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What’s happening: Microsoft and Google will provide free or low-cost cybersecurity services to rural hospitals nationwide to help them prevent cyberattacks.
What else to know: The American Hospital Association worked closely with the White House to secure these commitments from private sector partners.
The White House announced that it has secured commitments from Microsoft and Google to support rural hospitals with free or low-cost resources to improve security and resiliency related to cyber-disruptions.
The Microsoft Cybersecurity Program for Rural Hospitals will provide independent critical access hospitals and rural emergency hospitals with nonprofit pricing and discounts for its security products optimized for smaller organizations, providing up to a 75% discount. Microsoft will also provide Windows 10 security updates to participating rural hospitals for at least one year at no additional cost, and the company will provide free cybersecurity assessments through Microsoft and its trusted partners to evaluate risks and gaps and offer free cybersecurity training to staff in rural hospitals.
Rural hospitals can learn more and register for the program by visiting the program web page. In addition, for some larger rural hospitals already using eligible Microsoft solutions, the company will provide its most advanced security suite at no cost for one year.
Google announced plans to provide endpoint security advice to rural hospitals and nonprofit organizations at no cost and a pool of funding to support software migration. Google also committed to launch a pilot program with rural hospitals to develop a packaging of security capabilities that fit these hospitals’ unique needs. Additional information will be provided when available.
