Why Healthcare Data Security Must Be A Priority

Last year, we published an article on the troubling rise of data security breaches in the healthcare industry. In that piece, we identified how breaches happen, which entities are most vulnerable, and how Enlace Health protects the personal health information (PHI) of its valued clients. Since the article was published, data breaches have continued to rise, hitting an all-time high in 2021. It is increasingly clear that data security is vital to the future of the healthcare industry. Healthcare executives have to be prepared to protect their sensitive and valuable data from the ever-increasing onslaught of healthcare hackers.

What the Future of Data Security Looks Like

Healthcare data continues to grow in size and importance. Personalized health tech allows individuals to track a vast array of biometrics and share that information with their healthcare providers. These innovations increasingly have predictive power, from prompting the user to get more sleep to alerting them to an increased risk of certain health disorders. Everything in healthcare is becoming increasingly connected through these digital technologies, which have the potential to increase well-being and health outcomes across the globe. However, as the amount and type of data available to providers and consumers continue to grow, it is vital that all participants in the healthcare market trust that this data is secure. The future of data security will need to involve extra layers of protection for the providers, payers, and patients engaging with new healthcare technology.

Why Data Security is Vital to the Future of Healthcare

Healthcare data breaches are becoming both more prevalent and more severe. In 2021, 45 million Americans were affected by these breaches, a 32% increase from 2020 and a staggering 221% increase from 2018. The healthcare industry has become a prime target for hackers looking to steal and monetize private data. This private data poses unique challenges because, unlike a bank account or credit card number, it cannot easily be changed. The longevity of the impact can expand for years after a breach. Security breaches that expose PHI can quickly erode trust in the healthcare industry and endanger the financial stability of the entire system.

What can be Done to Protect Data

One of the most important steps a healthcare executive can take to protect PHI is to ensure that their data security measures evolve and incorporate the latest technological innovations. Innovations that account for the dynamic landscape of remote work, evolving threat actors, and increasing cloud adoption. Utilizing digital security technologies combined with training can provide an initial layer of defense against potential hackers. Another priority for executives is to seek out partners in the industry who they can trust. Enlace Health has a history of being such a partner. Enlace is HITRUST certified and has a dedicated security team with the knowledge and technology needed to protect client data. We have a proven track record of securing the data of our partners while helping them get the most out of that data. Data security breaches are on the rise, and the future of the healthcare industry depends on those who can defend it.

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Cybersecurity and privacy in the future of healthcare

Healthcare data breaches hit all-time high in 2021, impacting 45 million people