Healthcare IT security is of utmost importance to the healthcare industry. Healthcare organizations must work with software development companies to ensure they have the right tools to protect their patient’s PHI (Protected Health Information). Otherwise, they may suffer an extreme consequence: eventual loss of customers. Stolen or lost data can push any big corporation out of business.
It can be challenging for health organizations to manage data security as it entails a complicated process and may require a change in company policy. If you need help with this, you may click here for Healthcare IT security services and learn how to make patient data security less complex than it is. Data security is an invaluable feature of your healthcare software development, and the following are why you should prioritize it:
1. Preserve Patient Information
Preserving patient information is an essential part of the healthcare software development process. Protecting your patient information will ensure that the right person gets the proper treatment at the right time, depending on client settings. You also ensure that all patients have access to their records when needed. In addition, this helps avoid unnecessary duplication when it comes to updating client health status.
2. Defend Against Cyberattacks
Cybersecurity is of utmost importance in any industry. It requires professionals with many different skills: developers, engineers, testers, and more. Cybersecurity presents unique challenges as the consequences could be severe, primarily if you deal with high-rated clients. These people have much to lose if private data is leaked to the public, even the press.
Prioritizing data security while developing your software can prevent yourself and your client from cyberattacks. In a world where hackers are making serious attempts to find information, you mustn’t compromise your client’s security. And you will need a data security apparatus for this.
3. Protect Sensitive Data and Stay Compliant
Another reason why healthcare software development teams should take data security seriously is it’s a legal requirement. Regulatory bodies monitor how you take care of patient information. They want to know what you do with patient names, addresses, email addresses, social security numbers, and many others. You must comply with these regulations as it’s the only way the public can adopt your software programs.
As a manager, being careful about data security also extends to other tips, such as learning how to train your staff. It’ll help if you implement controls such as encryption and pseudonymization in your software system to protect private data. It’ll also help if you meet all security standards in your overall approach to data security.
4. Prevent Access By Unauthorized Users Or Entities
It’ll help if you implement security measures such as password protection, encryption, firewalls, tokenization, and two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access to your software. This should be done during the software development. The first line of defense in any security system is password protection. They can be implemented in several ways depending on the type of application being developed. You should consider client-side password hash storage, server-side password hashing storage, and many others. It means you’ll encrypt all confidential data before being stored in the database.
Encryption converts plain text into unreadable ciphertext (encoded message). It’s one of the most common methods for securing data over an insecure network or computer system. The technique involves converting regular information into code only authorized people can read using special software programs called ‘cryptosystems’ or ‘ciphers.’
Aside from this, you can also implement a two-factor authentication strategy to protect your clients from unauthorized access. These security features could improve customer service and reliability.
5. Data Loss Prevention Tools Simplify Healthcare IT Security
DLP tools help you monitor and protect your company’s sensitive information. With such tools, you can detect risky behavior and promptly respond to security incidents. They also help protect against insider threats by allowing administrators to enforce policies that identify and stop the loss of any sensitive data before it occurs. These include employee credentials to access corporate systems and confidential data stored on servers or mobile devices.
Data breaches can cause severe damage to your brand image because once personal identity information is compromised in any way, there’s no going back. It makes it essential for healthcare organizations such as hospitals and clinics to have robust cybersecurity practices. Data security is also crucial when upgrading your procedures: for instance, a change from paper records management systems to digital ones (i.e., Electronic Medical Records).
Conclusion
Protecting patient data requires multiple layers of security and strategic decision-making. There’s no doubt that data security is a critical component of healthcare software development as this industry comprises sensitive patient data. You must consider the risks and consequences of cyberattacks while developing healthcare software programs. Data security is more important than ever, and it’s a way to gain client trust, retain them, and get more referrals.
