Healthcare Application Security: Importance and Major Risks

In the last ten years, innovation has become more important in the health industry. The med-tech sector has seen significant trends like integrated solutions, regulatory advancements, smarter devices, and real-time analytics.

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Advancements in software have improved medical treatments, solved healthcare issues, and increased industry performance. Yet, there are worries about data security in healthcare. This article will explain the topic of data security in healthcare software.

Healthcare Data Security Fundamentals

Protected Health Information (PHI) includes sensitive patient data, such as personal details, medical records, lab findings, insurance details, and other personal information. Sharing PHI without proper safeguards can harm individuals and result in significant penalties for non-compliance.

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Healthcare apps are not always regulated the same way in different countries. Compliance with data protection rules depends on the app's features and functions. Fitness apps, healthcare education platforms, medical reference tools, fitness or yoga apps, and treatment reminders, that do not handle detailed user data, usually do not need strict regulatory adherence.

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However, for the following categories, compliance with regional and international regulations is mandatory:

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• Reference and database apps for healthcare.
• Professional networking apps.
• Custom apps for doctor appointments and clinical support.
• Patient tracking solutions.
• Custom telehealth apps, including doctor-on-demand.

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Applications with personal healthcare data must securely store, transmit, analyze, and safeguard information against unauthorized access by outside parties. Adherence to healthcare data protection rules safeguards patient information and builds trust between users and healthcare providers.

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Increased Demand for Data Security in the Healthcare Sector

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According to reports from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Journal, more than 30 million medical records were compromised at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.

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The healthcare sector faces the highest number of data breaches. Patient records are highly profitable on the black market, and they are sold for as much as $363 per record.

Why Healthcare Application Security is Crucial?

Healthcare data breaches can cause serious consequences, such as revealed personal information, undesirable penalties, and damaged trust. These breaches can lead to financial setbacks, legal consequences, and harm to reputation.

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In Q1 of 2024, the healthcare sector experienced over 124 major breaches, marking a 53% increase from Q1 of 2023 and a 69.9% rise from Q1 of 2022. In recent years, data breaches have significantly impacted millions, particularly in the healthcare sector.

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Cybercriminals frequently target healthcare providers to exploit confidential medical data. Strong application security is essential for healthcare service providers to protect sensitive data and comply with HIPAA Regulations.

Telehealth and Mobile Healthcare Apps

The pandemic has accelerated the use of mobile telemedicine apps, which allow people to get medical help using their phones and tablets. This means they don't have to go to a hospital. Although telehealth apps make it more convenient for patients to get care, they also introduce new security risks.

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Patients may forget to use security measures like multi-factor authentication and strong passwords. The use of mobile apps on unsecured networks can lead to data breaches, thus allowing cybercriminals to take advantage of weaknesses in the system.

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Wellness app development may not need to follow healthcare software privacy standards. This could be a security risk when users share personal information, like payment details.

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Anthem Data Breach

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Anthem Inc. has reported a cyberattack that may have affected tens of millions of its current and former customers and employees. Anthem data breach, which is believed to have begun in April 2014, utilized custom backdoors to collect personal information from Anthem's network.

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Due to unauthorized access, personal information such as names, birthdays, member IDs, social security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and employment details of the victims were compromised and possibly stolen.

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Joseph R. Swedish, President and CEO of Anthem, Inc., said that “ There is currently no evidence indicating that credit card details or medical information like claims, test results, or diagnostic codes were specifically aimed at or exposed in any way,” in a message to both the customers and employees of Anthem, Inc.

Major Data Security Risks in Healthcare Apps

It is important to identify the areas that hackers commonly exploit to prevent data breaches. Here are some key factors to consider:

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Challenges with Electronic Health Records (EHR)

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Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have provided convenient access to patient information for both medical professionals and patients on different devices. Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) have improved coordination among healthcare departments and organizations.

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However, storing sensitive patient data digitally poses security risks. The incidents of compromised EHRs have increased cyber attacks like phishing, data breaches, human factors, and exploiting vulnerabilities in third-party systems during HIE to access patient records without authorization.

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Outdated Software, Legacy Systems, and Obsolete Technologies

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The presence of old software, traditional systems, and outdated technologies can make it simpler for hackers to access and misuse patients' information.

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User Errors and Insider Threats in Data Security

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Insider threats relate to security dangers from people working or having worked in an organization. Surprisingly, most employees can access around 20% of sensitive files in the workplace. This leads to data breaches from doctors, medical staff, or current/former staff being a major worry.

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For example, even simple actions like emailing or texting a patient's medical records can result in significant security risks. Also, storing confidential information on personal devices and sharing it over public Wi-Fi can greatly raise the chances of cybercriminals accessing the data without permission.

Conclusion

Data security in healthcare is necessary to create secure apps for the medical sector. Compliance with federal and international data protection regulations is also important, as data breaches can result in significant financial losses and harm a company's reputation and internal operations.

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