCTRC Webinar

This presentation from NCTRC will introduce Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Health Sector Coordinating Council, and the joint CISA/HHS Cybersecurity Toolkit. We’ll cover cybersecurity resources available to telehealth providers, including vulnerability scanning, cyber risk assessments, and training at no cost.

Health Center Defender Against the Dark Web Badge Confirmation