Network Security Best Practices for Healthcare Services
Proactively protect your Healthcare Business by following these simple steps!
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For healthcare providers, protecting sensitive patient data is a number one priority. Recent statistics reflect the growing risks:
- In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in healthcare data breaches in the United States, with the number of large breaches reported to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) up 256% in the last 5 years alone.
- A staggering 90% of hospitals have been impacted by at least one data breach, 45% suffered five or more breaches in one year alone (2016).
- Ransomware attacks from 2016 to 2021 impacted over 42 million patients, demonstrating the severe implications of cybersecurity failures.
- America’s healthcare system will lose approximately $6 billion to data breaches, with average per-incident losses of $7.13 million. These numbers are much higher than typical losses in other mainstream sectors.
Attackers are always revising their plans, and healthcare organizations need to remain on guard and deploy strong cybersecurity controls to ensure network protection and compliance with legislation, HIPAA.
Here are 10 best practices to secure healthcare environments against modern threats:
1. Implement Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
MFA forces users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a resource, such as a password and a one-time code sent to their smartphone. This alone can block up to 99.9% of account compromise attacks and is one of the most important controls for protecting access.
Enforce MFA for all user accounts, including those for vendors, to make stolen credentials useless. Utilizing mechanisms such as Duo Security or RSA SecurID will make the deployment of MFA quite a breeze.
2. Conduct Regular Risk Assessments
Regular risk assessments assist in identifying vulnerabilities in networks, systems, and processes so that they can be remediated before an attacker exploits them.
They also help healthcare organizations comply with HIPAA regulations, which require healthcare organizations to routinely assess and mitigate threats to electronic protected health information (ePHI).
Perform annual risk analyses across endpoints, medical devices, cloud apps, wireless networks, web apps, etc. Other tools, such as vulnerability scanners and pen testing, can yield more information.
3. Implement Strong User Authentication and Access Controls
Each user should have unique IDs and introduce role-based access control such that users only have system permissions that they need for their role. When connecting to a network, prefer secure Wi-Fi authentication protocols (e.g. WPA2-Enterprise, not WPA2-PSK).
Also, this involves implementing strong password policies with prompt password changes and disable credentials after a period of inactivity. This minimizes opportunities for unauthorized access if credentials were to be compromised.
4. Segment Your Network
Network Segmentation: This is where networks are segmented into smaller sectors and is also how access is limited in between those sectors. This stops threats from moving throughout the network when one location is compromised.
For healthcare organizations, it can create effective barriers by separating systems that contain sensitive data such as ePHI from more general user access.
5. Prioritize Employee Security Training
Many breaches are caused by employee mistakes, such as not recognizing phishing emails. For example; regular security awareness training drastically reduces this risk factor. Training should include
Teach employees the threat, and get them to report on suspicious emails, unsafe use of web, weak credentials, unsecured devices, etc.
Make training a condition of employment upon hire. Annually, offer some regular cybersecurity tips through newsletters and meetings within teams.
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6. Implement Extensive Audit Controls
Auditing controls enable healthcare organizations to inspect networks for suspicious or unauthorized activity that would signal a breach.
HIPAA requires comprehensive audits whenever ePHI is accessed, shared or modified.
Store user activity logs, data accesses, as well as configuration or permission modifications. Audit logs should be reviewed regularly and retained for 6 years at minimum according to HIPAA. Anomaly detection is possible using advanced analytics tools.
7. Utilize Data Encryption
It protects data in the cloud by converting it to a code that cannot be deciphered except with a secret key. This keeps patient information safe, even if it is obtained illegally. Encryption of ePHI at rest on endpoints or mobile media (just to name a couple of examples) is a HIPAA requirement.
Encrypt data both in transit and in rest. Require encryption on all devices used by employees and the transfer of ePHI only to encrypted USB drives or cloud storage.
8. Choose Third-Party Vendors Wisely
Healthcare organizations tend to share ePHI access with third-party vendors, which are a significant security threat. Know your vendor, well before giving them network access.
Business associate agreements should clearly define the security protocols vendors are required to follow, as well as the processes for responding to any breaches. Monitor vendor DE continued access and activity in the environment.
9. Monitor Advanced Threat on Third-Party Tools
Advanced threats have outgrown traditional firewalls and antivirus software. However, AI-based resolutions can provide continuous network activity monitoring to detect anomalies that may indicate a threat.
Invest in tools or service that can analyze patterns of access to patient data and monitor for suspicious connections, requests or internal behavior. This can mitigate attacks at an early stage, before considerable damage takes place.
10. Develop a Strong Incident Response Plan
Even with the best efforts, breaches are bound to happen. Have a detailed incident response plan that is practiced and tested regularly so your organization can respond appropriately.
The plan will stipulate roles and responsibilities, communication protocols, investigation procedures, recovery measurements, as well as damage mitigation strategies.
It’s also critical to report breaches promptly and fully to HHS and to notify affected patients. Having a plan in advance enables organizations to respond while using minimal resources.
Sounds Complicated? We Can Help!
We are a fully managed IT services provider for healthcare organizations throughout California. Our solutions are built around keeping your network, systems and patient data secure from modern cyber threats, while optimizing your IT operations.
- We begin by assessing systems and networks for vulnerabilities and strategic security enhancements.
- Next, we leverage deep defense controls such as intrusion prevention systems, endpoint detection, firewalls, access control, encryption and others to harden your environment against attacks.
- Our 24/7 monitoring and alerting system ensures you have the ability to react quickly to potential threats.
- Even better, we manage compliance, patches, backups, anti-virus, phishing simulations, access audits and all the other stuff that is required.
- Finally, we serve as your HIPAA security officer (if you’re a covered entity) and perform all vendor risk assessments.
Effective cybersecurity allows healthcare providers to meaningfully concentrate on delivering quality patient care
You can relax knowing that your practice is secured by enterprise-level cyber security with Golden Hills IT.
We offer FREE consultations, so get in touch with us today!
