5 Ways To Minimize A Healthcare Data Breach

Updated on September 8, 2022

Healthcare data breaches are a severe problem. They can expose sensitive patient information, cause financial damage to healthcare organizations, and erode public trust in the healthcare system. While it’s impossible to eliminate the risk of a healthcare data breach, there are steps that healthcare organizations can take to minimize the likelihood of a breach occurring. For example, Keyfactor is a leading secure digital identity management solution that helps manage and keep your digital certificates safe.

Review Your Current Security Measures

The first step in minimizing the risk of a healthcare data breach is to review your current security measures. Are your security measures adequate? Do they comply with industry standards and best practices? If not, make the necessary changes. 

Educate Your Staff About Data Security

The first step in educating your staff about data security is to ensure that you have a clear and concise policy. This policy should outline what data types are considered sensitive and what precautions employees need to take to protect this information. Once you have a policy in place, you need to ensure that all employees know and understand it. The best way to do this is to hold regular training sessions on data security. 

During these training sessions, you should review the company’s data security policy and emphasize the importance of following it. You should also provide employees with practical tips on how they can protect sensitive information. For example, you might suggest they use strong passwords and never share them with anyone else. You should also remind employees not to open emails from unknown senders or click on links from unfamiliar websites. 

Evaluate Your Vendors And Business Partners

Find out if they have an incident response plan in place. If a data breach or other security incident occurs, your vendor must have a plan in place to contain the situation and minimize the damage quickly. Ask about their procedures for handling an incident and what type of support they can provide if something does happen. 

Request information on their data encryption methods. If your vendor stores any of your data on their servers, it should be encrypted to prevent unauthorized access. They should also have strict access control measures in place to ensure that only authorized personnel can view this data. 

Also, Determine whether they have insurance coverage for cyber-related incidents. This is important in case of a major data breach that results in significant financial damages. You’ll want to ensure that your vendor is fully insured if something happens. 

Implement Strong Access Control Measures

There are two main types of access control measures: physical and digital. 

Physical

Physical access control measures involve using locks, keys, CCTV, and other physical security devices to restrict access to premises or areas. For example, you may install an alarm system to deter criminals or put up fencing and gates to block entry to your property physically. 

Digital

Digital access control measures involve using passwords, PINs, biometrics, and other electronic means to restrict access to data or systems, like Keyfactor. For example, you may encrypt your data so it can only be accessed with a password or use two-factor authentication to require both a password and a fingerprint to log into your account. 

Create A Robust Incident Response Plan

Finally, ensure you have a robust incident response plan in case of a data breach. This plan should include steps for containment, remediation, and recovery. It should also include notification and communication procedures in case of an infringement. 

Final Thoughts

These are just a few steps to minimize the risk of a healthcare data breach. These steps can help protect patient information, reduce financial damage, and restore public trust in the healthcare system.

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The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.