Security is a crucial factor for many businesses, especially for healthcare. The increasing dependency on digitization has further increased the possibility of data breaches. The sensitivity of the healthcare data like patient’s records, hospital details, and physician details requires high-end security levels that are best met by a healthcare cybersecurity system.
The intensity of these healthcare security breaches is so wide that by the end of 2020, these attacks will have a whopping cost of 6 trillion USD. So, were these companies that didn’t have a dedicated security systems for the cyber-attacks? Developed nations like the US are spending around 16% of their federal budgets on cybersecurity alone.
Cost and awareness aren’t the issue with regards to a healthcare cybersecurity strategy. So, it all comes down to the effective implementation, maintenance, and operation of these systems. Many healthcare professionals are using these systems for the first time and need training to understand them. Others have already invested in these systems and only require the knowledge to ensure smooth operations for improved security levels. Here are the top five tips to improve healthcare cybersecurity.
Top five tips to improve a healthcare cybersecurity system
Introducing a dedicated healthcare cybersecurity system is a first step in managing the security standards for the data-driven healthcare sector. It is time to switch to the top strategies that improve the working efficiency of these systems. Let’s explore the five different tips one by one:
Training the team – The physicians may handle the EHR independently, but big hospitals have dedicated medical records teams. These teams require thorough training to optimize the work done on the dedicated healthcare cybersecurity systems. Minor errors that happen at the employee’s end may compromise the data security of the entire system. Therefore, the first step to optimizing the different cybersecurity systems is to provide detailed training.
Cybersecurity attacks rely on humans to share virus links or introduce malware into the system. It is not only about working on the systems. You need to create an overall cybersecurity strategy that makes the teams aware of the possible attacks on the system. First things first, no suspicious emails or links should be opened at any time by anyone on the security teams. Secondly, cybersecurity training about the do’s and don’ts while working on these systems helps to arm teams with best practices that must to be utilized at all times.
Software updates – The updated versions of security software not only add versatile features but help software developers correct the possible entry points for virus attacks. Consistent maintenance is ensured by these updates that which designed to improve current glitches. Any healthcare organization working on an outdated version of the software is inviting cyber-attacks.
Different service providers offer dedicated software updates or patches for maintaining the workflow and updating the systems at the same time. The use of cloud technology is helpful in getting the best benefits of the scheduled updates that are usually managed by third-party companies. It is ideal for healthcare companies to go for dedicated cybersecurity systems that offer free updates over the lifetime of the software license. This doesn’t only secure sensitive business data but saves time and money because you don’t have to look to other sources for top features or upgrades. Many service companies offer dedicated API plug-ins to ensure the smooth working of new updates on all systems. API creates a safe portal to interact, helping the entire healthcare cybersecurity system stay protected.
Protecting the hardware – The digitization of any business has two major parts- hardware and software. While the world is moving on cloud technology because of its immense benefits of storage, access, and security, many are still using on-premise hardware. Therefore, a secure healthcare cybersecurity system is made with the best combination of software and hardware. Using outdated hardware for the high-end healthcare data records not only impacts efficiency but has severe security implications.
First things first, all systems dedicated to the healthcare data records should be protected with passwords. These system passwords are the first line of defense and prevent any unauthorized access to the data. This way, businesses can protect themselves from in-house security threats on the hardware. Including the best firewalls and anti-virus software on all systems to help prevent phishing attacks. Any malware or viruses will be detected and automatically discarded. Notifications from these dedicated systems also helps improve security levels.
The power of encryption – Many IT security experts are aware of the power of encryption. Most of the data breaches in healthcare occurs during data transmission. Data encryption is a game-changer for healthcare. Healthcare app development services use it to protect sensitive data. Encryption is a sort of coding that hides the data and transfers it in the form of codes. These codes are then deciphered at the client end to get the data details without any data losses. Any interception that happens during the transfer has no value as the encryption codes are only shared with the end-users.
This is a crucial step in improving the existing security standards. Not just healthcare, but all leading sectors and businesses are using encrypted data for transfer and other sharing purposes.
Defining access levels – The healthcare cybersecurity strategy will lose its effectiveness if the access levels are not properly defined. These access levels help to managing the smooth flow of data, data entry, data updates, etc., to the specific people. Not only the hardware, software, and encryption but the access levels help improve existing cybersecurity systems.
All healthcare software development companies know that any unauthorized access is problematic and can compromise the security of the entire system. Hence, the aim is to define access to sensitive healthcare data according to the organization hierarchy. This helps to best manage the data and successfully averts any stressful situations like cyber-attacks.
Wrapping Up
The healthcare cybersecurity is a growing industry with an estimated revenue of 65 billion USD between 2017 and 2021 alone. It all comes down to the optimized use of the technology in management and maintenance to get the best out of these systems. The small steps taken at the right time, like updating software, employee training, etc., can help improve security.
The increasing number of security breaches for the healthcare sector is alarming for companies and service providers. The tips mentioned above are not only easy to implement but come with multiple benefits to any healthcare organization.
Author Bio
Saurabh Sharma is a Digital Marketing Executive at Arka Softwares, a leading mobile app & web development company. He has 2 years of experience in the Information Technology industry. He spends his time reading about new trends in Digital Marketing and the latest app development technologies.
