Data is central to a wide range of exciting innovations in healthcare.
Wearable devices that monitor vital signs in real-time. AI to predict protein folding, which may speed drug discovery and boost scientific understanding of complex interactions happening within cells. Predictive analytics tools that can identify potential health risks.
Everywhere you look, you see data.
And wherever you see data, hackers see opportunity. Healthcare data is incredibly valuable on the black market, which makes it an especially attractive target.
So not surprisingly, 2023 was the worst year for healthcare data breaches in history.
There were 725 large security breaches, defined as breaches of more than 500 records.
That’s more than double the number of large security breaches in 2016, and more than triple the number of large security breaches in 2012.
Unfortunately, 2024 doesn’t look much better. Already, more than 31 million Americans have been affected by the 10 largest breaches of health data in the first half of the year, and the full extent of the ransomware attacks on Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, and the Ascension health system is still not known. UnitedHealth has said the impact could include “a substantial portion of people in America”—including as many as 15 million veterans.
Innovation Will Continue to Accelerate. But Legacy Tech Means Data Security Is Not Keeping Up.
According to recent research, the majority of healthcare professionals believe better technology investment is needed. This is not surprising, given that healthcare staff lose an average of 3.9 hours per week due to technical issues.
While the industry is anxious to move forward, it’s actually held back by legacy IT. Research further reveals that 31% say legacy tech means they’re not able to access patient data quickly, and 36% worry it’s making their networks more vulnerable to security attacks. One in four (25%) respondents confirm they cannot deploy or manage new devices, which is up from 21% in 2023.
Organizations need a digital transformation roadmap that prepares them for the future, while also providing maximum data security for sensitive patient information.
What Should Organizations Do Now?
- Healthcare Is on The Move. Get Your Mobile Devices Ready.
With the increasing use of mobile devices in healthcare, securing these devices is critical. Mobile security is only as strong as its weakest link. With healthcare data always a target, you’ll need an Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solution that gives you visibility and control over where your business-critical mobile devices are, what they’re doing, how they’re performing and what security or compliance risks they’re facing. Don’t forget the need for strong passwords and remote wiping capabilities, too.
- Keep Your Systems Security and Up-To-Date.
A good solution should manage devices, keeping them up to date with the latest security updates to lower risk. It should be able to deploy apps to smartphones, enroll and provision new tablets in the field, track the location of rugged devices and identify and neutralize security risks to the IoT endpoints. Since it can be impossible to support and diagnose issues without having the device in your hands, look for a diagnostic intelligence and support solution that provides organizations with the tools needed to proactively fix mobile device problems faster.
- Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Alongside Single Sign-On (SSO)
Over 80% of security breaches come from password exploitation. SSO reduces the number of endpoints hackers will try to crack. The average business user has 27 passwords. SSO turns dozens of hard-to-remember passwords into a single set of credentials. This makes things easier and faster, as the average employee spends 36 minutes per month on password entry alone.
Implementing MFA alongside SSO adds an extra layer of protection and further reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
- Secure Back Door Entry Points, Like Printers
Research found that 75% of CIOs predict printers will become the focus of data breaches and 66% of IT professionals believe their printers contain malware. Yet more than half of enterprises ignore printer security. Look for a solution that monitors the printer security status of your printers – anywhere and anytime. Know when a printer is vulnerable and strengthen its security via remote firmware updates. Additionally, secure your RFID printers, too: they are instrumental in supporting the tagging of an extensive fleet of implantable medical devices. If a tag isn’t printed, then the device it’s meant for can’t be tracked. One lost device can result in a delay in critical care for a patient. It also results in increased costs for the organization as they must pay to ship a replacement device. - Ensure Robust Encryption, End-To-End
Every time-sensitive healthcare data is in transit, it’s possible it will be intercepted. End-to-end encryption — including when the data is at rest — is vital.
- Conduct Regular Risk Assessments
Regular risk assessments help identify potential vulnerabilities and threats within the organization. By proactively addressing these risks, healthcare organizations can strengthen their security posture and prevent breaches.
The constant threat of healthcare data breaches makes it vital to establish a security-minded organizational culture, coupled with the right tools to protect sensitive patient information, ensure regulatory compliance, and maintain trust with patients and stakeholders.
The future is coming. Make sure you’re ready.
About Shash Anand, SVP of Product Strategy, SOTI
As SVP of Product Strategy at SOTI, Shash Anand oversees the company’s evolution from a single product centered around Mobile Device Management (MDM) to an integrated platform that solves many of the challenges around enterprise mobility and IoT management. Shash holds a degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Toronto, and an MBA from the Rotman School of Management. After working for IBM as a Technical Support Engineer and Business Operations Manager, Shash joined SOTI to lead the company’s global expansion.
Throughout his tenure with the company, Shash has worked across both technical and operational teams, overseeing key departments within the business. With diverse experience across the organization, including: Professional Services & Support, Product Management, Product Marketing, Business Development & Sales, and Strategic Alliances, Shash has extensive expertise building global teams from start-up to scale-up success. Shash is Chairman of the Board at MCIS Language Solutions, a non-profit organization whose mission is to remove language barriers and improve access to critical information and services through high-quality language solutions.