Improving Patient Outcomes With Zero Trust Security in Healthcare
In today’s increasingly severe cyber threat landscape, more and more companies are moving toward the Zero Trust security model. The essence of this strategic approach to cybersecurity is essentially “don’t trust anyone or any device.” But what exactly is zero trust, and what does it mean for traditional sectors like healthcare?
What is Zero Trust?
Zero Trust is a security model that requires all users, whether inside or outside the network perimeter, to be authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated by a strict vetting process. It’s critical to note that Zero Trust isn’t a sole tool or tactic but instead a set of cyber defenses designed to safeguard against a variety of threats. Essentially, in a Zero Trust approach, trust is never granted implicitly.
Zero Trust architectures inhabit some core principles, including:
- Strict and limited authentication and authorization.
- All data sources are considered resources, and access to these resources is on a per-session basis.
- All communication must be secured.
Zero Trust in Healthcare
Healthcare has often been slow to adopt new technology for various reasons. As a traditional and heavily regulated industry, risk aversion is rife, and data compliance must be at the forefront of all new tech endeavors. However, healthcare is arguably the sector that benefits most from adopting emerging tech trends. IoT glucose monitoring systems, EMR systems that can communicate with apps to allow medics to share clinical data in real-time, and robot surgeons are just a few examples of technology improving patients’ lives today.
Healthcare is one of the most targeted industries, as evidenced by the rising number of ransomware attacks and data breaches happening every year. According to IBM, these attacks have an average cost of $9.23M per incident. And new technology further increases the risk of harmful cyber events because they expand the threat surface, introducing potential new entry routes for attackers. That’s where Zero Trust comes in.
In terms of implementing Zero Trust in healthcare, organizations have many options. For example, cloud-based apps like Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops ensure that sensitive data is never stored on devices. This reduces the security risk of devices being lost or stolen. Some experts also recommend a software-defined perimeter approach (SDP), where internet-connected infrastructure like servers and routers are hidden from view. This shifts the network perimeter from hardware to software, making it less vulnerable to bad actors. Other options include modern network access control (NAC) platforms and Mesh Security.
Top Benefits of Zero Trust in Healthcare
By implementing a Zero Trust model, healthcare organizations can vastly reduce the probability and impact of cyberattacks. Here are some other measurable benefits for a Zero Trust healthcare approach:
- Additional layers of security allow healthcare organizations to meet all compliance standards, including HIPAA, PII, PHI, and HITECH.
- By reducing the probability of cyberattacks, organizations ensure that healthcare apps are always live and available to practitioners when they need them.
- A more stringent approach to security empowers healthcare providers to invest in new technology that improves patient outcomes and boosts employee retention. For example, doctors can feel confident using remote devices as they walk around the facility or work from home without worrying about data loss or leaks.
- Implementing a least privilege strategy and cleaning up excessive access dramatically reduces the opportunity for attackers to stealthily gain access to the environment and steal information over time.
While deploying a new security strategy is no small task, healthcare organizations have a lot to gain by adopting a Zero Trust approach today. With Zero Trust, providers can focus on what they do best – caring for patients.
