Many healthcare organizations may be under the false impression that they are safe from the dangers of malicious cyber activity. However, you may be surprised to learn that healthcare has become a top target for cyber criminals looking for valuable private data, such as patient names and addresses, Social Security numbers, and medical records. In fact, according to the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR), cyber breaches in the healthcare industry increased by 93% between 2018 and 2022.
In today’s day and age, many healthcare employees, such as nurses and doctors, also choose to or are required to work from home, such as in the case of telehealth. This raises the risk of digital weaknesses, and it is more critical than ever that healthcare organizations and their employees are pre-emptively guarding against cyber attacks. Every healthcare employee, from receptionists through to registered nurses who have completed online DNP program qualifications, needs to understand their role in preventing cyberattacks.
So what can healthcare organizations do to keep remote healthcare workers and the private data of patients safe?
1. Train healthcare workers on best practices
Healthcare workers may be adjusting to the newness of remote work, which, for many of us, has only become a reality after the COVID-19 pandemic. Some workers may not be aware of the steps required to implement and maintain basic cyber safety techniques and protocols, including:
- How to identify phishing and scam emails
- Who to report suspicious activity to
- How to securely connect to a company intranet remotely
- How to protect data when signing in to company data on personal devices.
Every organization should have standardized protocols for measures such as these, and documents that employees can refer to for step-by-step procedures. These documents should be in clear and easy-to-understand language. Training can also be delivered in various modes including:
- Reference documents
- Video training
- Online manuals
- In-person or guided online training with a support person
- Modules and other test-based training.
It’s important that employees are aware of even things that may seem obvious – like making sure that employees are aware of who is in their house, and not leaving their computer open and unlocked when around strangers, to avoid displaying confidential patient information. That way, everyone, from the newest assistant to the most experienced psychiatrist, learns the same basics.
2. Secure home networks
Remote healthcare roles often require accessing private company and patient data via a home connection. Healthcare organizations should ensure that all new and current employees understand how to set up a home connection that is secured, such as through Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3), and if necessary, protected by a firewall. This helps keep sensitive patient information safe, protects against cyber threats, and ensures a secure and efficient remote work setup. By prioritizing security, organizations can maintain trust and stay compliant with privacy regulations.
Companies should also ensure that all digital log-ins (including to home wifi) are protected by complex passwords to reduce the risk of hackers cracking or guessing log-in details. These are passwords that are:
- Long (more than 10 digits)
- Include a mix of case-sensitive letters, numbers and symbols
- Are not easily guessable phrases or words (such as “password” or “12345678”
- Are not connected to the user’s private details (such as a name, birthday or address)
In some cases, it may be worthwhile for a healthcare organization to invest in a separate password generating service or multi-factor authorisation. These applications either make things easier for your employees by making it so that they don’t have to remember as many passwords, or add multiple layers of security by linking to different devices or biotechnical authentication (such as through fingerprint or facial recognition technology).
3. Conduct regular audits
Auditing is a part of daily business life and the healthcare sector is no exception. Just like organizations must audit regularly for finance and accounting purposes, or occupational safety and health purposes, healthcare institutions should conduct regular cyber security audits to, ensure that the organization’s underlying technological structures are up to date and well-protected. Unused users or employees no longer at the company should also be removed from systems in these audits, ensuring that unnecessary log-in access does not pile up.
4. Cultivate a shared culture of responsibility
Cyber safety is not the responsibility of any one person. The responsibility falls with the entire organization – that is, every single employee. There is no room for complacency and our increasingly digital world won’t wait for slow organizations to catch up.
By cultivating a shared culture of responsibility around cyber security and proper digital practices at home and at work (and in the case of remote working, both), healthcare organizations can ensure that everyone understands the importance of cyber safety, and the real consequences of attacks on other organizations.
To sum up
Protecting remote healthcare workers from cyber threats is about more than just technology—it requires building a culture of awareness and shared responsibility. With healthcare a prime target for cyberattacks, every employee must understand their role in safeguarding data. By offering clear training, securing networks, conducting audits, and encouraging accountability, organizations can reduce risks and protect both patient privacy and essential services in a digital world.