Guide · Healthcare network security
Network security best practices for healthcare.
Ten practical steps to protect patient data, stay HIPAA compliant and keep care running
For healthcare providers, protecting patient data comes first. The good news: a handful of proven controls stop the vast majority of threats. Here are ten best practices for securing healthcare environments, in plain English.
HIPAA-focused
10 practical steps
California healthcare IT
$ mfa --enforce --all
> enabled.
$ ephi --encrypt
> at rest & in transit ✓
$ audit-logs --retain 6y
> configured.
✓ patients first, IT handled
Secure care starts here.
Why it matters
Healthcare data is worth protecting well.
Healthcare organizations need strong cybersecurity controls to protect their networks and stay compliant with HIPAA. Attackers keep changing tactics, so the best defense is a steady set of good habits and well-managed tools.
By the numbers
• Large breaches reported to HHS rose 256% over five years
• 90% of hospitals have experienced at least one data breach, and 45% had five or more in 2016 alone
• Ransomware attacks from 2016 to 2021 affected over 42 million patients
• U.S. healthcare loses about $6 billion to data breaches, averaging $7.13 million per incident
The 10 best practices
Ten steps to a secure practice.
01
Implement multi-factor authentication
MFA can block up to 99.9% of account compromise attacks. Enforce it for every account, vendors included, using tools like Duo Security or RSA SecurID.
02
Conduct regular risk assessments
Annual risk analyses across endpoints, medical devices, cloud apps, wireless, and web apps find gaps before attackers do and support HIPAA's ePHI requirements. Vulnerability scans and pen tests add depth.
03
Strong authentication & access controls
Unique IDs, role-based access, WPA2-Enterprise Wi-Fi, strong password policies and automatic lockout after inactivity.
04
Segment your network
Separate systems holding ePHI from general user access so a problem in one area can't spread across the network.
05
Prioritize employee security training
Train at hire and keep it going with regular tips, so staff recognize phishing, report suspicious emails and protect devices and credentials.
06
Implement extensive audit controls
Log access, sharing and changes to ePHI, review logs regularly and keep them for at least six years per HIPAA. Analytics tools can flag anomalies.
07
Use data encryption
Encrypt ePHI at rest and in transit, require encryption on employee devices, and move ePHI only to encrypted USB drives or cloud storage.
08
Choose third-party vendors wisely
Vet vendors before granting access, define security and breach responsibilities in business associate agreements, and monitor ongoing vendor activity.
09
Monitor for advanced threats
AI-based monitoring watches access patterns to patient data and flags suspicious connections or behavior early, beyond what firewalls and antivirus catch.
10
Develop a strong incident response plan
Define roles, communication, investigation, recovery and mitigation, then practice it. Report breaches promptly to HHS and notify affected patients.
Sounds complicated? We can help.
Enterprise-level security, so you can focus on patients.
Golden Hills IT is a fully managed IT services provider for healthcare organizations throughout California. We keep your network, systems and patient data secure while optimizing your IT operations, so your team can concentrate on delivering quality care.
Related: managed IT services · healthcare districts & special districts · healthcare district case study
✓ assess systems for vulnerabilities
✓ layered defenses: IPS, EDR, firewalls, encryption
✓ 24/7 monitoring & alerting
✓ compliance, patches, backups, phishing sims
✓ HIPAA security officer for covered entities
✓ vendor risk assessments
Free consultations, anytime.
$ schedule --call --15min
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