In the era of technology, the medical industry has made significant efforts to improve patient care by integrating technology. On one hand, devices such as electronic health records (EHRs) and other technical advancements like AI have improved healthcare delivery. While, on the other hand, this change in the system makes it prone to cyber crimes and threats. One such threat that questions the digital healthcare process is data breaches. In recent years, data breaches in healthcare have become a major concern, as the sensitive information of patients is at risk. Data breaches have been putting a serious question on cybersecurity in the industry. In this blog, we will explore the threat of data breaches in healthcare while looking at some examples of the past, discuss its impact on patient care, and learn about a few best practices to safeguard data.

Understanding Data Breaches in Healthcare

A data breach can be termed as a lapse in cybersecurity that enables unauthorized individuals to gain access to confidential information. This information can then be misused for theft or can be disclosed to the public. In the healthcare sector, the data consists of information such as patients’ names, addresses, medical histories, and even financial details. If a data breach occurs, it can compromise the privacy of patients, leading to the disclosure of healthcare information. The availability of financial details can lead to financial fraud in terms of false insurance claims or many others. As per the survey, the data generated from the healthcare industry is of higher value when compared to other industries. Thus, any lapse in cybersecurity in a healthcare center can affect patients, stakeholders, and the organization as a whole.

Historical Examples of Healthcare Data Breaches

Anthem Inc. (2015)

In 2015, Anthem Inc., one of the largest insurance companies in the United States, suffered a cyber attack leading to the theft of millions of records. These records consist of the personal information of nearly 78.8 million individuals. The cyberattack was not limited to the central server but also reached its extended brands. The exposed data included names, social security numbers, addresses, and employment information. This breach led the industry to look after the vulnerability of healthcare organizations to cyber threats.

Community Health System Inc. (2014)

Using powerful malware, hackers were able to steal patients’ data affecting individuals who received treatment in the last 5 years, from facilities affiliated with the community. The information consists of names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, phone numbers, and addresses. The major learning from the breach adopted by the healthcare industry is the segmentation of networks to protect other servers from getting affected.

Advocate Health Care (2013)

In 2013, Advocate Health Care became a victim of a data breach when four of its computer storage were attacked and unencrypted medical data of 4.04 million patients were stolen. The stolen data included patients’ names, addresses, DOBs, credit card numbers, demographic information, clinical information, and health insurance information. The organization failed to take the most basic cybersecurity protocol of HIPAA affecting the data security of the patients.

The Impact on Patient Trust

Beyond the immediate consequences of compromised data, healthcare data breaches can impact the trust between patients and healthcare providers. Health data is one of the most private data for an individual and a patient trusts the organization to keep the data secure. Breaches can break the trust of the patients and they may develop a reluctance to share crucial health information which can affect the treatment. Restoring the trust can be a major challenge for the organizations and may require a lot of time and effort.

The Evolving Landscape of Cybersecurity in Healthcare

The cyber threats in the healthcare sector have made the sector recognize the need for strong cybersecurity. As technology advances, the methods used by cybercriminals also evolve. Healthcare organizations must stay ahead of these threats by taking up strong cybersecurity measures. Centers should conduct regular risk assessments and invest in employee training to enhance awareness of potential threats.

Best Practices for Mitigating Healthcare Data Breaches

Encryption and Access Controls:

Healthcare centers should implement robust encryption protocols for stored and transmitted data. They must establish strict access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive information.

Regular Security Audits:

Organizations should conduct regular security checks and assess cybersecurity so they can identify and address all the loops in the system. Most of the time cyber criminals take advantage of these loopholes to attack the system.

Employee Training:

Educating the healthcare staff on cybersecurity best practices is one of the most important steps towards preventing cyber attacks. Staff should be aware of the risks involved while using technology. Sometimes a small mistake of clicking a malicious link can risk the whole server of the organization.

Incident Response Plans:

Institutes should be well prepared with a response plan in case they face an indecent of cyberattacks. Developing and updating incident response plans is essential for a healthcare center to curb the attack at its onset. A well-prepared response can help the organization to reduce the impact of the cyberattack and avoid its spread over other networks.

Conclusion

The dependency of the healthcare industry on technology has increased over the years. Thus, increasing the risk of cyberattacks such as data breaches and ransomware. Healthcare organizations should learn from past examples of breaches and analyze their system to avoid the same. By adopting best practices and building a strong cybersecurity system, healthcare organizations can reduce the risks and protect the privacy of patient information. In the ever-developing era, the healthcare sector cannot reduce its dependency on technology but can work on building a strong defense against cyber threats.

Talk to our experts and find out more about the latest cybersecurity software. You can find how DIBS team can help to find customized solutions to keep a check on your digital healthcare system for any cyber threats like data breaches.