HEALTHCARE DATA

SECURITY, PRIVACY AND

COMPLIANCE
Introduction to
Healthcare Data
 Healthcare organizations face numerous
challenges in protecting sensitive patient
information. With the increasing use of
Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
 Healthcare data: Medical records, patient
information, insurance details, etc.
 Healthcare data security focuses on
protecting the data, computers, and
networks that healthcare providers and
companies use.
Seven Risk Factors Associated with
Healthcare Data Security

 1. Use of Outdated/Legacy Systems:

Outdated systems often have security
vulnerabilities that can’t be patched. This is
because the manufacturer may have stopped
supporting the system and therefore,
discontinued its security updates.
 2. Email Scams with Malware: Because
healthcare organizations often have many
employees, attackers send malware through
email, hoping at least one person installs it on
their computer. Malware can then be spread
throughout the rest of the network.
Cont…
 3. Internal Employees, Contractors, Vendors,
etc.: Healthcare organizations often have a very
diverse mix of people that work for them.
Employees, contractors, and vendors are often
given access to the healthcare company’s
network.
 4. Unsecure or Poor Wireless Network: Many
healthcare organizations, such as hospitals and
clinics, may provide access to wireless
networks for patients and visitors. Because these
access points may not have adequate security,
they are often attractive targets for hackers.
Cont…
 5. Lack of Strong Passwords: In many
organizations, employees may use weak passwords,
such as those that they use for other accounts. This
makes it easy for hackers to guess employee
credentials and then use them to penetrate the
network. Eg: using Brute-force attack
 6. Lack of Training in Data Security Practices:
When a healthcare organization has hundreds or
thousands of employees, it can be hard to make
sure they all understand data security best
practices. Also, because turnover at some
healthcare organizations can be relatively high, it’s
very difficult to make sure everyone exercises
proper cyber hygiene.
 7. Failure to Always Keep Data
Secure: Often, healthcare companies
need to send data across campuses,
between doctors, and to insurance
companies. While they transmit this
information, they may not always use
secure transmission technology, such as
data encryption etc.
Common Data Security Threats in
Healthcare

 List common threats to healthcare data

security:
 Cyberattacks: Ransomware, malware,
phishing
 Insider Threats: Employees misusing
access
 Physical Theft: Loss or theft of devices
 Human Error: Accidental data exposure
HIPAA
 Healthcare data security focuses on protecting
the data, computers, and networks that
healthcare providers and companies use. One
of the most important driving factors pushing
healthcare data security is Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
regulations used in US.
 Data security in healthcare, in many ways,
revolves around HIPAA. HIPAA outlines the
tools and techniques IT teams need to put in
place to protect healthcare data. It also details
how healthcare providers need to control who
sees sensitive patient data.
HIPAA - Key Components
 Overview of HIPAA's main components:
 Privacy Rule: Governs how PHI (Protected
Health Information) is used and disclosed
 Security Rule: Establishes security
standards for electronic PHI
 Breach Notification Rule: Requires
notifications in the event of data breaches
Key Regulations in Healthcare Data
Security

 List and briefly describe major

regulations:
 HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act): US regulation for data
privacy and security
 HITECH (Health Information Technology for
Economic and Clinical Health): Extends
HIPAA with more stringent rules
 GDPR (General Data Protection
Regulation): EU regulation affecting
healthcare data security for EU citizens
Privacy and Patient Rights

 Discuss patient rights regarding data

privacy:
 Right to access their own records
 Right to request corrections (basic details)
 Right to know how their data is used and
shared
 The health records associated with Health
IDs or ABHA numbers can only be accessed
with the informed consent of the individual.
Also data healthcare data can be recorded
or transmitted only by the consent of the
patient.
Best Practices for Healthcare Data
Security
 Provide a list of best practices for data security:
 Data Encryption: Encrypting data in transit and
at rest
 Access Controls: Limiting access to authorized
personnel
 Regular Audits: Conducting security audits and
risk assessments
 Employee Training: Educating staff on security
protocols
 Secure Disposal: Proper disposal of data and
devices
How To Secure the Data
 Back up your data. ...
 Use strong passwords and multi-factor
authentication. ...
 Be aware of your surroundings. ...
 Be wary of suspicious emails. ...
 Install anti-virus and malware protection.
...
 Protect your device when it's
unattended.
Implementing Data Security, Privacy, and
Compliance

 1. Protecting Patient Privacy : One of the primary

concerns in healthcare is maintaining confidentiality.
Compliance with healthcare data regulations ensures
that personal health information remains secure from
unauthorized access or disclosure. This helps build
trust between patients and healthcare providers
while upholding ethical standards.
 2. Preventing Data Breaches : Data breaches

have become increasingly common across industries.

In the healthcare sector, a breach can have severe
consequences as it involves highly sensitive
information such as:
1. Medical History, 2.Diagnoses & 3.Treatments
Details
 3. Meeting Regulatory Requirements :
Healthcare organizations must adhere to strict
regulations imposed by government agencies.
Failure to comply with these regulations can
result in substantial fines and damage to an
organization’s reputation.
 4. Conduct Regular Risk Assessments:
Regularly assessing potential risks within an
organization’s infrastructure and processes is
crucial for maintaining healthcare data
compliance. Identifying vulnerabilities helps
prioritize security measures and allocate
resources effectively.
 5. Develop Comprehensive Policies &
Procedures: Clear policies and
procedures should be established to
guide employees in handling sensitive
information. This includes protocols for:
1.Data Access
2.Storage
3.Transmission
4.Disposal
Also conduct Staff training programs
 6. Monitor Access Controls : Controlling access
to patient data is crucial in preventing unauthorized
disclosures or breaches. Implementing robust
authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor
authentication, ensures that only authorized
personnel can access sensitive data.

 7. Encrypt Data: Encrypting patient data both at

rest (stored) and in transit (during transmission)
adds an extra layer of security against unauthorized
access. Encryption makes it significantly more
difficult for hackers to decipher the information
even if they gain unauthorized access.
THANK
S