IT security in healthcare: Protecting digital identities

IT security for the healthcare sector

The process of digitization has accelerated in the wake of the pandemic as well as under the “Krankenhaus Zukunftsgesetz” (KHZG). New digital applications and services have been introduced to meet the demand for telemedicine services.

Improved networking as a result of digitization establishes faster information transfer and thus more efficient processes for diagnostic procedures and treatments. For improved internal as well as external communication procedures, clinics are also turning to modern and networked cloud applications and Software as a Service.

However, this rapid digitization is also making healthcare facilities more vulnerable to cyber-attacks, as the new digital capabilities are also creating new gateways for criminals to enter.

IT security for the healthcare sector

However, this rapid digitization is also making healthcare facilities more vulnerable to cyber-attacks, as the new digital capabilities are also creating new gateways for criminals to enter.

141

»SUCCESSFUL CYBER-ATTACKS WERE PERPETRATED ON GERMAN HIGHLY CRITICAL COMPANIES BY NOV 2020«
Source: FAZ

Include the “human factor” in the IT security strategy

In addition to digitization projects, the KHZG also focused on supporting them with IT security measures. Many hospitals have taken the opportunity to secure the newly introduced systems both technically and structurally and organizationally. However, not every institution in the healthcare sector was able to access the funding. And even those organizations that have benefited from the funding should not rest on the laurels of their IT landscape. After all, few industries are changing as rapidly as IT security.

The basis of your IT security is always the “human” factor. After all, firewalls, VPNs, and anti-virus/malware programs are no longer sufficient for the technical protection of your networked infrastructure. You also need security automation that is not limited to machines alone but focuses on people and their digital identity. Only in this way can you technically safeguard against the current dangers posed by cybercrime such as social engineering and professional (malware) spam.

Because ultimately, all it takes is one stolen and then misused employee identity to compromise the security of your IT network. With the help of the right identity and access data, further technical security measures can be bypassed in a targeted manner. That’s why you need a systemic identity and access shield that takes effect even after people have already interacted with malicious content. Or—in the worst case—has disclosed sensitive identity data of their own.

Include the “human factor” in the IT security strategy

+ 99%

»OF ALL ATTACKS REQUIRE HUMAN ASSISTANCE.«
Source: proofpoint

Securing online consultations technically

Online or video consultations, increasing use of e-mails for patient communication, the electronic patient file, connection to the telemetry network: these are just a few examples of the extent to which the healthcare sector is now networked. Increasingly, hospitals, medical practices as well as pharmacies are also relying on cloud applications for internal as well as external communication. These cloud applications are inevitably accessible via the Internet—and therefore, in principle, accessible worldwide.

This fundamental openness increases the potential danger from cyber attacks many times over. After all, just one stolen identity or compromised employee account opens a gateway to your data and systems: That’s why social engineering attacks via email or phone are on the rise to snag account or identity information.

Regardless of the size of the facility, strict access restrictions to the various infrastructure components are essential. If you can establish logical and deep access restrictions and store employee identities in a tamper-proof manner, you will also protect the components behind them from attack. Without access authorization and a digital identity card, no changes whatsoever can then be made to the system.

At the same time, protecting digital employee identities also means ensuring compliance requirements in healthcare.

Technical protection of employee identities

At the same time, protecting digital employee identities also means ensuring compliance requirements in healthcare.

36.4

»PERCENT OF 1,555 HOSPITALS SURVEYED HAD IT SECURITY VULNERABILITIES«
Source: kma-online

The 4 pillars of an Identity Protection

Identity and Access Management

A granular identity and access management with adaptive policies allows a small-scale assignment of access and usage rights to your employees and, if necessary, partners and suppliers.

Multifactor Authentication

A second factor for logging in increases security when accessing devices and applications. This is because only those who can identify themselves twice are ultimately granted access to the system.

Central password management

The introduction of a central password manager increases password security in the company. Since passwords can be retrieved on demand and your employees no longer have to remember them, they use longer and more complex passwords.

Highly secure data storage

There is data that must not be freely accessible on the company server. An encrypted storage location that is additionally secured using a second factor is suitable for this.

Identity and Access Management

A granular identity and access management with adaptive policies allows a small-scale assignment of access and usage rights to your employees and, if necessary, partners and suppliers.

Multifactor Authentication

A second factor for logging in increases security when accessing devices and applications. This is because only those who can identify themselves twice are ultimately granted access to the system.

Central password management

Highly secure data storage

There is data that must not be freely accessible on the company server. An encrypted storage location that is additionally secured using a second factor is suitable for this.

39 Sec.

»A CYBERATTACK TAKES PLACE EVERY 39 SECONDS«
Source: FAZ

DoubleClue for healthcare

IT security in healthcare after successful digitization

Secure digitization

State-of-the-art access policies for technical separation of highly sensitive areas

Medical facilities have IT areas with different criticality: While programs that do not process patient data have relatively low-security requirements, patient data, as well as medical devices, require a higher security level. A failure as a result of, for example, encryption by ransomware or a takeover of systems can therefore be life-threatening.

A deeply regulable Privileged Access Management (PAM) therefore forms the basis for compliance processes. Using different clients, you can completely separate critical and less critical areas. Adaptive access policies and highly secure multifactor authentication to both areas form a double protection barrier for your systems. Only individual employees, whose accesses are also subject to restrictive regulations such as location- and time-dependent logins, can access them. This prevents the intrusion and manipulation of patient data or devices by third parties. And forms the basis for strong cybersecurity in the medical facility environment.

Secure digitization

State-of-the-art access policies for technical separation of highly sensitive areas

Ensure business continuity

Comprehensive protection against compromise of your network by stolen account data

If part of the IT infrastructure fails, even for a short time, this significantly disrupts the workflow. The failure of machines or the absence of information can also put patients’ lives at considerable risk. An important defensive measure here is the protection of login and access data, which is directly linked to the digital identities of doctors and nurses. A centralized authentication and login process secured with multifactor authentication ensures smooth workflows. With a high level of security at the same time.

Ensure business continuity

Comprehensive protection against compromise of your network by stolen account data

Highest IT security and best performance

Highest security—best process performance

Single sign-on makes multifactor authentication a performance booster

Often, IT security measures and performance are seen as opposites. However, this is only true if they are poorly implemented in the IT landscape. A modern solution such as DoubleClue, therefore, combines maximum security for logging on to devices and applications with simplifications in everyday work. With the integrated single sign-on platform DoubleClue MyApplications, your doctors and nurses only need to log in to the DoubleClue UserPortal, protected by MFA. From there, they can switch between their services without interruption and without having to log in again. This significantly improves the workflow of doctors and nurses.

Highest security—best process performance

Single sign-on makes multifactor authentication a performance booster

Compliance and GDPR-compliant use

Use DoubleClue on-premises or in the German cloud

Cloud applications improve workflow and make license management more flexible. At the same time, the integration of cloud implementations offers new security risks for IT landscapes. For this reason, hybrid solutions often present themselves in the healthcare industry. As an operator, you can decide which less critical applications are available via the cloud. And which critical applications are better left on your own servers.

DoubleClue supports the diversity of your IT landscape – decide for yourself whether you want to host DoubleClue in the cloud or on-premises. With the same functionality. Because regardless of the type of implementation, you can secure all access points to your heterogeneous IT landscape with DoubleClue.

Compliance and GDPR-compliant use

Use DoubleClue on-premises or in the German cloud

IT security for the healthcare sector

IT security for the healthcare sector

141

»SUCCESSFUL CYBER-ATTACKS WERE PERPETRATED ON GERMAN HIGHLY CRITICAL COMPANIES BY NOV 2020«
Source: FAZ

Include the “human factor” in the IT security strategy