By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    UV damage to eyes
    Warning Signs of Long-Term UV Damage to Your Eyes
    December 9, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    The Ultimate Healthcare Recruiting and Staffing Guidebook
    March 21, 2022
    medicare part d benefits
    Everything that You Need to Know About Medicare Part D
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Conservatives: The Utah Health Exchange is Not a Model
    July 23, 2011
    Medical Malpractice Reform Losing Physician Support
    November 7, 2011
    Hospitals Aim to Apply Direct Payments of Care Delivery to Increase Resources
    August 28, 2012
    Latest News
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: The Importance of the Cloud and Data Security in Healthcare
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > eHealth > The Importance of the Cloud and Data Security in Healthcare
eHealthTechnology

The Importance of the Cloud and Data Security in Healthcare

Rick Delgado
Last updated: October 19, 2017 10:25 pm
Rick Delgado
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

Many healthcare organizations are embracing cloud computing to improve data analytics efficiency and reduce administrative costs. The cloud lets healthcare professionals access patient information from any Wi-Fi-enabled device at any location.

This ease of access makes it easier for health practitioners, medical facilities, and insurance companies to quickly share patient data. Emergency responders can provide patient care faster by accessing critical health information offsite. Physicians can review new patients’ entire medical histories online without waiting for physical records to be transferred. Patients can have direct access to their health records online. The sharing of information through the cloud reduces administrative costs because of the reduced need for paper records.

These advantages and more have led to the growing popularity of cloud computing in the health care industry. However, cloud computing can only be successful if the cloud is secure and patient privacy is protected.

Importance of Cloud Security

More Read

Mitchell Poll Reveals that Boomers will Purchase Health Care Apps
Health Care Social Media – How to Engage Online Without Getting into Trouble (Part I)
Social Networking Analysis Shows Promise for mHealth – video interview
Welcome to the age of the patientpreneur
Healthcare IT: Will 2015 Be the Year of Data Breaches?

Cloud security is important to protect patient privacy, comply with health care laws, and ensure that only authorized health care professionals access the correct data. Some health organizations are hesitant to adopt cloud computing because of the complexity of structuring cloud computing to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which regulates how health organizations protect private healthcare information. Others are resistant to adopting cloud computing due to concerns over unauthorized access to data. Patients are not always viewing their medical records online due to network security concerns.

A successful cloud healthcare network must use data security measures that comply with HIPAA, prevent unauthorized access, and protect authentic patient data. There must be no doubt of the authenticity of patient data, which can make the difference in effective medical treatment. Both healthcare professionals and patients must trust the cloud network security to protect personal data for it to work. Effective cloud security will gain this vital trust.

Challenges of Cloud Security

Effective cloud security must address key challenges in the following areas:

  • Preventing unauthorized access: It is critical that only authorized users access data in a healthcare cloud. This can be tricky in a virtual environment with so many remote users and multiple Wi-Fi devices.

  • Accessing data safely from mobile devices: Health professionals and patients should be able to access data securely from mobile devices like cell phones, tablets, or laptops. If network security isn’t optimal, vulnerable data could be lost or stolen when accessed through an unsecured mobile device.

  • Protecting databases from malware and attacks: A cloud must have a secure database that effectively protects against cyber attacks and malware. Some popular security components like open-source software, which played a role in the Heartbleed bug breach at Community Health Systems, are not the safest options. It is also important to have an incident repair and response system in place to respond quickly to block any attacks or breaches.

  • Preventing data loss: A cloud has to have a good system to prevent data loss and a way to retrieve lost data when possible. A cyber attack, an encryption error, or a natural disaster are some of the ways data could be lost.

Overcoming Cloud Security Challenges

The healthcare industry can trust cloud computing to be a secure and effective tool to deliver professional services, share data, and store patient data. The key challenges to cloud network security can be overcome with encryption, two-factor identification, and security intelligence.

  • Encryption: Encryption changes data into a secure format that only an authorized user with the correct encryption key can access. Data should be encrypted when it is in use, in transit, and at rest to make sure that the data is unreadable if it is lost or stolen. Split-key encryption provides even greater network security because it is protected by two encryption keys, which are held by the healthcare organization and the cloud service provider. Both keys must be used in order to access data.

  • Two-factor identification: Unique usernames and passwords aren’t enough to identify authorized users. Requiring a second form of identification like a fingerprint or specialized software token adds an extra layer of security to ensure only authorized users access the cloud data.

  • Security intelligence system: An effective security intelligence system that monitors the logs of all of the cloud servers and firewalls for any unusual activities can identify and block cyber attacks and malware and prevent potential data breaches or data loss.

With effective network security, cloud computing can revolutionize the healthcare industry by making it easier for health professional to share critical data, giving patients greater control over their own health records and making the healthcare workplace more efficient.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025
recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025
scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025

You Might also Like

Digital Health 2013: Innovating Partnerships for Better Care

January 13, 2013

Potential Malaria Detection, Drug Sensitivity Handheld Testing Device on Indiegogo

February 17, 2014
Spare parts a jacket for Joleen Chambers
Medical Devices

Spare Parts

July 23, 2012
Social Media

Connection is Critical in the Social Media Networking Space

October 28, 2011
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?