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In 2024, there were over 60 million large healthcare record data breaches. The HIPAA Journal, a leading authority on healthcare data security, notes that this figure was 60 million healthcare records breached in 2021, increased by 192% in 2022 and 63.5% further in 2024. HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, sets the standard for protecting sensitive patient data. Compliance with HIPAA is crucial in the fight against cyber-attacks in healthcare.
These figures are not just alarming; they are a wake-up call. They underscore the urgent need to protect patient records and data from illegal access. Every healthcare company must recognize the criticality of cybersecurity and data protection. The escalating rate of cyber-attacks and the sheer number of healthcare organizations being targeted demand immediate and comprehensive action.
But where do you start when it comes to protecting patient details and implementing cyber security? Sadly, it’s not the same as having your antivirus and firewall protection as you would on personal devices, although these need to be a part of your strategy. There are other aspects you need to consider, such as regular security audits, data encryption, and network segmentation. This post is going to outline some cybersecurity practices to employ to ensure all data is protected.
Outsourcing
In the first instance, if you’re not hiring an internal department to focus solely on cybersecurity, then you need to be working with a third-party management team that can deliver the robust security methods you need. The results of a data breach or hack can be monumental for you and your patients, and utilizing expert services from those who know what they’re facing and have the tools, technology, and team to support protection can give you added peace of mind. And, should the worst happen, you will have the skills of a cyber security professional to help you clean up and reinforce your protections should they get through the defenses via vulnerabilities.
Staff training
Staff training is a vital aspect of enforcing strict cyber security rules. The reason is they are a vulnerability, as mentioned above. Due to human error and the seemingly relentless tactics of criminals and scammers, your staff can be hoodwinked into sharing details they didn’t realize they were doing or unexpectedly grant others access. Whether it is via using unsecured networks to access confidential information, opening phishing scams via texts, call or emails, and clicking on known links or any other means, your staff could be your weak link.
Addressing these issues means employing cyber security training for best practices in the workplace and creating a company policy that reinforces this message to ensure everyone knows what is expected of them in the workplace and what they need to be doing or not doing, as the case may be.
Medical device security
The advancement of medical technology and the utilization of tech in creating lifesaving medical devices have revolutionized healthcare and will continue to do so for a long time. However, even medical devices can be hacked.
This should be a massive concern for those involved in the creation and development of new medical technology and for those adopting new advances in treatment and diagnostics.
Suppose your medical organization is the one creating and delivering new and experimental devices. In that case, you need to be building security into the design at every level to help you meet FDA and EU MDR regulations. Focusing on medical device cybersecurity from the beginning will help you uncover how your device can be misused and weave defenses into this efficiently without compromising the users.
But if you are in the business of buying medical devices or distribution, or you’re purchasing them for use on patients, you need to understand the security implications and be asking the right questions, including wanting to see credentials and preventative measures enabled to offer further security for all involved parties from conception through to use.
Passwords
The first line of defense is protection for literally anyone using the internet or technology anywhere in the world for any reason. You need to reiterate the importance of strong passwords and changing them regularly to help you preempt or combat any attacks on your systems.
Now, passwords alone won’t always stop attackers from trying to gain access. They can make it more challenging, but as cybercriminals become more sophisticated, so too must your protection. But passwords are still important in this fight.
Ideally, passwords, especially for high-risk sectors, should not include
- Words from the dictionary, even if letters are replaced with numbers, are created using a mix of upper and lowercase letters.
- Be anything related to the person, i.e., children’s names, surnames, dates of birth, pet names, etc.
- Under 8 characters long
Strong passwords need to be over eight characters, ideally longer, as the longer they are, the longer it takes systems to figure them out. They need to be a random mix of letters in upper and lowercase, and they should contain numbers and symbols. So, passwords like EmmasMummy2983! should be avoided, and options such as hvIenaf34%$HBAs2 should be given the green light.
Worst case scenario plans
Part of the fight against cyber security is having a plan for when things don’t go right or the unexpected happens. This can cover a range of situations and circumstances, from floods or fires to data breaches, disgruntled patients or ex-employees, etc. It can even include things like patients losing medical devices or systems failures for suppliers or partners. Identify all areas of risk where things can go out of your control and implement protection and recovery procedures to follow.
This means having backups, data recovery plans, chains of command, and accepted actions and activities that can help you defend your data and your patients and avoid allowing information to be accessed due to circumstances outside your control.
Prevention is the best line of defense when tackling global cybercrime issues. The reality is that criminals have and always will exist in some iteration, and ensuring you know how you can be targeted and being proactive in enticing security measures will protect your company and your patients from the risk of data breaches and the consequences that come with this.
