Cisco, Maebashi Red Cross Hospital and Uniadex to Enhance Hospital Network Security and Implement SOC

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News Summary:

The collaboration will see the hospital adopt Cisco XDR with the aim to address the recent cybersecurity threats such as ransomware in the healthcare industry.

By combining Cisco XDR with the hospital’s existing solutions, the hospital aims to integrate the management and collaboration of its network security products.

To further streamline operations and address the industry shortage of security professionals, the hospital also plans to enable the Cisco AI Assistant in XDR.

JAPAN, Tokyo, 13 September 2024 – Cisco Systems G.K. (hereinafter “Cisco”), worldwide leader in networking and security, along with Maebashi Red Cross Hospital and Uniadex Ltd. (hereinafter “Uniadex”) have announced a strategic collaboration to enhance the hospital’s network security.  As part of this initiative, Maebashi Red Cross Hospital will adopt Cisco XDR by the end of 2024, significantly bolstering its cybersecurity infrastructure and digital resilience. In addition, the hospital plans to establish a comprehensive Security Operations Center (SOC) within the facility.

Ransomware attacks on medical institutions, both domestically and internationally have underscored the urgent need for robust data protection, defence mechanisms, and early threat detection. Hospitals face unique challenges due to their complex network environment including closed networks like electronic medical records, internet handling information and patient Wi-Fi, making effective countermeasures particularly difficult.

Maebashi Red Cross Hospital has been a pioneer in the IT field, introducing backup solutions like the Cohesity appliance (Cisco Unified Computing System) in 2023. However, as cyber threats continue to become more sophisticated, the hospital wanted to combine it with other solutions to further improve threat detection.

To bridge this gap, Maebashi Red Cross Hospital is integrating the Network Detection and Response (NDR) capabilities of Cisco XDR with their existing  system. This integration aims to fortify security measures that a single solution could not cover and achieve greater operational automation.

By leveraging Cisco XDR’s advanced NDR functions and linking them with Cohesity, the hospital aims to create a more resilient security posture, ensuring comprehensive protection against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats. The built-in NDR function allows for early detection of threat intrusions, while the integration with Cohesity allows to implement effective countermeasures and automation in the event of a ransomware attack. This comprehensive approach enables the hospital to visualize and address incidents swiftly and efficiently.

To address the shortage of security personnel, the hospital plans to deploy the AI Assistant scheduled to be incorporated into Cisco XDR to further streamline operations. The hospital also plans to utilize AI-driven automation of operations in the future to build a SOC (Security Operations Center) within the hospital.

Yohei Ishihara, Director, Security Sales, Cisco Systems G.K., said:“Cisco is delighted that Maebashi Red Cross Hospital has adopted Cisco’s XDR security solution. As digitalization progresses, reviewing security measures has become an urgent issue for all organizations, especially in the healthcare industry. To protect their business from all threats, Cisco, in collaboration with our partner companies, including Uniadex, is committed to contributing to the realization of secure digitalization in Japanese businesses and institutions.”

Eiji Ichinei, Information Systems Manager, Administration Department, Maebashi Red Cross Hospital, said: “Recent news of service disruptions caused by ransomware has been widely covered. The National Police Agency’s report on ‘Threats in Cyberspace’ indicates that ransomware damage remains at a high level. For our hospital, protecting patients’ medical information and keeping medical services running and uninterrupted is critical. To achieve this, we need a robust security infrastructure that can protect and defend against cyberattacks.” He added “Cisco XDR, with the intelligence of Talos – one of the most trusted threat intelligence research teams on the globe – is the best solution for early detection and response to cyberattacks. We place our trust in the high technical capabilities of Cisco Systems and Uniadex, and we will continue to strive to provide safe and advanced medical care, aiming to become an even more “friendly and reliable hospital for everyone.”

Kenji Nukii, General Manager, Marketing Communication Division, UNIADEX, Ltd., said: “We are pleased to be able to address the security challenges of Maebashi Red Cross Hospital with Cisco XDR. In an era where cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and complex, cybersecurity measures have become a top priority for companies. Uniadex will continue to bring together Cisco security solutions, including Cisco XDR, with our technical expertise to address security challenges.”

Added Resource
・Maebashi Red Cross Hospital, Cisco Systems, and NEC Conduct Proof-of-Concept Using Wi-Fi Positioning and Facial Recognition for “Work Style Reform for Doctors” (September 20, 2023)
・Case Study of Maebashi Red Cross Hospital