Cybersecurity in Healthcare: 5 Common Sense Ways to Protect Data at Your Facility

Balancing data security and accessibility is extremely challenging amid a digital transformation in medical practices. Even though most US healthcare facilities are midway through digitalization, significant concerns about cybersecurity remain. Healthcare's vulnerability to cyberattacks makes safeguarding patient data crucial, as attacks can halt treatments and prompt ransom demands.

These concerns are extremely valid as healthcare-targeted cyberattacks reached record heights last year. More specifically, patient data breaches doubled yearly, a grim testament to the common negligence towards data protection and cyberattack combat in the medical setting. 

What makes cyberattacks in healthcare so common?

Cybercriminals eagerly target healthcare data for easy profits. Compromising a practice's network and encrypting files, including patient data, can halt treatment. This often leads to a higher likelihood of ransom payment for data decryption, enabling providers to resume patient care. 

Additionally, healthcare is a niche that accumulates huge volumes of data, suffers from many intricate, standalone, and legacy systems, and involves personnel who aren’t always sufficiently trained in using those systems and following best practices for data protection.

Let’s see the main culprits for healthcare’s shaky defenses against cyberattacks.

1. Insufficient resource management

When evaluating the quality of cybersecurity in healthcare, oftentimes, it comes down to not allocating enough resources. With tight budgets, healthcare providers are forced to prioritize tasks and choose between upgrading security solutions or continuing with what is currently in place. 

More often than not, cybersecurity is only taken seriously after a data breach. Unfortunately, this mentality generates tremendous losses, considering that the average cost of a cyberattack in healthcare stood at $10.93 million, an increase of 53% since 2020! Year after year, healthcare ranks higher than any other business segment in the cost of cyberattacks.

What you can do: Encrypt and manage your data responsibly.

Even a limited budget allows you to secure confidential information properly. The most practical and HIPAA-compliant solution is encryption. It makes it more difficult for the potential attacker to read and subsequently ransom patient data. 

There are many types of encryptions; however, HIPAA does not specify the ideal choice. It only provides cybersecurity recommendations based on an organization’s needs.

Another cost-effective practice is implementing role-based identification. Only authorized users should be able to access Protected Health Information (PHI), and only when it’s essential to perform their job. This security measure is crucial for front desk employees, who handle loads of PHI when scheduling and helping with Patient calls.

But suppose your practice doesn't have the time or resources to hire and train HIPAA-compliant receptionists to manage patient data in your EHR. In that case, outsourced HIPAA-compliant medical call-answering professionals will help you manage all patient appointment scheduling, Epic® EMR operations, and general phone answering needs.

The average cost of a data breach by industry in USD million [IBM]

2. A high number of devices in one place

Cybersecurity vulnerabilities are prevalent in healthcare settings, ranging from a small dental clinic with limited mobile and IoT devices to a large hospital necessitating a strong infrastructure. Persistent Wi-Fi problems in these diverse environments underscore the risk, as even a single compromised device can pose a significant threat to the entire facility. This underscores the crucial importance of cybersecurity in the healthcare sector.

Between 2020 and 2022, more than half of surveyed healthcare institutions in the United States experienced at least nine cyberattacks involving Internet of Things (IoT) and Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices. 11% were targeted by at least 25 cybersecurity breaches. | Statista

What you can do: Properly maintain Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Medical facilities (especially hospitals) use various tools, such as blood pressure monitors, life support machines, hand hygiene, and heart-rate monitoring, which can all be classified under IoT devices. This means they are all connected to the Internet to stay functional. 

Maintaining the highest security standards of IoT objects requires a separate network, robust authentication systems for every interaction, and regular updates and checkups to identify any abnormal activities. Hiring an outsourced network consultant to evaluate your existing infrastructure and make recommendations is an easy and inexpensive way to audit your existing network for vulnerabilities and make corrections before an attack happens. 

3. The need for open-access data

In today's dynamic work environment, remote access to patient information is essential for healthcare professionals. Ensuring quick, unrestricted data-sharing among staff is crucial for efficient healthcare delivery. However, safeguarding confidential information becomes more challenging when dealing with numerous remote devices owned by different employees. The absence of security measures comparable to those available for on-site equipment further complicates the protection of sensitive data. Therefore, enhancing data protection measures is imperative to facilitate seamless remote access for healthcare professionals while maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive information.

What you can do: Increase the safety of mobile and BYOD devices.

One of the ways to improve cybersecurity in medical practices is mobile protection. Your team relies on their phones, laptops, tablets, and other wireless tools to contact patients and exchange PHI. Remember to vary the implemented security measures, including strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, remote data wipe, and automated system and application updates.

To guarantee the safety of internal and external data exchange during mobile communication, also consider equipping your employees with intuitive, seamless, HIPAA-compliant solutions that allow them to remain compliant wherever they are.

4. Outdated technology

According to Becker, 96% of US hospitals already have an EHR in place. However, most of them struggle with the interoperability and transparency of these systems, missing out on the time and data benefits they offer and — more importantly — adding to the security threat.  

And the impact of such neglect is far-reaching, even if we put costs aside. One survey demonstrated that cybersecurity in healthcare breaches also entails longer lengths of stay, poorer treatment outcomes, and an increased mortality rate!

Neglecting cybersecurity in healthcare has consequences beyond costs. [Insider Intelligence]

Numerous hospitals have fallen victim to data breaches due to outdated software, a vulnerability frequently exploited by hackers. And many tragedies could have been avoided with regular updates to address security flaws. 

What you can do: Establish monthly updates and data recovery plans.

This may seem like an obvious solution, but regular updates are not a common workplace practice. Outdated technology is like a target on your back for hackers to shoot. Anyone trying to compromise your systems will be looking for unpatched vulnerabilities first, and chances are that without up-to-date software, they might be able to steal your data in no time. Keeping that in mind, ensure all operating systems are updated regularly.

But even with the best cybersecurity safeguards in place, some cyberattacks are impossible to avoid. For this reason, every medical practice needs to prepare a system recovery plan to mitigate damage should an attack happen. Backup storage should be secured offsite, monitored, and checked for errors. 

5. Lack of cybersecurity awareness

In the bustling world of healthcare, where professionals are occupied with patient care and paperwork, cybersecurity in healthcare often takes a back seat. The demanding nature of the medical field makes it challenging for doctors and nurses to adhere to stringent cybersecurity protocols. Consequently, successful cyberattacks are more prevalent, particularly through phishing, human error, and social engineering. Recognizing this, implementing comprehensive cybersecurity training for all personnel, from receptionists to high-level doctors, becomes crucial, ensuring a unified and fortified defense against potential threats.

What you can do: Create cybersecurity guidelines and training.

Because the human factor plays a significant role in medical cybersecurity, you must start by educating your team. Security awareness training provides staff with the necessary skills and tools to protect sensitive health information, patients, and themselves against security dangers. Your employees should know how to handle patient data, report potential security breaches, and follow established guidelines to minimize human error.

Facing the challenge of cybersecurity in healthcare

In healthcare cybersecurity, the inevitability of data breaches looms large, as discussions often echo the sentiment, “It's not a matter of if, but a matter of when.” This reality underscores the urgency for medical practices to take proactive steps in securing their sensitive data. 

In this article, we’ve explored five critical vulnerabilities in healthcare cybersecurity, shedding light on how practitioners can fortify their defenses and safeguard patient information effectively. But there are many more things to be aware of, including the careful choice of service providers.

If you are looking for reliable, cybersecurity-trained professionals to handle your Epic® EHR patient appointments, we’re happy to provide them immediately. Just ➡️ reach out to us. And stay safe!