Cybersecurity in the healthcare sector presents an ongoing challenge for industry professionals. Hacking incidents have increased at a steady rate since 2016, and the spike between 2017 and 2018 was startling on its own. The total number of exposed records nearly tripled from 5,579,438 to 15,085,302.
As these cyberattacks continue to jeopardize the personal information of patients, the subject of cybersecurity has received greater attention. Professionals in health information management have taken on more responsibilities, shifting in their role as they work in coordination with their organization’s IT department.
Unfortunately, we have few simple solutions to the problem. Cybercriminals grow more sophisticated with each passing year, refining their former techniques as they adapt and improve. They’ve developed new methods to bypass the security of modern organizations and collect the sensitive data of vulnerable people.
As context, we’ve seen more than one breach per day every year since 2016, and experts predict this trend will continue through 2019. So how can healthcare organizations protect their patients from the threat of malicious hackers? How have we made progress in cybersecurity, and where are we going next?
Progress in Cybersecurity
As mentioned earlier, professionals in health information management now coordinate with the IT department. They’ve adopted a range of responsibilities, not only for cybersecurity concerns but for compliance with HIPAA regulations. HIPAA requires an organization to have both a privacy officer or a security officer.
HIM professionals often serve as privacy officers, working alongside a security officer in IT to strengthen an organization’s cybersecurity. A HIM professional’s grasp on HIPAA compliance and the technical experience of their IT counterpart are an effective combination. The situation is slightly more complex, however.
Something as simple as an emergency generator is crucial to security. The energy requirements of a healthcare facility are immense, drawing on a significant amount of power. Hospitals only account for less than 1% of all commercial buildings but consume 4.3% of total delivered energy in the commercial sector.
Fortunately, hospitals have prepared for these issues, addressing similar problems with other best practices for cybersecurity. They’ve employed systems for data loss prevention, data encryption and access control. Different techniques, like automatic software updates, are also common in healthcare organizations.
Threats to Cybersecurity
The Internet of Things will improve the patient experience in a diverse variety of ways. It will aid in the adjustment of “smart beds,” provide assistance for paralyzed individuals and keep track of seniors with dementia. IoT will change the healthcare industry for the better, but it will also create additional risks.
Healthcare organizations need to exercise caution with the integration of IoT devices. They represent a potential vulnerability without proper management ” another system that continuously collects information from patients. IoT designers will also have to participate in securing these technologies against hackers.
Then again, the complications associated with IoT devices aren’t likely to remain a persistent problem. The application of IoT technologies will provide a wide range of development opportunities for healthcare organizations, helping to address certain difficulties. That’s not to say cybersecurity is a non-issue.
To provide perspective, hacking incidents in healthcare accounted for 44.22% of all tracked breaches in 2018. That percentage might increase if healthcare and IT professionals don’t take measures to reinforce the cybersecurity of their organizations. Until they do, cybercriminals will continue to steal information.
Moving Toward the Next Decade
Healthcare organizations can and should improve their standards for cybersecurity. Whether they invest in new technologies or more effectively manage their existing systems, they’ll protect the personal information of their patients against cybercriminals. It’s an important responsibility they can’t afford to neglect.
As we move toward the coming decade, these obligations will likely place increasing pressure on healthcare facilities. Cybercriminals will change and expand on their current strategies. Even so, professionals in the healthcare industry can adopt new solutions to ensure the security of those they serve.
