Data is central to a wide range of exciting innovations in healthcare.

Wearable devices that monitor vital signs in real-time. AI to predict protein folding, which may speed drug discovery and boost scientific understanding of complex interactions happening within cells. Predictive analytics tools that can identify potential health risks.

Everywhere you look, you see data. And wherever you see data, hackers see opportunity. Healthcare data is incredibly valuable on the black market, which makes it an especially attractive target.

So not surprisingly, 2023 was the worst year for healthcare data breaches in history. There were 725 large security breaches, defined as breaches of more than 500 records. That's more than double the number of large security breaches in 2016, and more than triple the number of large security breaches in 2012.

Unfortunately, 2024 doesn't look much better. Already, more than 31 million Americans have been affected by the 10 largest breaches of health data in the first half of the year, and the full extent of the ransomware attacks on Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, and the Ascension health system is still not known.

According to recent research, the majority of healthcare professionals believe better technology investment is needed. This is not surprising, given that healthcare staff lose an average of 3.9 hours per week due to technical issues. While the industry is anxious to move forward, it's actually held back by legacy IT. Research further reveals that 31% say legacy tech means they're not able to access patient data quickly, and 36% worry it's making their networks more vulnerable to security attacks. One in four (25%) respondents confirm they cannot deploy or manage new devices, which is up from 21% in 2023. Organizations need a digital transformation roadmap that prepares them for the future, while also providing maximum data security for sensitive patient information.

What Should Organizations Do Now?

Healthcare Is on The Move. Get Your Mobile Devices Ready. With the increasing use of mobile devices in healthcare, securing these devices is critical. Mobile security is only as strong as its weakest link. With healthcare data always a target, you'll need an Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solution that gives you visibility and control over where your business-critical mobile devices are, what they're doing, how they're performing and what security or compliance risks they're facing.

Don't forget the need for strong passwords and remote wiping capabilities, too. Keep Your Systems Security and Up-To-Date. A good solution should manage devices, keeping them up to date with the latest security updates to lower risk. It should be able to deploy apps to smartphones, enroll and provision new tablets in the field, track the location of rugged devices and identify and neutralize security risks to the IoT endpoints. Since it can be impossible to support and diagnose issues without having the device in your hands, look for a diagnostic intelligence and support solution that provides organizations with the tools needed to proactively fix mobile device problems faster.

One lost device can result in a delay in critical care for a patient. It also results in increased costs for the organization as they must pay to ship a replacement device. Ensure Robust Encryption, End-To-End. Every time-sensitive healthcare data is in transit, it's possible it will be intercepted. End-to-end encryption — including when the data is at rest — is vital.

Conduct Regular Risk Assessments

Regular risk assessments help identify potential vulnerabilities and threats within the organization. By proactively addressing these risks, healthcare organizations can strengthen their security posture and prevent breaches.

The constant threat of healthcare data breaches makes it vital to establish a security-minded organizational culture, coupled with the right tools to protect sensitive patient information, ensure regulatory compliance, and maintain trust with patients and stakeholders.

The future is coming. Make sure you're ready. Are you ready to explore solutions that deliver on both fronts? Contact CareKonect Software Inc. today to learn how innovation and data security can transform your healthcare facility.