In 2017, hackers infiltrated 477 United States health care data networks compromising 5.6 million patient medical records. In one instance, a single employee responded to a cybercriminal’s phishing exploit, unwittingly exposing 15,000 electronic health records (EHRs). Many care providers have adopted new technology to manage patient information better and improve the quality of medical services. However, advanced record-keeping technologies come with the risk of exposing patient data to cyberattacks, many of which have taken place without attracting the attention of the media.
The skill and cunning of hackers evolve in tandem with the latest technological innovations. One memorable breech was a cyberattack in 2015 targeting Anthem Insurance, in which hackers made off with 37 million EHRs that contained sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers, names, birthdates, home addresses, email addresses and personal incomes. Hackers sell these details for as much as $500 per record. The individuals who buy the records use it to buy resalable items such as medical equipment or pharmaceuticals or to file false insurance claims.
Protecting Patients by Complying With HIPPA Regulations
Legislators passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) to protect patients’ private medical data from various threats, such as identity theft, spamming, hacking and other crimes. Cybersecurity specialists play an essential role in helping care provider organisations maintain network integrity, comply with HIPPA regulations and protect patient confidentiality in a world that grows more connected each day. The growing threat posed by cybercriminals has prompted healthcare organisations around the world to spend more on data security and seek highly qualified IT talent. As technology improves and the threat to patient information increases, the demand for cybersecurity experts who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher will continue to rise.
With new health and medical devices connecting to the Internet of Things (IoT) daily, the need for data security has never been greater. Today, healthcare organisations must remove information from data shared for medical research, or other reasons, that can be used to identify patients to comply with HIPPA’s Privacy Rule. To do this, healthcare organisations employ cybersecurity specialists who make sure that shared medical information is anonymous and encrypted. Cybersecurity specialists are experts at ensuring that the very data targeted by cyberattacks remain guarded and confidential. This work is markedly complex in a world where researchers must analyze massive stores of information using big data technologies.
The Growing Importance of Data Security
The size, rapid growth and diversity of health care information make it a challenge to keep EHRs safe for big data evaluation. Fortunately, leaders in the cybersecurity field have developed standard best practices for using big data resources to research medical information. The standards are vital for protecting the information coveted by cyber attackers.
Cybersecurity experts also use big data resources to identify and isolate network threats. The technology is the foundation of most tools used to protect the integrity of patient data. Anti-virus, network protection and firewall programs use big data to collect and analyse information about cyber attacks. The information helps security program vendors to identify known threats, as well as patterns that indicate malicious activities. The firms also use advanced technologies, such as machine learning, to pinpoint new and unknown attack methods.
At this stage in evolution, society cannot escape its dependence on information technology. The need to protect sensitive data will continue as long as this persists. Amazingly, a recent poll of 4,100 enterprises revealed that 70-percent of the organisations don’t have a contingency plan for cyberattacks. The firms reported that they have the resources to purchase what was needed to secure their networks, but cannot find trained specialists to deploy the measures. This kind of industry feedback reinforces the fact that there’s a strong demand for highly trained cybersecurity specialists.
Some analysts forecast that consumers will connect 200 billion devices to the Internet of Things (IoT) by 2020. Innovations in health care technology emerge continuously and fuel the demand for qualified cyber security experts. A range of health care service providers, from hospitals to insurers, need skilled and knowledgeable information technology specialists to keep patient information networks secure. Institutions and enterprises reward technology experts handsomely. Computer and information researchers take home approximately $111,840 annually, information security analysts earn $92,600 each year and computer systems analysts earn around $87,220 yearly. Technology is expanding faster than the IT talent pool needed to service the programs and devices used in the health care field, making cybersecurity the path to a satisfying and rewarding career for those who chose to accept the challenge.
