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Cloud Security Risk Assessments Instrumental in Transforming Healthcare Organizations’ Cloud Security Posture
Published On September 12, 2024
by Shaunak Godbole
Introduction and Challenges in Security Cloud Infrastructure
Cloud computing has transformed the healthcare sector in terms of technology, offering immense transformative benefits such as accessibility, scalability, and flexibility, thus offering opportunities for healthcare organizations to innovate and collaborate. The cloud has reached a new high in adoption, but so have cloud-related data breaches, hence, it’s necessary for healthcare organizations to have a differentiated and robust approach to tackle security and privacy threats regarding stored data and managing some common challenges such as unauthorized access and intrusions, system (security) misconfigurations, and challenges in regard to regulatory and compliance.
The current industry data illustrates the necessity for tailored cybersecurity services and solutions:
- According to the year-by-year study, about 82% of the organizations were involved in cloud breaches (i.e., mainly due to misconfigurations such as organizations do not encrypt half of their data stored in the cloud), with about 20% of the organizations storing maximum sensitive data in the cloud. (1)
- About 80% of the companies have experienced at least one cloud security incident in the last fiscal year, with 40% of the organizations having confirmed or reported a cloud-based data breach. (1)
- Around $10.93 Million is the average cost of healthcare data breaches as of today. (2)
Need for Robust Cloud Security Program
Securing sensitive healthcare data including ePHI, PII, etc., in the cloud possesses distinctive challenges, and healthcare organizations must develop and implement a robust cloud security program and manage a complex landscape to safeguard such information to prevent the escalation of cyber threats.
Some strategies that are mandatory as a part of the implementation of a cloud security program include:
- Configuration of identity and access Management solution/ service
- Implementation of robust encryption strategies and standards
- Active monitoring and threat detection solutions
- Implementation of DevSecOps pipeline
- Incident response strategies
- Disaster recovery and backup plan
- Data privacy protection
Let’s look at each of these in more detail.
Configuration of Identity and Access Management Solution/ Service
Implementation of strong access controls prevents or mitigates the risk of unauthorized access by individuals or entities from accessing sensitive information or critical healthcare systems thus reducing the risk of data breaches and insider threats.
Implementation of Robust Encryption Strategies and Standards
Encrypting sensitive health information both at rest and in transit is a crucial step secure cloud environment which includes configuring TLS v1.2 or higher protocols for data in transit and AES encryption for data at rest.
Active Monitoring and Threat Detection Solutions
Regular monitoring of the cloud environment using logging and monitoring solutions can help detect any potential security threat or breaches in regard to networks, systems, and sensitive data as these solutions have anomaly detection and behavioral analysis agents to safeguard sensitive patient information.
Implementation of DevSecOps Pipeline
Deployment of DevSecOps pipeline in the cloud involves integrating security best practices throughout the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC) to ensure robust protection of sensitive patient data. This approach addresses regulatory compliance and also enhances resilience against evolving cyber threats specific to healthcare.
Incident Response Strategies
Having a full-fledged incident response plan (that includes phases such as preparation, detection, containment, recovery and remediation, reporting, and continuous improvement) is crucial to mitigating risks. An incident response plan also ensures timely and effective responses to incidents and safeguards patient information in compliance with healthcare regulations. Furthermore, regularly testing and validating the incident response plan by conducting incident response tabletop exercises helps refine procedures and trains users on emergency response protocols.
Disaster Recovery and Backup Plan
An established disaster recovery plan (DRP) is essential to safeguard healthcare data and identify potential threats such as natural disasters, cyberattacks, or infrastructure failures. Prioritizing critical applications and data is extremely important and requires immediate recovery to maintain essential functions. As a part of the DRP, it is necessary to define Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs) for each application. RTO specifies the maximum acceptable downtime, while RPO determines the maximum data loss tolerable during a disruption.
Additionally, the implementation of regular backups of critical data (here, which includes healthcare-sensitive data) and applications to secure storage locations within the cloud infrastructure is crucial. Utilizing replication technologies to maintain synchronized copies of data across geographically dispersed regions or separate cloud providers is the best practice that helps reduce redundancy and ensures data availability and resilience against localized failures.
Data Privacy Protection
Maintaining and abiding by the rules of data privacy is critical for healthcare organizations due to the sensitivity and confidentiality of patient information. Protecting patient data and sensitive medical data is a shared responsibility that requires proactive measures and is crucial in maintaining patient trust, complying with regulations like HIPAA, and ensuring seamless healthcare delivery.
Importance of Cloud Security Risk Assessment in Healthcare Organizations
In today’s healthcare landscape, it is important to have a robust cloud security program and to also ensure continuous improvement in security measures to protect sensitive patient information stored in the cloud. This can be done by conducting a thorough cloud security risk assessment which serves as a foundational step to identify potential risks associated with organizational Cloud Service Provider (CSP) accounts, CI/CD deployments, and critical cloud services to ensure they are secure and compliant for multi-cloud infrastructures such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), etc.
Conducting a cloud security risk assessment helps in assessing risks early on and allows organizations to assess the technical dimensions of cloud security and also scrutinize the governance of the overall cloud security program, from inventory mapping to defining roles and responsibilities, monitoring progress, and remediating issues specifically for healthcare.
Meditology’s Cloud Security Team is a team of cloud security specialists that possess extensive knowledge and expertise in security best practices across AWS, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Azure, and Microsoft 365. By collaborating closely with various healthcare organizations, we conduct thorough assessments to enhance the security of the cloud infrastructure. Our approach includes delivering actionable recommendations tailored to bolster a healthcare organization’s security posture and compliance with cloud security controls against various industry standards that include (but are not limited to) the CIS AWS Foundations Benchmark, the Microsoft Cloud Security Benchmark, and Google Cloud Platform security best practices. This rigor ensures that the organization is protected against rapidly evolving cyber threats.
With Meditology’s detailed and advanced Cloud Security Risk Register and Reporting (part of the Cloud Security Risk Assessment process), healthcare organizations can unlock the full potential of their cloud security program with a state-of-the-art system delivering unmatched flexibility and specifically tailored security controls sourced from HIPAA, HITRUST, NIST, CSA, CIS Benchmarks, and CSP-specific best practices and architecture frameworks.
Our regular updates to the cloud security controls ensure alignment with cutting-edge technology and industry standards, safeguarding sensitive healthcare data. Meditology’s risk register acts as a comprehensive resource for cloud security, covering technical controls and governance aspects. From risk identification to implementing effective remediation measures, our simplified process and platform empower you to maintain robust control over your cloud security posture with confidence.
Are you ready to evaluate and elevate your security posture across your cloud landscape? Contact Us.
About the Author
Shaunak Godbole, who holds an MS in Computer Science, is a Cloud Security Architect at Meditology Services, LLC. He is certified as a Microsoft Azure Fundamentals and Solutions Architect Expert, bringing over five years of experience in the Cloud Security and risk management industry.
Shaunak has played a key role in developing the Cloud Security Service Line with his team, successfully delivering projects and providing support to various healthcare service providers, including one of the largest healthcare organizations in North America. His technical expertise spans multiple standards and regulations, such as HIPAA, NIST, and HITRUST, making him a proven subject matter expert in IT security and compliance.
His contributions and hands-on experience have significantly impacted the security of healthcare organizations, helping them achieve compliance with various regulations and standards. Shaunak’s diverse experience has established himself as a notable figure in the field of Cloud Security in healthcare as he continues to grow in the path to become a leader.
Resources
(2) https://securityintelligence.com/articles/cost-of-a-data-breach-2023-healthcare-industry-impacts/
