The healthcare industry has always been a top target for cybercriminals. In just the first half of 2023, the healthcare sector was hit with 295 breaches, impacting as many as 29 million individuals. In fact, ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare sector has witnessed a 45% increase in cyberattacks.
It’s clear that traditional cybersecurity measures in healthcare software development are failing to keep pace. They’ve focused more on functionality and usability than on robust defense mechanisms, relying on the dated principle of “trust but verify.” This is where the Zero Trust security approach takes center stage. Grounded in the tenet of “Never trust, always verify”, Zero Trust represents a fundamental shift that can revolutionize cybersecurity in healthcare.
Understanding Zero Trust
The Zero Trust concept made its first appearance in 2010, introduced by an analyst at Forrester Research. Over the years, it has evolved from a new and radical concept into an increasingly accepted approach to cybersecurity, especially in industries where data security is of the utmost importance like healthcare.
At its heart, Zero Trust is a strategic initiative that aims to eliminate the concept of trust from a company’s network in order to prevent data breaches. Unlike conventional cybersecurity models that rely on the assumption that every element inside a company’s network are trustworthy, Zero Trust considers trust as a potential weak spot. Traditional models rely on defending the perimeter — but once a threat actor gets through, they often have the freedom to move laterally and elevate their privileges. Zero Trust, on the other hand, treats every access attempt as potentially harmful, no matter where they originate.
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a Zero Trust model rests on six pillars.
Six pillars of a Zero Trust security model
Source: NIST
- Users: Every user must be verified and authenticated before gaining access to resources.
- Devices: Similar to users, devices must also be authenticated to ensure they are not compromised.
- Network: Maintaining total visibility allows for thorough inspection and logging of all network traffic, which in turn makes it simpler to identify anomalies and potential threats.
- Applications: Each application and workload, no matter where it resides, should be secured and operate under the assumption that it is on a hostile network.
- Automation: Security processes are automated to reduce response times and enhance effectiveness against threats.
- Analytics: Analysis of security data facilitates quick detection of potential threats and enables prompt response to them.
How to apply Zero Trust in healthcare software development
The Zero Trust model offers a robust framework to safeguard the healthcare sector’s sensitive data and systems that involves several key steps.
Step 1: Identify sensitive data
The first step is to identify all sensitive healthcare data that needs to be protected. This data may include patient records, financial details, clinical trial data, and other personally identifiable information (PII). Once identified, the data should be classified based on its level of sensitivity to ensure respective safety measures are in place.
Step 2: Segment the network
Once the critical assets are identified, the next step is to divide the network into separate zones to control access to specific areas. By creating these segmented secure zones, you can drastically reduce the ability for potential intruders to move freely around the network. Should a breach occurs in one section, it can be contained there, preventing its spread to other parts of the network.
Step 3: Introduce the principle of least privilege
The idea behind the least privilege principle is that each user is granted only the minimum permissions required to perform their job tasks. This approach significantly lowers the chance of data being misused, whether unintentionally or deliberately.
Step 4: Establish multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) can also help strengthen an organization’s security posture. Instead of a simple password, users need to provide several proofs of who they are like a text message code, fingerprint, or even a facial scan. MFA makes it more challenging for an unauthorized person to get access to sensitive data.
Step 5: Leverage reliable data encryption
Implementing end-to-end encryption aims to guarantee that all data is encrypted at all points of interaction, whether at rest or in transit. This safeguards the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive data, even if a breach occurs.
Step 6: Don’t forget to monitor and analyze
Last but not least, continuous monitoring and analytics play a significant role in a Zero Trust approach. Systems should be put in place for monitoring and analyzing network traffic, promptly spotting any red flags or strange behavior. This in turn facilitates rapid threat detection and mitigation.
From theory to practice: Navigating the obstacles of Zero Trust implementation
Integrating a Zero Trust model in healthcare software development can offer substantial security benefits, but the journey is not without its challenges.
Top challenges of Zero Trust implementation
Source: Capterra
Restricting data access without disrupting workflows
One of the key obstacles to implementing a Zero Trust model is balancing security and usability. In a Zero Trust environment, tight restrictions can potentially slow down workflows, as users might need to go through additional authentication steps or face more barriers in accessing the information they need to do their jobs.
In healthcare, seamless access to data is crucial since healthcare professionals must be able to quickly retrieve patient records and make fast decisions based on this information. If a Zero Trust model slows down this process or makes access overly complicated, it could potentially impact patient care.
How to overcome it: It is important to implement Zero Trust in a way that enhances security but also maintains user-friendly workflows. This might involve using adaptive authentication methods, where the level of authentication required adjusts based on the risk associated with a particular access request. For instance, when trying to access non-sensitive or general information, a single layer of authentication may be adequate. But when it comes to obtaining sensitive patient data, a more rigorous process that involves multi-factor authentication would be necessary.
New security controls
Developing new security controls and policies in the healthcare sector, while implementing a Zero Trust model, can be a complex and challenging process. A Zero Trust model demands a different approach to security, which may require providers to rethink their existing policies and controls from the ground up. In addition, new controls and policies must be in compliance with any applicable regulatory requirements like HIPAA or GDPR.
How to overcome it: It may be daunting to overhaul the entire security approach all at once. Instead, healthcare providers can focus on one key area or issue like network segmentation or identity management, gradually expanding their efforts. And since difficulties often arise from a lack of understanding, health organizations need to prioritize education and training for their staff and encourage consistent communication between all stakeholders.
Zero trust security vendor
Healthcare organizations often deal with sensitive patient data, require complex integrations between different systems, and have strict regulatory requirements around data protection. It can be challenging to find a vendor with a deep understanding of these issues, the right technological solutions, and the capability to implement these solutions effectively in the healthcare context.
How to overcome it: To select a Zero Trust security software vendor, healthcare providers should first identify their specific requirements and conduct thorough market research on potential vendors. Crucial factors include the vendor’s expertise in the healthcare sector and their track records. Additionally, assessing the level of support offered by the vendor during and post-implementation is key.
The bottom line
In the era of unyielding cyber threats, embracing Zero Trust is not a strategic move, but an imperative one. And organizations across the world are starting to take note — a testament to is is the anticipated surge in the Zero Trust security market, expected to catapult to an impressive USD 60.7 million by 2027.
Zero Trust is not a solution, it is a set of strategic guidelines and principles. From robust identity management and MFA to network segmentation and end-to-end encryption, these principles can transform healthcare providers’ cybersecurity posture and help them ensure the safety and trust of patients.
