13 Effective Strategies to Safeguard Healthcare Data from Breaches

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Introduction:

Published on June 8, 2021, the rising threat of cyberattacks on healthcare data, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, has heightened the need for robust security measures in the medical industry. With an alarming increase in cyberattacks, healthcare organizations in the United States must prioritize preventive strategies to secure patient data effectively. This article outlines 13 practical tips on preventing data breaches in healthcare organizations and explores the challenges faced by the industry.

Challenges in Healthcare Data Security:

Healthcare organizations face multiple challenges contributing to the vulnerability of their data:

1. Data Value and Cost:

Stolen medical records can fetch up to $1,000 on the black market, making them highly attractive to cybercriminals.

2. COVID-19 Impact:

The pandemic led to increased cybercrime, with a 25% year-on-year rise in medical data breaches in 2020 due to rapid digitalization and remote work.
 

3. Outdated Regulations:

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, last updated in 1996, struggle to address evolving cybersecurity threats adequately.
 

4. Vendor Compromise:

Lack of preventive measures like ongoing audits in dealing with third-party suppliers leaves healthcare providers exposed.
 

5. Medical Device Vulnerabilities:

Insecure medical devices, lacking security features, create additional entry points for attackers.
 

6. Underinvestment in Cybersecurity:

As many as 43% of US healthcare organizations spend less than 6% of their IT budget on cybersecurity, leading to understaffing and inadequate preventive measures.
 

Top 13 Ways to Prevent Healthcare Data Breaches:

1. Regular Security Risk Analysis:

Conduct annual security risk analysis to identify vulnerabilities and review policies, complying with HIPAA rules.
 

2. Incident Response Plan:

Develop and implement a clear incident response plan to guide decisions and actions during a breach.
 

3. Continuous Staff Education:

Regularly train healthcare professionals on cybersecurity measures and ensure awareness of data breach consequences.
 

4. Access Control:

Implement effective access permissions based on user roles to limit access to health records.
 

5. Subnetworks Creation:

Divide wireless networks into subnetworks for different user groups, ensuring separation of public Wi-Fi access and secure patient data circulation.
 

6. Restrict Personal Device Usage:

Establish clear policies on using personal devices for work and limit potential risks associated with malware.
 

7. Avoid Outdated IT Infrastructure:

Regularly update and replace outdated devices to reduce the risk of medical data breaches.
 

8. Regular Software Updates:

Keep software up-to-date to patch system vulnerabilities and enhance cybersecurity.
 
 

9. Review Service-Level Agreements:

Verify third-party vendors’ compliance with HIPAA, ensuring data ownership and instant access revocation.
 

10. Data Encryption:

Implement encryption technologies to mitigate the impact of cyberattacks, as per HIPAA’s Breach Notification Rule.
 
 

11. Retention Schedules:

Establish and enforce retention schedules for electronic health records (EHRs) to manage data lifecycle.
 
 

12. Proper Data Destruction:

Partner with certified document destruction services to securely dispose of sensitive information.
 

13. Increased Investment in Security:

Allocate adequate resources for IT and legal teams, focusing on both digitalization and security modeling.
 

Five Pillars of Digital Healthcare Security: Understanding the five pillars of digital healthcare security is crucial:

1. EHR Systems:

HIPAA and HITECH encourage EHR adoption but necessitate strict compliance to ensure patient data privacy.

2. Connected Medical Devices:

The growing market of connected medical devices requires prioritizing secure, modern devices with data encryption technologies.
 

3. Hospitals and Providers:

Healthcare providers must prioritize security to avoid breaches, considering their direct interaction with EHR and connected devices.
 

4. Health Payers:

Insurance providers and health plans, like healthcare providers, need to be HIPAA compliant and ensure the security of patient data.
 

5. Government Regulators:

Government regulations, including HIPAA, HITECH, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), play a crucial role in securing patient records.

The Role of Modern Healthcare Management Software: To mitigate cybersecurity risks, consider implementing modern healthcare management software with the following features:

1. Cloud-Based Infrastructure:

Utilize cloud storage for enhanced security, regular updates, and compliance with regulations like HIPAA and GDPR.
 

2. Encryption Technologies:

Employ robust encryption methods, such as two-key encryption systems, 256-bit encryption, and blockchain technologies.
 

3. Secure Data Standards:

Incorporate standards like electronic data interchange (EDI) and Health Level Seven (HL7) to protect data during transmission, collection, and processing.

4. Regular Backups:

Implement automated backup systems to ensure data integrity and availability.
 

Conclusion:

As cyber threats continue to evolve, healthcare organizations in the US must prioritize data security to protect sensitive patient information. Implementing the outlined strategies, understanding the pillars of digital healthcare security, and leveraging modern management software can significantly enhance cybersecurity measures. Acumensa HealthSoft is your trusted partner in fortifying your organization against data breaches. Contact us today to discuss tailored solutions for your healthcare data security needs.

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