Mar 14th, 2025
Safeguarding Healthcare: Building Resilient Data Security Applications
The number of data breaches in the healthcare sector has been growing steadily since 2010. In 2023, the United States saw its highest number of data breaches to date, with 745 separate incidents, and in 2024, 491 cases resulted in the loss of over 500 million records. This surge underscores the increasing need for robust data security measures.
The costs of these breaches are massive: according to a report from the HHS Office for Civil Rights, breaches in the healthcare sector affected almost 170 million individual Americans in 2024. The average financial cost of a single data breach in the US in 2024 was around 9.4 million dollars.
The Growing Threat Landscape in Healthcare – The Need for Data Security
As healthcare technology has advanced, it has brought better and more cost-effective care to its customers. However, it has also made the healthcare industry one of the largest targets for cyber-attacks. Healthcare records are particularly sensitive, and confidential patient data is extremely valuable.
The majority of healthcare data breaches occur through hacking or IT incidents. Software vulnerabilities, data security failures, and human error lead to unauthorized access to networks and servers. As more patients access their records via phone apps and web browsers, data pipelines expose and exploit more weak spots. Innovations in data collection, as well as aggressive collection by third-party vendors, increase the volume and speed at which records are shared.
Most Common Causes of Healthcare Data Security Vulnerabilities
The seven most common causes of breaches to healthcare data systems are:
- Use Of Outdated Systems
- Email Scams
- Breacheys Of Employee or Contractor Devices
- Unsecured Wireless Networks
- Weak Passwords
- Insufficient Training in Data Security
- Failing To Encrypt Data in Transit
Core Innovations in Healthcare Data Security
Fortunately, innovations are also happening in data security. Proper data encryption and MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) go a long way in securing employee and customer data. Antivirus applications can detect and block thousands of viruses and malicious attacks. Enhanced data backup and recovery allow data to be recovered after an attack. Proper system monitoring by IT allows the full network to be known and all endpoints inspected for threats.
These methods are not revolutionary. The primary issue affecting healthcare data is that security measures are not within most organizations’ reach. The issue is ensuring adequate training for healthcare employees and providing proper resources for the security and IT teams responsible for managing data to properly implement these methods.
Building Cyber Resilience Through Technology Integration
Data Security measures and implementations must be planned upfront and integrated robustly when developing custom healthcare software. Fortunately, the best and most effective software tools to strengthen a healthcare org’s security strategy are often the most widely used and easily implemented:
- Data encryption
- Network firewalls
- Incident-response planning
- MFA
- Cloud Security
Here are two examples of successful healthcare software with advanced security features that teams might consider when looking for security to integrate into their system.
SolarWinds
SolarWinds’ suite of security tools is specifically designed for healthcare and includes a range of features such as user activity monitoring, network monitoring, firewall security management, log analysis, file integrity monitoring, bot detection, and protection from DDoS attacks.
Their Security Event Manager (SEM) tool deploys in minutes, providing lean IT teams with the tools to respond to critical threats and intrusions. It also simplifies HIPAA compliance.
Greenway Health
Greenway offers industry-leading expertise on healthcare cybersecurity, as well as HIPAA-compliant solutions for data protection. Their cloud-based Electronic Health Records (EHR) are secured behind firewalls, intrusion detection systems, proactive vulnerability scanning, and robust backups.
Their services undergo regular certification, inspection, and third-party review.
Why Partnering with Experts is Important
Healthcare IT teams often operate with limited resources. That’s why it’s important to find software security partners with industry experience and expertise to bolster their efforts.
A solid data security plan should include monitoring, threat detection, recovery, and backup at every point in the data pipeline. Your software partner should be able to provide tailored support specific to your network and work with you to create a solution that fits your budget and needs.
The Role of AI
As Generative AI becomes more prevalent, cyber-attacks become smarter and harder to detect and squash. Fortunately, AI security methods are also improving. AI security solutions will undoubtedly become necessary to fully protect customer data in the future.
Security Operations Centers (SOCs) can train AI models to recognize cyber threats like malware, ransomware, and unusual network activity. These models often uncover threats traditional detection systems overlook, particularly AI-generated attacks.
AI can enhance data analysis and anomaly detection in security information and event management (SIEM) systems. By studying historical data, AI establishes a baseline for normal network behavior, allowing it to detect anomalies that indicate potential security incidents.
A Healthcare Data Security Checklist
Keep your customers and employees secure by ensuring you implement the right procedures. Get a downloadable version of this list here.
1. Encrypt Everything
- Protect patient data with strong encryption (AES-256, TLS 1.2/1.3).
- Ensure data is encrypted at rest and in transit—no exceptions.
- Use secure key management so encryption does its job.
2. Control Who Gets In
- Set up role-based access control (RBAC)—only the right people should see sensitive info.
- Use multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Regularly audit and update who has access. People change roles, but their permissions shouldn’t linger.
3. Secure Networks & Devices
- Use firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to block attacks before they start.
- Protect endpoints with antivirus, endpoint detection (EDR), and extended detection (XDR).
- Segment networks so attackers can’t move freely if they get in.
4. Secure Networks & Devices
- Back up everything regularly and encrypt those backups too.
- Store backups securely offsite or in the cloud—not just on local servers.
- Test your disaster recovery plan so you’re not scrambling during a breach.
5. Stay Compliant & Audit Everything
- Follow HIPAA, GDPR, or any other regulations that apply to your organization.
- Perform regular security risk assessments to catch vulnerabilities early.
- Keep detailed logs of system access and activity for compliance tracking.
6. Train Your Team
- Provide ongoing cybersecurity training—not just a one-time course.
- Teach staff to recognize phishing emails, social engineering attacks, and data handling risks.
- Set clear policies for accessing, sharing, and storing patient data.
7. Detect & Respond to Threats Fast
- Use Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) to detect suspicious activity.
- Have a structured incident response plan ready—know who does what when a breach happens.
- Run security drills so teams react quickly under pressure.
8. Vet Third-Party Vendors
- Check that vendors follow the same security standards as you do.
- Ensure Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) are in place for compliance.
- Only integrate third-party tools if they meet strict security requirements.
9. Lock Down Physical Access
- Restrict who can enter server rooms and sensitive areas.
- Use security badges, biometric authentication, and video surveillance.
- Shred paper records and securely wipe digital files before disposal.
10. Stay Ahead with Continuous Monitoring
- Implement real-time security monitoring to catch threats before they spread.
- Regularly update and patch software, systems, and medical devices.
- Conduct penetration testing and vulnerability assessments—because attackers are constantly evolving.
Staying Ahead in Healthcare Data Security
Cybersecurity moves at breakneck speed—keeping up with changes is paramount to protecting your data and maintaining your customers’ trust. Need a customized security strategy? Check out our healthcare offerings to make yours bulletproof.
