Tech Peculiarities of Medical Information’s Privacy Enhancing

The healthcare industry, despite its essential role in society, remains highly vulnerable to cyberattacks due to insufficient cybersecurity budgets and expertise compared to technology companies. In 2023 alone, 116 million people in the U.S. were affected by data breaches, with 30% of all hacks targeting healthcare organizations, particularly operating clinics. This alarming situation raises the question of whether healthcare facilities can effectively safeguard patient data and protect themselves from cybercriminals.

Umal Nanumura, lead systems security engineer at VGO Holdings, a major online e-commerce marketplace in Sri Lanka, sheds light on the state of cybersecurity in healthcare. He emphasizes that the increasing frequency of hacker attacks on medical IT infrastructure is not coincidental but rather a growing trend, with successful breaches escalating since 2013. Nanumura points out that as medicine becomes more digitalized, the risks increase, especially with the introduction of electronic medical records and the automation of hospital services. While these advancements speed up processes, they also introduce new vulnerabilities, potentially exposing sensitive patient information to exploitation.

A key aspect of the cybersecurity challenge lies in the use of advanced technologies in healthcare. For instance, robotics, such as the Da Vinci surgical system, is becoming more autonomous, with devices interacting via IoT (Internet of Things). This interconnectivity increases the risk of data breaches, as the data exchanged between these systems can be intercepted by hackers. Such incidents could lead to catastrophic consequences, including terrorist attacks if critical systems are compromised.

Nanumura points to a significant example from 2022, when Shields clinic chain suffered a data breach that exposed the personal and medical information of 2 million Americans. This data was subsequently used for phishing, social engineering, and even theft. The incident underscored the potential for severe damage when medical records are hacked, including financial fraud and career-impacting information leaks.

Addressing the question of whether healthcare facilities can be protected against skilled cybercriminals, Nanumura believes that with the right measures, it is possible. He outlines two critical technical challenges healthcare organizations must address: data encryption and data access. Unauthorized access remains the most common cause of data breaches, and Nanumura highlights the need for diverse encryption methods to safeguard data effectively. He advocates for combining multiple cryptographic approaches, including homomorphic encryption, secure multi-party computation, and attribute-based encryption. Each method has strengths that, when used together, can create a robust security architecture.

Furthermore, Nanumura emphasizes that moving IT systems to the cloud could enhance security. Cloud systems, supported by professional cloud providers, are inherently harder to attack, offering better protection for sensitive data. He also discusses the role of machine learning in identifying vulnerabilities and improving the overall resilience of healthcare IT infrastructures.

However, encryption alone is not enough. Nanumura stresses the importance of data access control, recommending a granular approach to access management, which restricts data at the operating system level. In addition to technical solutions, he underscores the need for proper management practices, highlighting the role of human factors in cybersecurity. Staff must be trained to handle electronic records securely, using anonymized data to reduce the risk of leaks. Audits and adherence to international standards for information security management systems (ISMS) are also crucial in maintaining cybersecurity.

Nanumura also identifies several threats emerging from healthcare’s digital transformation. One major concern is the decryption of internet traffic, where outdated encryption protocols can be easily compromised using advanced hacker tools. To counter this, he advises combining encryption techniques and staying updated on new threats in the hacker community.

Internal threats, particularly from employees, are another pressing issue. Nanumura notes that many breaches occur not due to technological failures but because of negligence or malicious actions by staff. Proper auditing and transparent business processes can help mitigate these risks, ensuring that security procedures are followed in practice, not just on paper.

In conclusion, while the healthcare industry faces numerous cybersecurity challenges, Nanumura believes that with a combination of cutting-edge encryption methods, strict access control, cloud infrastructure, and vigilant management practices, it is possible to significantly reduce the risk of cyberattacks. The integration of technology and human oversight remains key to securing sensitive healthcare data in an increasingly digital world.

Buddhima Sandaruwani is a passionate and skilled website article writer with a sharp eye for detail and a talent for creating compelling content. With a strong background in journalism and digital marketing, Buddhima offers a fresh approach to each project, ensuring that every article connects with its audience. Her commitment to producing top-notch, insightful, and engaging pieces has established her as a trusted voice in the field. When not writing, Buddhima enjoys diving into new subjects and staying on top of emerging trends in the world of content creation.

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