On February 21, 2024, Change Healthcare in the U.S. suffered a ransomware attack by the Blackcat group, leading to the theft of 4TB of data. A $22 million ransom was paid, but the data was not deleted. The breach exposed potentially up to one-third of Americans’ data.
As of July 2024, Change Healthcare reported the breach to the HHS’ Office for Civil Rights and began notifying affected individuals. The incident is expected to cost Change Healthcare between $2.3 billion and $2.45 billion in 2024.
According to the statistics in 2022, 44 million individuals were affected by hacking/IT data breaches in the healthcare industry, up from 900,000 in 2012 (OCR Data Breach Report). This data reflects the importance of robust cybersecurity solutions and measures, regular staff training, and immediate incident reporting protocols. So, are you cybersecurity resilient?
This blog will provide a comprehensive guide on how to prevent security breaches in healthcare.
Why is the Healthcare Industry a Prime Target?
Healthcare data is a goldmine of resources and is being targeted for numerous reasons by cyber criminals:
- High Value of Healthcare Data: Healthcare systems, along with their interconnected business relationships and diverse workforce, gather, store, and manage a vast amount of sensitive and personally protected healthcare information. This data becomes an attractive target for cyber attackers due to the high monetary value and demand on the black market.
- Complex and Expanding IT Ecosystem: The digitalization in healthcare has led to an expanded attack surface with numerous entry points. These are IoT devices, telehealth services, and interoperable systems mandated by regulations like the Cures Act. This complexity makes it difficult to secure all potential vulnerabilities that heighten the risk of a patient data breach.
- Under-resourced IT Departments: Many healthcare organizations struggle with limited IT budgets and staffing, which hampers their ability to keep up with necessary security updates and best practices. This often leads to outdated systems and insufficient cybersecurity measures.
- Human Factor: Many breaches are due to human error, such as employees falling for phishing attacks or mishandling sensitive information. The lack of ongoing security training aggravates this vulnerability.
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How to Prevent Security Breaches in Healthcare: 11 Key Measures
As we saw, healthcare organizations need to take measures to minimize the risk of data breaches. Here are 11 effective strategies to achieve this.
1. Evaluate the Security Risks in IT Infrastructure
Before implementing any security measures, it is essential to evaluate the security risks in the IT infrastructure of healthcare organizations. Annual cyber risk assessments and security evaluations should be conducted to identify new vulnerabilities, security gaps, and outdated policies. These assessments should cover both digital and physical security aspects.
Cybersecurity audits can be performed internally by the IT team or externally by third-party auditors for an unbiased evaluation. These audits help pinpoint weaknesses in network security, email security, and the physical security of devices used by employees to access the main network.
Start by creating a detailed inventory of all IT assets, including hardware, software, and network components. This inventory will help you understand where sensitive data is stored and processed. Outdated systems or software should be flagged as they can pose significant security risks.
Engage with cybersecurity experts to conduct penetration testing and vulnerability assessments. These tests simulate real-world attacks to see how your systems hold up and where improvements are needed. Automated tools can also be used to continuously monitor your network for unusual activity and potential vulnerabilities.
Physical security should not be overlooked. Ensure the data storage locations are secured with surveillance systems and access control mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access. Regularly review and update physical security measures to address any new risks or changes in the infrastructure.
2. Implement Strong Access Controls
A fundamental step to implementing strong access control is to use multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all systems. MFA improves security by requiring users to provide multiple forms of identification, such as a password, smartphone verification, and biometric data. Even if one credential is compromised, unauthorized access is still unlikely.
Role-based access control (RBAC) is another prominent measure. It limits access to sensitive data based on user roles, only employees who need specific information for their job functions can have access. This minimizes the risk of data breaches by reducing the number of people with access to sensitive information.
Regularly reviewing and updating user access permissions is the key. As job roles change, so should access privileges. This includes revoking access for employees who no longer need it.
Advanced access control mechanisms like single sign-on (SSO) and privileged access management (PAM) can add another layer of security. SSO simplifies the login process while reducing password-related risks, and PAM ensures strict control and monitoring of privileged accounts.
3. Encrypt Data
Encrypting data is like locking up sensitive information in a digital safe. When data is encrypted, it gets transformed into a secret code that can only be unlocked with a special key. This makes it much harder for unauthorized people to read the information.
There are two essential times when you should lock up (encrypt) your data:
- When it’s stored: Data at rest includes any information stored on devices such as servers, databases, or backup tapes. Encrypting stored data ensures that even if physical devices are stolen or accessed by unauthorized individuals, the data remains protected. Implementing robust encryption protocols such as the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is one of the methods for safeguarding these data.
- When it’s being sent: Data in transit refers to information that is being transmitted across networks, such as through emails or web traffic. To protect this data, healthcare organizations should use secure communication protocols like TLS (Transport Layer Security) or SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). These protocols encrypt the data during transmission, preventing it from being intercepted and read by malicious actors.
Keeping encryption keys secure is equally vital and can be done by using hardware security modules (HSMs) to store and manage encryption keys
4. Develop a Comprehensive Security Policy
Creating a comprehensive security policy serves as a blueprint for the entire organization. It outlines the steps and measures necessary to safeguard information from potential threats. Here are the key steps:
Establish clear security policies and procedures that cover all aspects of data protection. These policies should outline the security measures that must be in place, such as access controls, data encryption, and incident response protocols. Ensure that the policies are easy to understand and accessible to all employees.
As new threats emerge and technologies evolve, security policies should revised to address these changes. This approach ensures that the organization stays ahead of potential vulnerabilities and protects sensitive data effectively.
5. Employee Training and Awareness
One of the leading causes of healthcare data breaches is the lack of cybersecurity awareness among employees. Workers often aren’t trained to recognize and respond to cyber threats. Whether it’s a small clinic or a large hospital, providing comprehensive cybersecurity education is essential for staff to act as the first line of defense.
Healthcare organizations should implement cybersecurity training for new employees and continuously reinforce best practices among existing ones. Training programs need to be dynamic, updating regularly to address the latest cyber threats and vulnerabilities
Cybersecurity training should cover essential data protection practices, such as:
- Creating Secure Passwords: Teaching staff how to create and maintain strong, unique passwords.
- Recognizing Phishing Attacks: Training staff to identify and handle potential phishing emails and other social engineering tactics.
- Avoiding Unsecured Wi-Fi: Instruct employees not to connect to unsecured Wi-Fi networks with work or personal devices.
- Protecting Sensitive Information: Not sharing social security numbers, credit card information, or other sensitive data over unsecured channels.
Well-informed employees are less likely to make mistakes that could lead to a breach, and they’re better equipped to respond quickly and effectively to potential threats.
6. Deploy Advanced Security Technologies
With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated, relying on basic security measures is no longer sufficient. Healthcare organizations must adopt advanced tools and solutions to enhance their security posture and protect patient data.
One essential technology to deploy is an Intrusion Detection and Prevention System (IDPS). An IDPS monitors network traffic for suspicious activity and potential threats. It can detect and block attacks in real time. It identifies anomalies and unusual patterns to alert security teams to potential breaches before they cause significant damage.
Implementing robust endpoint protection and antivirus solutions is another crucial step. Endpoints, such as computers, tablets, and smartphones, are common entry points for cyber-attacks. Endpoint protection solutions provide comprehensive security by monitoring and managing all devices connected to the network. These solutions can detect and neutralize malware, ransomware, and other malicious software. Antivirus programs, which are part of endpoint protection, play a vital role in scanning and removing harmful software that could compromise data integrity.
Additionally, advanced endpoint protection often includes features like application whitelisting, so that only approved software can run on devices and behavior analysis. It identifies suspicious activities based on known attack patterns.
Healthcare organizations should also consider leveraging technologies such as encryption, firewalls, and secure email gateways. Encryption makes sure that data is unreadable to unauthorized users, firewalls act as barriers between secure internal networks and untrusted external networks, and secure email gateways protect against email-borne threats.
7. Secure Mobile Devices
The widespread use of smartphones and tablets in healthcare settings has cemented the need for robust security systems.
Enforce strict security protocols for all mobile devices accessing sensitive information. This includes requiring strong passwords or biometric authentication to unlock devices, setting them to automatically lock after a short period of inactivity, and encrypting data stored on these devices. These simple but effective steps help ensure that if a device is lost or stolen, the data remains secure
Implementing Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions allows IT administrators to manage and secure mobile devices from a central platform. They can enforce security policies, monitor device usage, and remotely wipe data from lost or stolen devices. Additionally, MDM solutions can restrict the installation of unauthorized apps, ensuring that only approved and secure applications are used.
For organizations allowing employees to use personal devices for work, establishing a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy is crucial. This policy should outline security requirements such as encryption, secure app usage, and regular security audits. Employees need to understand the importance of adhering to these protocols to protect patient data.
8. Regular Software Updates and Patch Management
Many hospitals and healthcare organizations continue to rely on legacy systems and outdated technology, placing healthcare information and electronic health records (EHR) at significant risk. Hackers often target these organizations because outdated software, applications, and hardware typically lack robust security measures and have unpatched vulnerabilities, making them easy targets for cyber-attacks.
One of the key reasons to upgrade outdated technology is the prevalence of IoT (Internet of Things) devices in healthcare settings. If these devices are not properly secured while connected to wireless networks, they can serve as entry points for cybercriminals. Once hackers breach this attack vector, they can deploy ransomware, or conduct DDoS attacks, potentially crippling the entire healthcare system.
Large hospitals often operate thousands of medical devices, each representing a potential security risk if not properly maintained. Updating all software with the latest security patches can significantly reduce these vulnerabilities.
9. Third-Party Vendor Management
Third-party vendors handle, store, or transmit critical and sensitive data, as a result, they increase the attack surface of their partners. These third parties can include contractors, other clinics, business associates, cloud service providers, and more, each presenting unique vulnerabilities that need to be addressed.
It is essential to perform thorough third-party due diligence to ensure that these providers uphold strong data security and privacy practices. This includes conducting comprehensive security assessments and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations. For instance, Business Associate Agreements (BAA) based on HIPAA compliance are crucial in setting clear data security requirements and expectations for third parties.
Healthcare institutions working with third-party providers must diligently review all service-level agreements (SLAs). This means not allowing any terms to be automatically accepted or overlooked. A third-party vendor must be HIPAA compliant to access medical records and other patient data. Anything less compromises the security of the healthcare business and its patients.
10. Develop Subnetworks for Your Security System
When a data breach occurs, having all essential data on a single, large network can lead to widespread damage. To mitigate this risk, creating multiple subnetworks is a highly effective strategy. Segmenting your security system can isolate sensitive information and critical systems, limiting the extent of a breach.
Subnetworks allow for distinct security protocols for each segment, making it more difficult for attackers to access the entire network. If one subnetwork is compromised, the breach is contained, protecting the rest of the organization’s data.
11. Incident Response Plan
When it comes to data breaches, it’s not a matter of if but when. The evolution of cyber threats makes it challenging to stay ahead. Therefore, it’s crucial to not only focus on preventing breaches but also on how to effectively respond and recover from them.
Developing a comprehensive incident response plan is a key component of your healthcare enterprise risk management strategy. This plan should enable you to detect potential threats promptly, shut down systems immediately in case of an intrusion, remove compromised files, and preserve all artifacts and details of the breach for investigation.
How Nalashaa can help?
Data breaches like the one of Change Healthcare show a harsh reality: no healthcare organization is immune to data breaches. Decision-makers in healthcare must take proactive steps to implement the above measures. Prioritizing the cybersecurity of the organization can prevent attacks that jeopardize patient data, and erode reputations.
At Nalashaa Solutions, we specialize in the security and efficiency of healthcare IT systems. Our comprehensive IT services are designed to help healthcare organizations navigate the complexities of security and stay ahead of potential threats.
With our expertise in data security and compliance, we are equipped to provide tailored solutions that address the unique challenges faced by the healthcare industry. Connect with us at info@nalashaa.com to learn how we can help your organization prevent data breaches and ensure the safety of your valuable healthcare data.
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