Digitalization of COVID-19 pandemic management and cyber risk from connected systems

TL;DR

This paper reviews how digital connected systems used in COVID-19 management introduce unique cyber risks, emphasizing the challenges of cybersecurity in pandemic-related cyber-physical systems.

Contribution

It provides an analysis of cyber risks associated with digital pandemic management systems and highlights the challenges posed by their autonomous data collection and analysis.

Findings

Connected systems increase cyber risk during pandemic management

Autonomous data collection systems pose unique cybersecurity challenges

Digitalization requires enhanced cybersecurity measures

Abstract

What makes cyber risks arising from connected systems challenging during the management of a pandemic? Assuming that a variety of cyber-physical systems are already operational-collecting, analyzing, and acting on data autonomously-what risks might arise in their application to pandemic management? We already have these systems operational, collecting, and analyzing data autonomously, so how would a pandemic monitoring app be different or riskier? In this review article, we discuss the digitalization of COVID-19 pandemic management and cyber risk from connected systems.