One of Several Security Frameworks Intended To Protect Patient Healthcare Data -NIST-
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a framework that has become increasingly important in the healthcare industry in recent years. This framework is designed to help organizations manage risk and improve cybersecurity. In this article, we will explore what the NIST framework is, how it works, and why it is important for healthcare organizations.
What is the NIST framework?
The NIST framework was created by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which is a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce. The framework is a voluntary set of guidelines and best practices that organizations can use to manage cybersecurity risk. The framework was first released in 2014 and has since been updated several times to reflect changes in the cybersecurity landscape.
The NIST framework is organized into five core functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. These functions are designed to help organizations identify and manage cybersecurity risk in a comprehensive and systematic way. The framework provides a common language and approach that organizations can use to communicate about cybersecurity risk and coordinate their efforts to manage it.
How does the NIST framework work?
The NIST framework is designed to be flexible and adaptable to the unique needs and circumstances of each organization. The framework is not prescriptive and does not dictate specific technologies or solutions that organizations must use. Instead, the framework provides a set of guidelines and best practices that organizations can use to develop their own cybersecurity risk management programs.
The framework is organized into three parts: the core, implementation tiers, and profiles. The core provides a set of activities and outcomes that organizations should consider when managing cybersecurity risk. The implementation tiers provide a way for organizations to assess their current cybersecurity risk management practices and identify areas for improvement. The profiles allow organizations to tailor their cybersecurity risk management program to their specific needs and circumstances.
Why is the NIST framework important for healthcare organizations?
Healthcare organizations are increasingly reliant on technology to provide high-quality care to patients. However, this reliance on technology also creates new cybersecurity risks that organizations must manage. Healthcare organizations are particularly vulnerable to cyberattacks because they hold sensitive patient data that can be used for identity theft and other malicious purposes.
The NIST framework provides healthcare organizations with a comprehensive and systematic approach to managing cybersecurity risk. By following the guidelines and best practices outlined in the framework, healthcare organizations can improve their cybersecurity posture and reduce the risk of cyberattacks. This can help protect patient data and ensure that healthcare organizations are able to continue providing high-quality care to patients.
In conclusion, the NIST framework is an important tool for healthcare organizations to manage cybersecurity risk. By following the guidelines and best practices outlined in the framework, healthcare organizations can improve their cybersecurity posture and reduce the risk of cyberattacks. The framework provides a flexible and adaptable approach that can be tailored to the unique needs and circumstances of each organization. Healthcare organizations should consider implementing the NIST framework as part of their cybersecurity risk management program to protect patient data and ensure the continuity of high-quality care.
Let’s dive a bit deeper into each of the five core functions of the NIST framework and how they apply to healthcare organizations.
- Identify: This function is focused on understanding the cybersecurity risks that are present in an organization. Healthcare organizations must first identify the systems, assets, data, and capabilities that are critical to patient care and their business operations. This includes identifying the types of data they collect, how they store it, and who has access to it. Healthcare organizations must also assess the cybersecurity risks associated with these systems, assets, data, and capabilities, and determine the potential impact to patient care and their business operations if a cyberattack were to occur.
- Protect: This function is focused on implementing safeguards to protect against cyberattacks. Healthcare organizations must implement a range of technical and non-technical safeguards to protect against cybersecurity risks. This includes implementing access controls, training employees on cybersecurity best practices, and regularly updating software and systems to ensure they are secure. Healthcare organizations must also have a plan in place to manage security incidents when they occur.
- Detect: This function is focused on detecting cybersecurity events in a timely manner. Healthcare organizations must implement systems and processes to identify cybersecurity events as they occur. This includes implementing intrusion detection systems, setting up alerts and notifications, and conducting regular security assessments to identify vulnerabilities.
- Respond: This function is focused on responding to cybersecurity events when they occur. Healthcare organizations must have a plan in place to respond to security incidents in a timely and effective manner. This includes identifying the scope of the incident, containing it, and eradicating it. Healthcare organizations must also have a plan in place to restore normal operations and minimize the impact of the incident on patient care and their business operations.
- Recover: This function is focused on recovering from cybersecurity events. Healthcare organizations must have a plan in place to recover from a cybersecurity incident and restore normal operations. This includes restoring data and systems, identifying and addressing vulnerabilities that led to the incident, and implementing measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The NIST framework is important for healthcare organizations because it provides a comprehensive and systematic approach to managing cybersecurity risk. By following the guidelines and best practices outlined in the framework, healthcare organizations can identify and mitigate cybersecurity risks, protect patient data, and ensure the continuity of high-quality care. The NIST framework is a valuable tool for healthcare organizations to implement as part of their cybersecurity risk management program.
Let’s break down the 5 core function even further:
The “Identify” function is the first step in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and is focused on understanding the cybersecurity risks that are present in an organization. This function is critical in the development of an effective cybersecurity risk management program because it allows organizations to identify and prioritize risks, allocate resources to mitigate them, and improve their overall cybersecurity posture.
In the context of healthcare, the “Identify” function requires organizations to identify the systems, assets, data, and capabilities that are critical to patient care and business operations. This includes understanding the types of data they collect, how they store it, who has access to it, and the potential impact on patient care if that data is compromised. For example, patient health records, financial data, and medical research are all critical assets that healthcare organizations must protect.
Another key aspect of the “Identify” function is conducting a risk assessment. This process helps organizations identify potential cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities and evaluate the likelihood and impact of a cybersecurity incident. The risk assessment process should be ongoing and proactive, allowing organizations to stay ahead of potential threats and adapt to new risks as they emerge.
Finally, healthcare organizations must develop a risk management strategy based on the results of their risk assessment. This strategy should include a prioritization of risks, mitigation strategies, and resource allocation. Prioritizing risks allows organizations to focus their resources and investments on the most critical risks, while mitigation strategies help reduce the likelihood and impact of cybersecurity incidents.
Overall, the “Identify” function is critical for healthcare organizations in developing an effective cybersecurity risk management program. By understanding the systems, assets, data, and capabilities that are critical to patient care and business operations, and conducting ongoing risk assessments, healthcare organizations can improve their cybersecurity posture, protect patient data, and ensure the continuity of high-quality care.
The “Protect” function of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework is the second step and is focused on implementing safeguards to protect against cybersecurity risks. In healthcare, protecting patient data is a critical responsibility, and the “Protect” function provides guidance on implementing the necessary technical and non-technical safeguards to secure sensitive patient information.
There are several technical safeguards that healthcare organizations can implement to protect patient data, including:
- Access Controls: Limiting access to sensitive patient data to only those individuals who require it to perform their job functions.
- Encryption: Protecting data by encrypting it both while it is stored and when it is transmitted.
- Firewalls: Setting up firewalls to block unauthorized access to healthcare systems and networks.
- Intrusion Detection Systems: Using systems that can detect unauthorized attempts to access healthcare systems and networks.
- Patching: Keeping software and systems up to date with the latest patches and updates to address vulnerabilities.
In addition to technical safeguards, there are several non-technical safeguards that healthcare organizations can implement, including:
- Policies and Procedures: Establishing policies and procedures to guide employees on how to handle sensitive patient data, how to report incidents, and how to respond to security incidents.
- Employee Training: Providing regular cybersecurity training to employees to ensure they are aware of potential risks and how to prevent them.
- Physical Security: Implementing physical security measures, such as video surveillance and access control systems, to protect sensitive patient data stored on premises.
- Incident Response Plan: Having a plan in place to respond to security incidents and minimize their impact on patient care and business operations.
By implementing a combination of technical and non-technical safeguards, healthcare organizations can protect sensitive patient data from unauthorized access, theft, or breach. The “Protect” function provides a systematic and structured approach to safeguarding patient data, which is critical to ensure patient trust and comply with regulatory requirements.
The “Detect” function of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework is the third step and focuses on identifying cybersecurity events and incidents in a timely manner. In healthcare, detecting cybersecurity incidents is critical to preventing or minimizing the impact of a security breach on patient care and business operations.
The “Detect” function includes several activities that can help healthcare organizations detect cybersecurity incidents, including:
- Anomaly and Malware Detection: Monitoring network and system activity to identify abnormal behavior that may indicate an intrusion or malware infection.
- Continuous Monitoring: Ongoing monitoring of networks, systems, and applications to detect potential security incidents.
- Incident Response Planning: Establishing an incident response plan that outlines the steps to take when a cybersecurity incident is detected.
- Training and Awareness: Providing regular training to staff on how to identify and report potential security incidents.
- Penetration Testing: Conducting regular penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities in the organization’s systems and networks.
- Vulnerability Scanning: Conducting regular vulnerability scans to identify and remediate potential vulnerabilities.
- Audit Logging: Implementing audit logs to record and monitor system activity, including login attempts, file access, and network activity.
By implementing these activities, healthcare organizations can detect cybersecurity incidents in a timely manner and respond quickly to minimize the impact on patient care and business operations. Early detection of security incidents can help prevent data breaches and reduce the impact on patient trust and reputation.
Overall, the “Detect” function is critical for healthcare organizations to implement as part of their cybersecurity risk management program. It provides guidance on how to identify cybersecurity incidents in a timely manner, which is critical to protecting sensitive patient data and ensuring the continuity of high-quality patient care.
The “Respond” function of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework is the fourth step and focuses on responding to detected cybersecurity incidents. In healthcare, responding quickly and effectively to a cybersecurity incident is critical to minimizing its impact on patient care and business operations.
The “Respond” function includes several activities that can help healthcare organizations respond to cybersecurity incidents, including:
- Incident Response Planning: Establishing an incident response plan that outlines the steps to take when a cybersecurity incident is detected.
- Communication: Developing a communication plan to notify stakeholders, such as patients, employees, and regulatory agencies, about the incident and its impact.
- Containment and Eradication: Isolating affected systems and devices to prevent further damage and removing malware or other malicious code.
- Recovery: Restoring affected systems and data to their pre-incident state.
- Forensics: Conducting forensic analysis to determine the scope and impact of the cybersecurity incident.
- Reporting: Reporting the cybersecurity incident to regulatory agencies and law enforcement, as required.
- Improvement: Analyzing the incident to identify lessons learned and areas for improvement in the organization’s cybersecurity risk management program.
By implementing these activities, healthcare organizations can respond quickly and effectively to cybersecurity incidents, minimize the impact on patient care and business operations, and comply with regulatory requirements.
Overall, the “Respond” function is critical for healthcare organizations to implement as part of their cybersecurity risk management program. It provides guidance on how to respond to cybersecurity incidents in a timely and effective manner, which is critical to protecting sensitive patient data and ensuring the continuity of high-quality patient care.
The “Recover” function of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework is the fifth and final step, and focuses on restoring normal operations after a cybersecurity incident. In healthcare, recovering from a cybersecurity incident is critical to ensuring that patient care and business operations can resume as quickly as possible.
The “Recover” function includes several activities that can help healthcare organizations recover from cybersecurity incidents, including:
- Recovery Planning: Establishing a recovery plan that outlines the steps to take to restore normal operations after a cybersecurity incident.
- Data Backup and Recovery: Regularly backing up critical data and systems, and testing backup systems to ensure they can be quickly and effectively restored.
- Communication: Communicating with stakeholders, such as patients, employees, and regulatory agencies, about the recovery process and expected timeline for resuming normal operations.
- System Reconstitution: Rebuilding affected systems and devices, and restoring data to their pre-incident state.
- Post-Incident Activities: Analyzing the incident to identify areas for improvement in the organization’s cybersecurity risk management program, and implementing any necessary changes.
By implementing these activities, healthcare organizations can recover quickly and effectively from cybersecurity incidents, minimize the impact on patient care and business operations, and maintain patient trust.
Overall, the “Recover” function is critical for healthcare organizations to implement as part of their cybersecurity risk management program. It provides guidance on how to recover from cybersecurity incidents in a timely and effective manner, which is critical to ensuring the continuity of high-quality patient care and protecting sensitive patient data.
The overall assumption here for me is that we need to continually be vigilant in the face of the constant barrage of attack surfaces, and the tools we have as security personnel to keep patient data safe and secure. Now with the addition of the ChatGPT’s of the world, we will have to face these attacks on a more sophisticated front going forward. As for me, I will keep hold all of your feet to the fire.
Author: Jed A. Reay is a retired Healthcare Practitioner and Entrepreneur with over 40 years of a board background in the clinical arena, direct patient care, to research and application of implantable cardiac devices, to genetics, teaching, training, and Business Development Consultancy. And now taking that passion for Healthcare and apply Cybersecurity training to the protection of PHI and other security offerings to the Healthcare space.