Shasta Turney, Director of Healthcare Solutions, Ping Identity, explores how Identity and Access Management (IAM), Zero Trust principles and passwordless authentication can help providers protect sensitive data and maintain compliance.
The healthcare industry is facing an unprecedented onslaught of cyberattacks, with the consequences extending far beyond financial losses.
Patient data breaches, disruptions to critical services and even increased mortality rates underscore the urgent need for robust data security measures. At the heart of this critical challenge lies the importance of a digital identity and access management (IAM) strategy.
During 2024, a staggering 92% of healthcare organisations grappled with at least one cyberattack, solidifying the sector’s position as one of the most targeted globally. Here in Australia, the OAIC reported that healthcare was the leading sector with the most notifiable data breaches reported during the 2024 calendar year, with 19% of health service providers taking more than 30 days to publicly notify authorities. 72% of breaches were caused by malicious or criminal attacks while 41% were due to human error.
Meanwhile, the average cost of a healthcare data breach in the US reached US$9.77 million – nearly double the average across other industries. Another chilling statistic reveals that more than 20% of healthcare organisations reported increased patient mortality rates following cyberattacks.
These figures paint a grim picture, highlighting the devastating impact of cyberattacks on patient safety, operational efficiency and the trust between patients and healthcare providers.
In an era of increasing digitisation and interconnected systems, robust digital identity management has emerged as the cornerstone of effective healthcare data security.
Healthcare breaches frequently exploit vulnerabilities within identity systems. The OAIC reported malicious or criminal attacks as the leading source of breaches affecting health service providers during 2024, with phishing (compromised credentials) making up a large proportion of incidents. Phishing attacks, password spraying and insider threats pose significant risks.
Digital identity solutions play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with stringent regulations such as HIPAA in the United States. By implementing identity verification measures, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) and advanced authorisation controls, healthcare organisations can demonstrate adherence to regulatory requirements and minimise the risk of penalties.
Secure identity processes not only enhance security but also improve the user experience for both patients and healthcare professionals. Single sign-on (SSO) solutions streamline access, saving valuable time and improving employee satisfaction.
Meanwhile, secure patient portals equipped with adaptive authentication and granular access controls empower patients to manage their health information securely and conveniently, fostering trust and engagement.
Ping Identity’s 2024 Fighting the Next Major Digital Threat: AI and Identity Fraud Protection Takes Priority survey found that when it comes to IAM, 65% of healthcare providers are planning to maximise the value of existing tools and systems by improving integration, while 52% want to use IAM to reduce financial and reputational loss due to fraud and breaches.
However, 52% are challenged with balancing their security needs with the need to reduce user friction. At the same time, 43% lack the skills necessary to implement identity verification measures. Just over half believe their fraud prevention strategy is very effective at detecting and mitigating account takeover, credential compromise, synthetic identities and fake accounts.
The good news is that modern IAM platforms offer a suite of capabilities designed to address the unique challenges facing the healthcare industry. These include:
● Proactive threat protection – Advanced threat detection capabilities, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), can proactively identify and mitigate threats such as compromised credentials and unusual login behaviour.
● Enabling interoperability without compromising security – Modern IAM platforms support open standards, facilitating secure data sharing across healthcare organisations while maintaining patient privacy and system integrity. This interoperability is crucial for enhancing care coordination and improving patient outcomes.
● Streamlining compliance efforts – Centralised governance tools and comprehensive audit trails simplify compliance efforts, enabling healthcare organisations to demonstrate adherence to regulatory requirements and minimise the risk of penalties.
● Empowering healthcare professionals and consumers – By streamlining access to critical systems and enabling secure and convenient patient portals, IAM empowers healthcare professionals to deliver care more efficiently while enhancing the patient experience.
The path towards robust healthcare data security necessitates a Zero Trust approach, where every user, device and interaction is verified before granting access to critical systems. However, an identity framework is needed to ensure an organisation can determine that someone is who they say they are before granting them access to digital assets.
The good news is that continuous user behaviour analysis can detect anomalies and mitigate potential threats, while advanced threat protection capabilities can thwart identity fraud without compromising the user experience.
In addition, passwordless authentication methods, such as biometrics and token-based authentication, can significantly enhance security. That’s especially important for healthcare consumers, with the average person using around 191 services that require them to enter passwords or other credentials and 70% of consumers using the same usernames and passwords across various sites.
Indeed, research has found that 46% of consumers prefer sites that offer alternatives to passwords. Going passwordless is critical to ensuring that patients have secure, fast and frictionless digital experiences that drive engagement instead of frustration and abandonment.
Passwordless systems excel in simplicity, often involving a single step such as a biometric scan. This streamlined process reduces friction and accelerates logins, making it an attractive option for users seeking convenience. Additionally, methods like passkeys offer seamless, secure alternatives that are gaining traction across several industries. By prioritising ease of use, passwordless systems not only enhance security but also promote better adherence to authentication practices.
Collaboration with trusted security vendors is paramount in achieving a robust Zero Trust security posture. By leveraging the expertise and cutting-edge technologies offered by these vendors, healthcare organisations can stay ahead of the evolving threat landscape and build a resilient security infrastructure.
In the face of escalating cyberthreats, investing in strong data security is no longer optional – it is a critical business imperative. By embracing advanced IAM capabilities and adopting a Zero Trust approach, healthcare organisations can safeguard sensitive patient data, ensure regulatory compliance and maintain operational resilience in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
