Unraveling the Impact of Cloud Adoption on Cybersecurity Risks in Healthcare

This study examines the relationship between cloud computing adoption and data breaches in healthcare. By utilizing data from HIMSS and PRC (2011 - 2017) and employing the control function approach, we investigate the relationship. Our preliminary findings indicate a negative relationship between the adoption of cloud computing and the occurrence of data breaches. These results contribute directly to the ongoing debate regarding the impact of cloud computing on cybersecurity risks within organizations. Contrary to the common concerns about increased data breach risks with cloud computing adoption, our study reveals that cloud application adoption decreases the likelihood of data breaches. This finding is pivotal for hospitals contemplating cloud computing adoption amidst concerns of increased data breaches, as it addresses the critical challenges of digital transformation and cybersecurity. Additionally, this study makes significant theoretical and practical contributions to the literature on cloud computing, enhancing our understanding of its implications for security management.