The security of patient data is a paramount concern for healthcare organisations, and IT leaders are beginning to realise the significance of this issue. In recent years, numerous security breaches related to identity theft have occurred in healthcare organisations, resulting in disruption, compromised accounts, lost income, stolen data and damage to their reputation. Despite these risks, most healthcare IT leaders believe that investing in identity security is essential.
To address this issue, many organisations are turning to advanced identification technologies to preempt threats and free up resources which could be used for further digitalisation of the essential public service. According to a survey, 97% of healthcare IT leaders agree that more needs to be done to ensure that all user needs, regulations and threat mitigation are met. Furthermore, on average, IT teams spend 15 hours per week managing access and permissions for identities.
The use of cutting-edge identification technologies has many benefits for healthcare organisations. Firstly, these technologies can help to preempt threats and prevent breaches before they occur. For example, using biometric authentication such as facial recognition or fingerprint scanning can help to ensure that only authorised individuals are accessing sensitive patient data. Additionally, the use of such technologies can free up resources which could be used to further digitalise this essential public service. This could include the implementation of online patient portals or telemedicine services which would enable patients to access medical care without having to leave their homes.
Although most healthcare IT leaders agree that more needs to be done to ensure that all user needs, regulations and threat mitigation are met, there is still much work to be done in this area. Healthcare organisations must ensure that all users have secure access to the data they need while adhering to relevant regulations and mitigating threats from external sources. To do this, organisations must invest in robust identification technologies such as multi-factor authentication and encryption. These technologies can help to protect against malicious attacks by providing additional layers of security through various factors such as passwords, security questions, biometric authentication etc. Additionally, healthcare organisations must ensure that their systems are regularly updated with the latest security patches and that their staff are trained in best practices when it comes to data security.
In addition to investing in cutting-edge identification technologies, IT teams must also invest a significant amount of their time managing access and permissions for identities within the organisation. On average, IT teams spend 15 hours per week managing access and permissions for identities. This includes setting up new user accounts, resetting passwords, creating access control policies and ensuring that users only have access to the data they need. Investing time in managing identities is essential for preventing breaches and ensuring that patient data is kept secure.
It is also important for healthcare organisations to have an effective identity governance system in place. This system should provide visibility into who has access to what data and ensure that only the necessary people have access to the data they need. It should also include policies and procedures to ensure compliance with relevant regulations such as HIPAA and GDPR. A good identity governance system should also include a process for regularly monitoring user access rights and revoking them when necessary.
To summarise, investing in identity security is a priority for healthcare IT leaders in order to ensure that patient data remains secure and protected from external threats. Implementing cutting-edge identification technologies can help to preempt threats while freeing up resources which could be used to further digitalise this essential public service. Additionally, healthcare organisations must ensure that all user needs, regulations and threat mitigation are met by investing time in managing access and permissions for identities within the organisation as well as having an effective identity governance system in place. By taking these steps, healthcare organisations can ensure that patient data remains secure and protected from external threats.