Cybersecurity and HIPAA compliance: Key IT healthcare strategies

Did you know that the average cost of a data breach in the healthcare sector is $9.23 million, more than twice the cross-industry average? The consequences of such breaches, of course, extend far beyond financial penalties, affecting patient trust and organizational reputation. 

In this high-stakes environment, ensuring robust cybersecurity and maintaining compliance with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) are not just priorities—they’re imperatives, making them non-negotiable responsibilities for IT professionals. In this blog, we’ll explore the unique challenges in healthcare IT and outline actionable steps to achieve HIPAA compliance and cybersecurity resilience.

Mike Crowder, AlixaRX’s National Director of Technology, about the pains of HIPAA in healthcare:

The healthcare IT threat landscape and its challenges

IT healthcare environments are uniquely complex, blending modern technology with legacy systems. Professionals must navigate a maze of outdated equipment, strict regulations, highly vulnerable patient data, and relentless operational demands 24/7 across multiple sites.

These operational demands mean downtime is not an option. Whether dispensing medications in post-acute care, ensuring procedures happen as scheduled, or managing electronic health records (EHRs), the stakes can reach as far as life and death.

A recent example of the devastating impact such a cyber attack can have on a community is the May 2024 attack on Ascension, a large US-based private healthcare system. While Ascension reported only 7 of its 25,000 servers were compromised, the attack affected operations across its 142 hospitals, with some losing access to their critical systems for over three weeks— necessitating the diversion of ambulances to non-Acension facilities and requiring staff to resort to pen and paper and delay critical tests and treatments due to lack of access to electronic medical records.

The HIPAA imperative

HIPAA compliance is a crucial aspect of healthcare IT strategy and operations. Its rules dictate how patient data must be protected, stored, and accessed. Failure to comply can result in penalties reaching millions of dollars, not to mention the long-term damage to organizational credibility and trust. 

Compliance involves not only understanding HIPAA’s requirements but also embedding them into every aspect of IT management—from selecting vendors to daily operations. In fact, healthcare organizations will not engage with vendors who are not HIPAA compliant—it’s the first item on the checklist.

Healthcare organizations are required to report breaches within 60 days of discovery to the HHS’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR). If the number of affected individuals is still undetermined, the reporter should submit an estimate, to be updated later. A regular placeholder is 500 individuals, perhaps leading to the oft-quoted statistic of a typical data breach exposing the private information of around 500 individuals on average.

Key healthcare IT strategies for stronger cybersecurity and HIPAA compliance

#1 Adopt a proactive approach to cybersecurity

As healthcare is one of the most targeted industries for cyberattacks due to the high value of medical data, IT professionals must adopt a proactive stance to mitigate risks. Some helpful steps are:

• Automated patch management: Systems must be regularly updated to protect against vulnerabilities. Tools that enable automated patching ensure systems remain secure in real-time, without manual intervention.
• Endpoint protection: Helps safeguard devices connected to the network, especially in distributed environments. Look for a tool that allows centralized monitoring and rapid threat detection.
• Access control: Implement strict access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel can view sensitive patient information.

#2 Secure legacy systems

Adam Verock, Wilmington Eye’s system administrator, on the challenges of legacy equipment:

Legacy systems pose unique challenges in healthcare IT, often running outdated software that is incompatible with modern security standards. However, replacing these systems outright is rarely feasible due to cost constraints or treatment needs, necessitating IT pros to be creative and find secure workarounds.

• Segmentation: Isolate legacy systems from the main network to minimize exposure in case of a breach.
• Integration solutions: Use middleware to bridge gaps between old and new systems securely.
• Regular audits: Continuously monitor legacy systems for vulnerabilities and performance issues.

#3 Build a culture of compliance

Compliance is not a one-off task but a mindset that must permeate the organization. IT leaders play a critical role in fostering this culture.

• Training programs: Regularly educate staff about HIPAA regulations and cybersecurity best practices.
• Policy enforcement: Develop clear policies for data handling, incident reporting, and device usage.
• Management buy-in: HIPAA compliance is not just an IT issue, but an organizational one. Secure commitment from C-level executives to prioritize compliance.

#4 Vet vendors thoroughly

Mike Crowder, AlixaRX’s National Director of Technology, on choosing vendors:

When selecting IT vendors, their compliance with healthcare regulations is a top consideration. 

• HIPAA compliance: Ensure vendors have a proven track record in handling healthcare data securely, demonstrate their understanding of the regulation, and provide business associate agreements (BAAs).
• Scalability: Choose solutions that can grow with your organization’s needs.
• Reliability: Opt for vendors with strong references and a history of delivering on promises.

The role of IT tools in ensuring compliance

Atera’s all-in-one IT management platform exemplifies how modern tools can support compliance and security. With features like automated patch management, centralized monitoring, and detailed audit logs, Atera enables IT teams to stay ahead of compliance requirements and cybersecurity threats, ensuring all endpoints are protected without requiring on-site IT staff. Atera is HIPAA compliant (check out our full list of compliances and certificates here).

To get started with Atera, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial, no credit card required.

Adam Verock, Wilmington Eye’s system administrator, about what to look for in an IT management solution:

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Charting a secure and complaint path for healthcare IT

HIPAA compliance and cybersecurity are foundational to a successful healthcare IT strategy. By adopting proactive strategies, addressing legacy system challenges, fostering a culture of compliance, and leveraging robust IT management tools like Atera, healthcare organizations can protect patient data while meeting regulatory requirements.

For healthcare IT professionals, the path to compliance is a continuous journey—one that requires vigilance, adaptability, and the right technology to navigate the complexities of this critical sector.