When compared to other industries, healthcare has remained quite reluctant to digitalization. However, as technology evolves, cloud computing has become vital in streamlining operations and enhancing data accessibility. On the flip side, this also introduces various security concerns that demand attention.
This comprehensive guide delves into the importance of robust cloud security in healthcare. It provides valuable insights to safeguard sensitive patient information, maintain regulatory compliance, and fortify the industry against evolving threats. Join us as we explore all the essential information regarding cloud security in healthcare.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare industry experienced a heightened demand for improved and more modern services. Distributed care and telemedicine pushed healthcare organizations to move to cloud computing, meaning data security had to be considered. The problem is that the same techniques that were valid for data security on-premises don't translate well into externally kept data.
Some of the challenges facing the healthcare industry transitioning to cloud infrastructure included:
Generally, healthcare organizations want to move to cloud computing to make their services more effective while avoiding unnecessary or unmanaged risks. As patient data is one of the most sensitive data types, ensuring robust security measures is a top priority.
Healthcare providers (and, by extension, most industries) rely on three main types of cloud computing services. This includes Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).
Infrastructure-as-a-Service provides virtualized computing resources as services over the internet. In IaaS, the service provider manages and delivers all associated hardware and software components: servers, storage, networking, and virtualization resources. With IaaS, users can provision and control these resources on-demand, scaling them up or down as needed.
Aside from the fact that cloud computing makes it easier to deploy workloads, IaaS has a range of benefits that could be useful for healthcare companies.
IaaS security is shared between the service provider and the user. While the service provider is responsible for managing underlying networking, storage, servers, and virtualization, the user is responsible for managing the security of everything running on top of the infrastructure. This involves operating systems, middleware, data, and applications. This setup is not without cybersecurity challenges.
For these reasons, IaaS provider selection is crucial to avoid collateral damage. Implementing multi-factor authentication, regular vulnerability assessments, and proactive monitoring can enhance security.
Platform-as-a-Service includes everything from IaaS with a dedicated environment for developing, deploying, and managing applications over the internet. It offers tools, frameworks, and services that enable developers to build, test, and run applications. Much like a physical data centre, PaaS providers handle hardware provisioning, operating system management, and network setup, allowing developers to focus solely on application development.
With PaaS, healthcare providers get a platform for developing, testing and deploying applications in the cloud. Here are its main benefits:
When adopting PaaS, organizations need to be wary of its security challenges. Here are some examples:
Software-as-a-Service is a cloud computing model in which hosted software is delivered over the internet instead of installed on local premises. In this model, the software is centrally hosted by a provider who manages and maintains the underlying infrastructure, database, and updates. Users only pay a subscription fee to access and use the software on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Many healthcare-related applications are delivered via SaaS, including healthcare picture archiving and communication systems (PACs), electronic health records (EHR), telehealth services, and more.
With SaaS, healthcare organizations are provided with the service directly without the need to handle setup and maintenance. Here are its main benefits:
The problem is that SaaS brings healthcare organizations not only benefits. It does have some security challenges that need to be addressed by IT personnel.
Regulatory landscape and compliance are critical considerations for organizations across various industries. Most countries have recently implemented various data protection and cybersecurity laws. The government regulates the privacy protection of medical data, and breaching the law ensues grave consequences.
Here are some prominent regulations, guidelines that could impact cloud security, and strategies for ensuring compliance.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act are crucial regulations in the healthcare industry. They both perform different functions:
HIPAA — sets standards for protecting sensitive patient health information
HITECH — promotes the adoption of electronic health records
Compliance with both is essential when leveraging cloud computing services in the healthcare sector. Organizations need to take care of security measures like data encryption, access controls, and regular audits to safeguard patient data and meet the requirements outlined in these regulations.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a comprehensive data protection framework that affects organizations operating in European Union countries or handling EU citizen data. It emphasizes individual privacy rights, consent management, and data breach notification.
Cloud service providers and organizations utilizing cloud computing services must comply with GDPR by implementing appropriate security measures, conducting data protection impact assessments, and ensuring cross-border data transfers adhere to GDPR guidelines. Encryption, pseudonymization, and privacy-by-design principles are critical for achieving compliance with GDPR in cloud computing.
Besides HIPAA, HITECH, and GDPR, other regional regulations and guidelines affect cloud security in specific industries or locations. NIS2 considers the health sector an essential entity, requiring strong cybersecurity measures. SOC reports are also important for healthcare, as healthcare IT organizations use SOC 2 reports to evaluate cloud partners and utilize cloud technologies. Other examples include the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) for the payment card industry and the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) for U.S. government agencies.
Compliance with these regulations requires organizations to align their cloud security practices with specific requirements. Depending on the regulation and area, this may include data encryption, access controls, vulnerability management, and incident response protocols. Staying informed about relevant regional regulations is crucial to ensure compliance and avoid potential penalties or reputational damage.
As it was mentioned previously, cloud services adoption would involve collaboration with third parties. Here are some key considerations of security responsibilities between the cloud service provider and the customer:
A thorough vendor risk assessment helps to make sure that a cloud provider will be a matching fit for a healthcare organization's needs. The cloud service provider's market is saturated, but not everyone has compliant security controls, certifications, incident response capabilities, and data protection practices. The same strict requirements for healthcare organizations also apply to their third-party partners.
By assessing vendor risks, organizations can make informed decisions and select providers aligning with their security requirements and compliance obligations. Provider's failure to secure the underlying infrastructure can open the gap in the security set up by the healthcare provider.
The shared responsibility model defines the division of security responsibilities between cloud service providers and customers. While providers are responsible for securing the underlying infrastructure, customers are accountable for securing their data and applications within the cloud.
Organizations must understand and fulfill their share of responsibilities, which may involve tasks such as configuring access controls, encrypting sensitive data, applying patches and updates, and regularly monitoring for security incidents.
While cloud computing is appealing to make operations more modern and effective, the downside is the potential cybersecurity risks. Protecting patient data and meeting compliance demands need strong healthcare cybersecurity solutions. They are essential to secure sensitive information and ensure regulatory compliance. There are three main cloud security strategies and solutions to consider.
Advanced threat prevention is one of the key cloud security strategies for healthcare. It involves deploying sophisticated security measures to identify and mitigate potential threats before they cause any damage. Relying on technologies like machine learning algorithms, behavior analysis, Deep Packet Inspection, and real-time monitoring, organizations aim to detect and respond to suspicious activities.
As a proactive approach to cybersecurity, advanced threat monitoring allows healthcare organizations to identify and effectively neutralize threats. This helps businesses to reduce the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to patient information.
Monitoring is critical in ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of healthcare data stored in the cloud. By providing continuous oversight and proactive detection of potential security breaches or unauthorized access attempts, monitoring enables organizations to secure against security incidents promptly.
In addition, by leveraging cloud-based security tools, healthcare organizations can centralize security operations, streamline incident response, and gain insights into potential vulnerabilities. The systems can be automated, helping organizations detect and mitigate security breaches on time and enhancing overall security posture without human involvement.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the adoption of remote work in the healthcare sector accelerated. Secure remote access became critical as healthcare professionals needed to access patient data and collaborate remotely.
Cloud security solutions enable secure sensitive data storage, ensuring healthcare providers can work efficiently while adhering to strict security protocols. Implementing secure virtual private networks (or Cloud based VPNs), multi-factor authentication, and encryption technologies safeguard data transmission and prevent unauthorized access, mitigating risks associated with remote work.
Cloud security not only performs the function of safeguarding patient data, it also empowers healthcare organizations to embrace new capabilities and innovate. Here are some routes in which cloud security can facilitate advancements.
Ransomware attacks use malware that encrypts data stored in the device's hard drive rendering it inaccessible until a payment is made to the attacker. This is extremely disruptive to organizations relying on on-premises infrastructure as this can completely shut down all operations and compromise patient data.
The only solution to this issue is data replication in multiple dispersed locations. That way, there's no centralized storage that could be tampered with. In an accident, data can be restored from unaffected backups, minimizing downtime and ensuring continuity of care. Cloud servers enable effective mirroring solutions allowing distributed backups.
Cloud security can catalyze operations outsourcing, allowing better work distribution in your organization. Managing and maintaining robust cloud security infrastructure requires specialized expertise. That's one of the key reasons why many healthcare organizations delegate their security responsibilities to reputable third-party vendors.
Cloud computing partners already possess the knowledge and resources to implement industry best practices, conduct regular security assessments, and respond to emerging threats promptly. This allows organizations to enhance the cloud security posture and focus on quality patient care.
Cloud security can be improved by adopting various innovations to improve the setup. By automating vulnerability scanning, log analysis, and security policy enforcement, healthcare providers can free up their workforce from manual and time-consuming tasks.
Automation improves efficiency, reduces the risk of human error, and ensures consistent application of security controls. As IT professionals aren't burdened with recurring manual tasks. This leaves them more time to focus on advanced security measures and stay updated with evolving threats.
Several organizations provide expert insights and resources for healthcare cloud security. Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are the main ones providing various recommendations for cloud security in healthcare companies.
CSA has established requirements for healthcare organizations to ensure secure cloud computing practices. These requirements mainly focus on several key areas:
By adhering to these CSA requirements, healthcare organizations can enhance the security of their cloud computing environments and protect patient information from unauthorized access or data breaches.
ENISA lays out comprehensive requirements for healthcare organizations in the European Union to enhance their cybersecurity measures. These requirements encompass multiple aspects of cloud security:
Adherence to these ENISA requirements is vital to safeguarding patient data, protecting critical healthcare systems, and maintaining the resilience and trustworthiness of healthcare services within the EU.
NIST provides guidelines and requirements and guidelines for healthcare organizations to ensure the security and privacy of patient information. These requirements include:
Healthcare companies must review and adapt these recommendations to their organizational needs and regulatory requirements.
Securing cloud infrastructure can be challenging for healthcare companies. Still, the benefits outweigh the risks, so it's worth considering digitally transforming an organization and improving its services. It's not a bad idea to turn to third-party partners that could help to take a leap.
NordLayer streamlines network access controls to ensure only authorized users can access confidential data. Access to cloud resources happens using encrypted tunnels using AES 256-bit and ChaCha20 cyphers. The service is also compatible with major cloud platforms like Entra ID (former Azure AD) and AWS, allowing seamless integration with other solutions and services.
With correct control mechanisms, NordLayer is a valuable ally to follow through with the best cloud environment security practices. With an extensive set of centrally implemented features and monitoring controls that are all managed via the Control Panel, NordLayer allows the implementation of security policies reducing various risks.
Contact NordLayer and discuss your security options today to ensure safe access to patient data and protect your cloud infrastructure.
Healthcare organizations can ensure compliance in the cloud by understanding applicable regulations. Familiarizing with regulations like HIPAA and GDPR will allow organizations to identify specific compliance requirements. This will serve as a basis for cloud provider choice and guide what access controls and other cybersecurity functionalities must be implemented to align with requirements.
Cloud security is an umbrella term encompassing various technologies to protect data and systems in the cloud. This includes encryption, access controls, firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, security information and event management, and data loss prevention.
The shared responsibility model defines the division of security responsibilities between the cloud service provider (CSP) and the healthcare organization. While the specifics entirely depend on the cloud service model, the cloud service provider usually takes care of the underlying cloud infrastructure. At the same time, the healthcare organization is responsible for application data security and access control.
To mitigate third-party risks, healthcare organizations must establish clear contractual agreements outlining security expectations, data handling procedures, breach notification requirements, and liability provisions. Then, a good plan is to perform ongoing maintenance with regular risk assessments. This should help organizations minimize risks associated with third parties.
Joanna Krysińska
Senior Copywriter
A writer, tech enthusiast, dog walker, and amateur pastry chef, Joanna grew up in a family of engineers and mathematicians, so a techy mind is in her genes. She loves making complex tech topics less complex and digestible. She also has a keen interest in the mechanics of cybercrime.
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