By Filip Cotfas
In India, the health business, including the Mobile Health Industry, is seeing a significant surge. Investor financing in the digital health business has expanded dramatically during the previous decade. Many entrepreneurs are involved in the healthcare business, competing for a piece of the market and the attention of users and medical professionals. One of the most critical issues is the confidentiality of patient data.
What makes the healthcare sector more vulnerable to data breaches than other industries? The solution is straightforward: the type of data gathered and stored. Healthcare services amass vast amounts of Protected Health Information (PHI). PHI is information on a person’s past, present, or future physical or mental health and the provision of healthcare to that person. It also includes personally identifiable information (PII) such as a person’s name, address, or Social Security Number, which alone or in combination with other identifiers might expose a person’s identity, medical history, or payments made.
Data was once extremely simple to store and secure since it was recorded on paper and secured in physical cabinets. Patient records are now stored on computers, servers, and storage devices in the modern world, thanks to constantly increasing digital technology. Doctors and healthcare professionals use computers and tablets to access, update, and record patient data. Furthermore, such information may be shared throughout numerous hospitals, healthcare providers, and government health authorities. Unfortunately, new types of records bring new hazards, such as data breaches, malware and virus threats, ransomware, and other threats. It is critical that healthcare businesses thoroughly investigate the probable causes of data breaches and establish effective security solutions that incorporate both internal and external controls.
Given the sensitive nature of healthcare data which can lead to lost business & reputational harm, healthcare providers must have a robust and trustworthy security architecture. The strategies should not only respond to and secure healthcare data but also forecast and prevent cybercriminal attacks. Cyber thieves have recently been interested in electronic medical data since the black market value for this type of information is far higher than the black market value for credit card numbers or bank account passwords. This tendency may be startling, but the reasons are clear. Patients’ names, dates of birth, residences, phone numbers, places of employment and positions, IDs, card numbers, and medical and social insurance are all included in the data in electronic medical records. Stealing such information can lead to identity theft rather than simply a single bank breach. Another significant factor is inadequate data protection in medical organizations. Financial organizations, such as banks have already established a robust data protection framework. Two-factor authentication has become a global banking norm. Only after entering the One-Time Password does the bank grant its customers access to the information. On the contrary, such systems have not been deployed in public health groups for a long time, making them an easy target for cybercriminals. The following are some healthcare data security tips that may be used to maintain a safe & secure data environment:
1. Address Internal Threats: The healthcare industry suffers from a particularly high degree of negligence. Human mistakes cause the majority of its breaches. Employees are also the cause of harmful situations. Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions can help healthcare organizations safeguard and regulate the movement of sensitive health data into and out of their networks.
2. Restrict Data Access: When health data is kept locally on work computers, it becomes susceptible and prone to theft. Employees often access, store, and download sensitive data while doing their duties, and they may neglect to remove these files when they are no longer required. This presents a serious threat to data security. DLP solutions may search the whole corporate network for sensitive data stored locally, and if it is located in unauthorized areas, administrators can take remedial steps such as deletion or encryption. Thus, healthcare providers may ensure that no staff has access to sensitive data that they no longer require to complete their job.
3. Manage removable devices: While the internet is increasingly becoming the preferred data transfer route, many employees continue using removable devices such as USBs or external hard drives to copy huge amounts of information or files. These devices, however, are easily misplaced or stolen due to their small size. Worse, USBs have become attractive tools for malware attacks in recent years. To prevent these risks, healthcare organizations may use DLP tools to monitor and govern the use of peripheral and USB ports and Bluetooth connections. They can either fully restrict its use or limit it to authorized devices. Healthcare providers may then watch which personnel use which devices when, making it easier to detect suspect behavior.
By Filip Cotfas, Channel Manager, CoSoSys
(DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETHealthworld does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETHealthworld.com shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person / organisation directly or indirectly)