The safety of patient records is a major healthcare security concern for providers around the world. Despite the digitization of patient health records, there is a risk that confidential information may be compromised or stolen. Cybersecurity is a top priority for health managers all over the world. But some issues go beyond traditional cyber threats that can cause serious security breaches.
Computers are very important for us in today’s life. It is becoming increasingly necessary to put data protection also at the top of our priority list. Mainly in the healthcare sector, emotions are mostly concentrated on saving someone’s life. It is also a critical factor to consider securing access to computer systems and servers that store private data such as medical records. Saving data on an encrypted cloud based module such as DigiQure is one way to go, while there’s more to data security.
Let’s discuss the challenges of healthcare security:
Low cyber-security awareness
Many of the health facilities facing cybersecurity problems are due to a lack of awareness. A lack of awareness is making people working in a healthcare facility the weakest link to safety.
Vulnerability of heavy Phishing
Due to the scarcity of email addresses and over-average email traffic, healthcare organizations are extremely vulnerable to phishing attacks. Email addresses in the health care sector tend to be less secure than email addresses in other industries. Health care workers receive a significant number of emails as they communicate with other organizations and order medicines or medical devices. And they’re more likely to open a phishing email.
Data on mobile devices
Remote access to data has revolutionized the way doctors interact with their patients. While mobile access to data has changed this dimension of medical care, it also poses a significant threat to data protection in healthcare. Unsafe mobile devices have been the victim of cyber-security and data loss hackers. The solution to avoid this threat is to use encrypted software, accessible only to approved individuals on your team.
Protection from hazards
Cyber-attacks are a threat when providers lack stable, encrypted, and often maintained software. Cloud-based technologies allow providers and their suppliers to respond to external threats, making access to your protected data impossible for attackers.
Protection of mobile devices and medical devices
We all know that websites do not often migrate very easily from a desktop to mobile applications. This also applies when it comes to mobile technology and the security of health information. Not all gadgets are as secure as others, and hackers are more aware of this than anyone else.
Viruses and app changes
It is hoped that your facility will be set up with a network that will allow you or your team to manage all virus scans and software updates without going from desk to desk. But you want to make sure that anyone who uses a computer, upgrades their operating software and pays attention to their virus software.
Data of Patient At-Risk
After reviewing the latest data breaches, the following patient data are found to be at risk.
- Financial records for patients
- Medical evidence for the patients
- Demographic information for the patients
Have a procedure for analysing office computers and other equipment to minimize this issue, which stores secure information to ensure that it meets your health data security standards.
However, companies should take appropriate measures to upgrade and strengthen their information security system by:
- Using AI and machine learning to detect irregularities
- Applying behavioral analytics to identify insider threats.
- Teaching staff the correct protocol in the event of a cyber incident will begin to fight back against the attackers.
The significant explanation for this is the poor security of patient data in medical institutions. Financial institutions such as banks have already set up a solid data security program. The 2FA authentication has become a universal banking standard. The bank will only give its customer access to the details after entering the One-Time Password.
IT systems must be developed and implemented in compliance with all the above-listed requirements of healthcare security to prevent risks and provide the best privacy and protection of data. Proper data security policies and technologies in place allow the company to comply with the regulations for monitoring and reporting and safely exchange data both within and outside the medical facility.