Key points:

• Healthcare data is inherently complex, making it particularly vulnerable to breaches. The sensitive nature of patient information, coupled with the intricate interconnections within healthcare ecosystems, creates a challenging landscape for effective management and security.
• Compliance with stringent regulations like HIPAA and GDPR adds another layer of complexity. These regulations impose strict requirements for data protection and privacy, demanding healthcare organisations to implement robust security measures to avoid hefty fines and legal penalties.
• The rapidly evolving technological landscape further complicates healthcare data security efforts. Emerging technologies, such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence, while offering numerous benefits, also introduce new vulnerabilities that must be addressed.
• Organisations must continuously adapt their security strategies to stay ahead of evolving threats and ensure the protection of patient data.‍
• Healthcare companies around the world are using Metomic to secure customer data in SaaS apps by efficiently managing, monitoring, and classifying sensitive healthcare information, such as PHI.

With the exponential growth of digital healthcare records, the need for vigorous data security measures has never been more critical. 

As healthcare organisations increasingly rely on digital platforms to store and manage patient information, the risk of data breaches and cyber attacks continues to escalate. 

Understanding the importance of data security in healthcare and implementing proactive measures is essential to safeguarding sensitive patient data and preserving the integrity of healthcare systems.

This comprehensive guide aims to delve into the complexities of healthcare data security, highlighting key risks, healthcare regulatory requirements, and best practices to manage these threats effectively.

By prioritising data security, healthcare organisations can uphold patient trust, mitigate risks, and ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive healthcare information.

The importance of understanding healthcare data security 

Healthcare data security encompasses the practices and technologies implemented to safeguard patient information from unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. 

It involves protecting electronic health records, medical histories, diagnostic reports, and other sensitive data generated and stored within healthcare systems. Ensuring the security of healthcare data is paramount due to its sensitive nature and potential consequences of breaches. 

According to HIPAA, between 2013 and 2023, reported healthcare data breaches in the US surged from 277 to 725 incidents. Such breaches can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, reputational damage to healthcare providers, and can compromise patient care.

Healthcare organisations must adopt comprehensive security measures, including encryption, access controls, and regular risk assessments, to mitigate these risks effectively. 

💻Webinar: The Importance of Data Security in Healthcare Settings

In this webinar, we caught up with Numan's Chief Medical Strategy Officer Sam Shah & Modern Health's Staff Security Engineer Michael Ivey.

The topics they discuss include:

✅ How can healthcare organisations make data security a top priority?

✅ Why healthcare organisations should be using a data-centric approach in 2023

✅ Why it's vital that you make your employees aware of your security policies & build your human firewall

✅ Why now is the right time to secure your data, particularly with the rise of AI

7 Key risks and threats to healthcare data 

Healthcare organisations face a myriad of threats to the security of their data, so understanding them is crucial for implementing effective security measures. 

Here are some of the most significant risks:

1. Cyber attacks

With advancements in technology, cyber attacks like ransomware, malware, and phishing continue to evolve, posing a significant threat to healthcare data security. According to recent studies, 88% of surveyed healthcare organisations experienced at least one cyberattack in the past year. 

2. Insider threats

Employees or other insiders with access to sensitive information can compromise data security, and accounts for a surprisingly high 43% of breaches. 

Around half of that number does so maliciously. They may be opportunists looking to make money selling sensitive data, or disgruntled employees looking to hurt, punish or embarrass the organisation. 

3. Data breaches

Unauthorised access to patient records or other sensitive data can result in data breaches, leading to financial loss and reputational damage.

4. Regulatory non-compliance

Failure to comply with regulations such as HIPAA or GDPR can result in hefty fines and legal consequences.

5. Legacy systems 

Outdated or unsupported systems may have vulnerabilities that expose healthcare data to risks.

6. Third-party risks 

Data shared with third-party vendors or partners may be at risk if adequate security measures are not in place.

7. Human error 

This is by far and away the biggest cause of data breaches, with research showing that 88% of all data breaches can be attributed to mistakes made by employees, such as sending sensitive information to the wrong recipient.

Understanding and mitigating these risks is essential for safeguarding healthcare data and maintaining patient trust.

📝Report: Healthcare Data Crisis - Uncovering the Alarming Gaps in Data Security and Compliance

In our Healthcare Data Crisis report, we share new data - gathered through our data security platform - that highlights how insecure file-sharing practices are exposing large amounts of sensitive data.

You’ll discover:

• The critical security gaps in healthcare organisations’ file-sharing practice, including the fact that 25% of publicly shared files in healthcare organisations contain Personally Identifiable Information (PII). 

• The common file-sharing mistakes being made by healthcare employees that are bringing about these security risks.
• How a Data Loss Prevention solution like Metomic can pinpoint where sensitive data is located and who has access to it, and automate the necessary actions to safeguard any exposed data.

Challenges in protecting healthcare data 

Healthcare data security presents unique challenges for security teams, and managing the complexities of healthcare data adds layers of difficulty to an already complicated IT landscape. 

Furthermore, the consequences of a breach can be devastating, with the average cost of a healthcare data breach surpassing that of all other industries, at $10.93 million.

Key challenges include:

• Complexity of healthcare data: Healthcare data often includes a wide range of sensitive information, from medical records right up to insurance details, making it complex to manage and secure effectively.
• Compliance requirements: Healthcare organisations have to comply with stringent regulatory requirements such as HIPAA and GDPR, adding layers of complexity to data security efforts.
• Technological advancements: Rapid advancements in technology bring both opportunities and challenges - for example, AI chatbots are making it harder to spot phishing emails - as healthcare organisations struggle to keep pace with evolving threats and security measures. 
• Insider threats: Insider threats and risks, whether intentional or unintentional, pose significant risks to healthcare data security. Employees may inadvertently compromise data security through negligence or malicious intent.

Navigating these challenges requires a comprehensive approach to healthcare data security, incorporating robust technological solutions, stringent policies and procedures, and ongoing staff training and awareness programmes.

Staying ahead of emerging trends and threats 

With 560,000 new pieces of malware being detected every day, healthcare organisations must remain vigilant against emerging cybersecurity threats. 

To effectively protect sensitive patient data against constantly evolving cyber threats, organisations should adopt these proactive measures:

1. Continuous education: Providing ongoing training and education to staff about emerging threats and best practices in data security can help mitigate risks.
2. Investment in technology: Adopting advanced security technologies, such as AI-powered threat detection and encryption tools, can enhance protection against evolving threats.
3. Regular risk assessments: Conducting frequent risk assessments helps identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in security protocols, allowing organisations to address them promptly.
4. Collaboration and information sharing: Engaging with industry peers and sharing information about emerging threats can provide valuable insights and help organisations stay informed.
5. Monitoring and detection: Implementing robust monitoring systems to detect suspicious activities and potential breaches in real-time can enable swift response and mitigation efforts.

By staying ahead of the curve and deploying the latest technologies and strategies, healthcare organisations can better protect their data from emerging threats. 

Regulatory compliance in healthcare data security 

Ensuring adherence to regulatory standards and compliance guidelines is crucial for healthcare organisations to uphold patient confidentiality and avoid costly penalties. 

In the UK and US, key regulations for healthcare organisations such as GDPR and HIPAA govern data protection practices. 

According to these regulations, non-compliance can result in significant fines. For instance, the UK GDPR and DPA 2018 impose fines of up to £17.5 million or 4% of annual global turnover, for infringements.

To maintain compliance, organisations must:

• Understand regulatory requirements: Familiarise themselves with the specific provisions of GDPR, HIPAA, and other relevant regulations to ensure adherence.
• Implement appropriate safeguards: Deploy encryption, access controls, and other security measures outlined in regulatory guidelines to protect patient data.
• Conduct regular audits: Perform routine audits and assessments to identify any gaps in compliance and address them promptly.
• Stay updated: Stay up-to-date with any changes or updates to healthcare regulatory requirements and adjust policies and procedures accordingly.

By prioritising regulatory compliance, healthcare organisations can mitigate legal risks and safeguard patient data effectively.

8 practices for securing and protecting healthcare data 

There are eight broad principles that you need to follow to ensure patient data is protected, safe, and in the hands of the right people.

These are:

Principle 1: Confidentiality agreements

Confidentiality agreements form the cornerstone of patient data protection within healthcare organisations.

These agreements outline the expectations and responsibilities of all staff regarding the handling and safeguarding of patient information.

Recent research indicates that approximately 50% of healthcare organisations have experienced an intentional or accidental data leak from employees, demonstrating the critical importance of confidentiality agreements in mitigating internal threats to patient data security.

By establishing clear guidelines and procedures for maintaining confidentiality, healthcare providers can instil trust and confidence in their patients while mitigating the risk of data breaches.

Principle 2: Regular training

A study conducted by KnowBe4 showed that employees who took part in monthly cyber security training were 34% more aware of the dangers of suspicious email links and attachments.

Regular training sessions play a pivotal role in reinforcing the importance of patient data confidentiality, and ensuring that healthcare staff members are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to uphold confidentiality standards.

These sessions provide an opportunity to educate staff on data protection policies, procedures, and best practices, helping to build a culture of awareness and accountability within the organisation.

Principle 3: Defined access controls

Shockingly, studies reveal that 53% of businesses left over 1,000 important files and folders available to all staff. It’s all very well and good building strong digital walls around sensitive patient data, but if your access management isn’t up to scratch, you’re essentially leaving the keys lying around for anyone to wander in and steal it.

In this report, 99% of cloud users, roles, services, and resources were granted excessive permissions, which were ultimately left unused. That represents a large attack surface that a determined hacker can use to gain access to sensitive data.

Securing patient data demands robust data storage practices to ensure that sensitive information remains protected from unauthorised access or disclosure.

Principle 4: Data encryption

Data encryption is a crucial component of ensuring the security and confidentiality of patient information in healthcare organisations.

By encrypting sensitive data, such as patient medical records and personal information, healthcare providers can protect it from unauthorised access or interception.

Utilising strong encryption algorithms and protocols helps safeguard patient data both in transit and at rest, reducing the risk of data breaches and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

Research indicates that encryption is incredibly effective, lowering data breach costs by an average of $360,000. This underscores the importance of implementing encryption measures to mitigate the financial impact of data breaches, protecting patient confidentiality.

Principle 5: Mobile device usage

A combination of advances in cloud computing, growth in use of SaaS applications, and global pressures from the COVID-19 pandemic have dramatically increased the use of  mobile devices.

That’s a trend that’s set to continue, with an estimated 30.6% increase in global smartphone users to 6.4 billion by 2029. This introduces additional challenges for data security in healthcare.

Organisations have to implement robust mobile device management (MDM) solutions to ensure the secure use of mobile devices for accessing patient data. This includes enforcing policies for device encryption, remote data wiping, and restricting the installation of unapproved apps.

Additionally, staff should receive training on safe mobile device usage and best practices for protecting patient data while using mobile devices in clinical settings.

Principle 6: Secure printing

Secure printing practices are essential for maintaining the confidentiality of patient data in healthcare settings. Printed materials that contain sensitive patient data can be more susceptible to security breaches compared to digital data due to their physical nature.

Once printed, it’s challenging to control the dissemination of information, and printed documents may be easily misplaced or shared without adequate safeguards in place - thus increasing the risk of unauthorised access or misuse.

While the trend towards a paperless office grows apace, clearly data security around printing remains a problem that has yet to go away, as 61% of IT decision-makers say they’ve suffered data losses due to unsecured printers.

Healthcare organisations should implement reliable secure printing solutions, such as requiring user authentication before releasing print jobs, and establishing procedures for securely storing and disposing of printed documents.  

Principle 7: Regulatory compliance

Making sure that your organisation is compliant would be important no matter which industry you’re in, but it’s even more important with healthcare, as the data you’re dealing with is so much more sensitive and personal.

Regulatory bodies such as HIPAA in the United States and GDPR in the UK & European Union impose strict requirements for the protection of patient information. Healthcare organisations need to adhere to these regulations, which include guidelines for:

• Data security
• Data privacy practices
• Breach notification protocols

Non-compliance with regulatory requirements can result in severe penalties, including fines and legal action.

For example, US based firm OneTouchPoint is currently undergoing a class-action lawsuit by 38 medical firms it was serving, all of whom claim that OTP failed to safeguard sensitive medical information that could expose its patients to fraud and theft.

And in the UK, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) isn’t shy about enforcing penalties against any company in breach of data protection regulations.

Principle 8: Incident response strategy

An incident response strategy is essential for healthcare organisations to effectively manage and mitigate data security incidents. This strategy should outline the steps to be taken in the event of a data breach or security incident, including:

• Detection
• Containment
• Eradication
• Recovery
• Post-incident analysis

Healthcare organisations must have clear protocols and procedures in place to respond promptly to data breaches, minimise the impact on patient privacy, and prevent further damage to their reputation.

By implementing a comprehensive incident response strategy, healthcare organisations can become more resilient against cyber threats, and protect patient data with confidence.

How can Metomic help?

Metomic offers solutions designed to address the specific data security and compliance needs of healthcare organisations, ensuring the effective management and protection of patient data in accordance with industry regulations.

1. Tailored solution

Metomic offers a customisable data security and compliance solution, specifically designed to meet the unique needs of healthcare organisations, ensuring that patient data is effectively managed and protected according to industry regulations.

2. Streamlined compliance 

With Metomic's platform, healthcare organisations can streamline their compliance efforts with regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA. Metomic's tools facilitate data access controls and monitoring, enabling organisations to ensure compliance with ease.

3. Data discovery and management

Metomic's platform offers comprehensive protection for healthcare data through features such as data discovery, classification, and monitoring. This ensures that sensitive information is identified, managed, and monitored effectively, reducing the risk of data breaches and regulatory violations.

Metomic empowers healthcare institutions to strengthen their data security posture by efficiently managing, monitoring, and classifying sensitive information.

You can't protect patient data properly if you can't see it or don't know where it is.

Speak to Metomic today

To find out more about how Metomic can give you visibility over sensitive healthcare data stored across your SaaS, cloud and GenAI ecosystems, get in touch directly or book a personalised demo with one of our security experts.