The use of mobile devices by medical professionals has revolutionized the delivery of health services. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the innovation, implementation and scaling of new technologies around the world—from increased demand for telehealth to applications for information gathering, communication and consultation, and patient monitoring.
The embrace of digital technologies within the healthcare sector brings numerous benefits: streamlined services, quick access to accurate patient information, easier communication, and improved patient outcomes. It has also broken down access barriers for people living with health problems in remote areas and disadvantaged communities. As healthcare organizations transform into mobile-powered businesses, more patients are becoming comfortable using their own devices to access electronic records, schedule appointments, view test results, and contact their doctor.
However, the shift to mobile comes with significant risks around patient privacy, data security, and compliance. Combined with a distributed workforce made up of employees, contractors, and third-party practitioners moving between clinics and offices, and working both on-site and remotely, healthcare organizations are finding it increasingly challenging to maintain a robust security posture. As medical providers integrate remote health services into their existing systems, having the right digital infrastructure is critical.
The security and compliance challenge
Healthcare organizations store enormous volumes of protected health information (PHI) for their patients, as well as sensitive financial records. Unfortunately, this makes them a prime target for cybercriminals, who can use this high value data to commit fraud, identity theft, blackmail and extortion. A data breach involving PHI can be particularly detrimental and distressing to individuals.
The rise of mobile healthcare has seen a proliferation of apps and devices designed to be effective, affordable, and convenient to both the medical facility and the patient. However, these extend the attack surface through which cybercriminals can gain unauthorized access to patient data, making healthcare organizations even more vulnerable to cyberattacks.
In 2023, the US healthcare sector experienced 725 breaches of 500 or more patient records, with more than 133 million records left exposed or disclosed without permission. Additionally, the 2023 Zimperium Global Mobile Threat Report revealed a 187% year-over-year increase in the number of compromised mobile devices.
With the increasing adoption of mobile devices for storing and transmitting electronic patient records, privacy and security protections are struggling to keep pace with the rapidly evolving cyberthreat landscape. Common techniques employed by cybercriminals include:
· Ransomware – encrypts files on a mobile device, requiring a ransom payment for decryption so the files can be accessed.
· Phishing – encourages users to click on a link or attachment sent by email or text message, which downloads malware onto the mobile device.
· Man-in-the-middle attacks – intercept data transfers or network communication to steal private information.
Taking a mobile-first approach
In response to the security and compliance challenges associated with mobile and BYOD healthcare delivery, organizations must implement mobile-first strategies. HIPAA has established rules for securing patients’ protected health information (PHI) which cover all mobile, virtual, and telehealth services. These mandate that healthcare organizations use technology that is HIPAA-compliant, and enter into HIPAA business associate agreements in relation to the provision of video/remote communication products.
It’s crucial that healthcare providers know which technologies comply with HIPAA standards; for example, only some cloud-based storage services are compliant and therefore suitable for storing or exchanging patient information. Social media and chatting apps are largely not compliant, so it’s best to seek out specialized apps developed for the delivery of telehealth under HIPAA rules—such as Mobile MIM for sharing medical images, Doximity for social networking among doctors, and HanDBase which tracks hospitalized patients on mobile devices.
Taking a proactive approach to security will enable healthcare organizations to quickly identify and respond to suspicious activity, helping keep patient data safe. As a first step, it’s important to carry out a comprehensive risk assessment to identify and address vulnerabilities, embedding security across all mobile devices and applications. Applying systems that can automatically isolate any compromised devices will help create a strong security posture. Organizations should also stay up to date with regulations and data privacy standards to ensure ongoing compliance.
The role of print management
Amid these cybersecurity challenges and a heavily regulated healthcare environment, remote printing poses an additional threat not only to HIPAA compliance but to patient privacy. Traditional networked print systems may not be able to keep up with the security requirements of a distributed print environment with medical staff working remotely from mobile devices. As the print job travels from one site to another, data can be exposed to breaches or interception by cybercriminals.
The key to secure remote printing is leveraging a centralized print solution that can be managed from a single console, regardless of the number of mobile devices and locations in play. This enables location-based printing so that printers are assigned according to where the user is—ensuring that their print job is sent to the right printer and data remains private. With mobile printing capabilities, healthcare professionals can print patient records, consent forms, and other confidential documents directly from their smartphones and tablets, utilizing secure cloud-based services.
A further safeguard is secure print release, which requires the individual to authenticate themselves at the printer using a PIN code or badge, preventing the printed document from being picked up by the wrong person. The print management solution can also be integrated with virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), such as Citrix, Microsoft and VMware. This provides an added layer of security by encrypting data as it travels from its source to destination, so that it remains private within the network. Integrating fax capabilities with the print management solution also allows healthcare providers to securely transmit patient data.
But the most significant role that print management can play in enhancing a healthcare organization’s cybersecurity posture is through monitoring and tracking all printing activities across devices, locations, and users, delivering full visibility into the print environment. With healthcare IT infrastructure more vulnerable than ever, a centralized print management solution ensures that all data remains private and secure, whether staff are working on-site or remotely—providing total confidence to healthcare professionals, organizations, and their patients.
Mat Buttrey
Mat Buttrey is Senior Product Manager & Strategic Lead - Healthcare at PaperCut.
