Healthcare data is a lucrative target for thieves due to its high value on the black market. Not only does this valuable information include medical records, but also insurance details like social security numbers and other personally-identifiable information. Protected Health Information (PHI) is among some of the most sensitive information. It includes a variety of personal details including medical history, treatments, diagnoses, billing records and more.
However, for determined thieves, accessing patients’ personal information isn’t just a matter of hacking into a website. Given the rapid adoption of EHRs (Electronic Health Records), the IoT (Internet of Things), and the IoMT (Internet of Medical Things), hackers now have more attack vectors than ever.
Of course, network-connected medical devices such as MRI machines, wearable patient monitors, and infusion pumps have been around for many years. However, as helpful as these tools are to patient care, they can also introduce potential security gaps. Many legacy connected medical devices lack detailed security controls, which can leave them vulnerable to unauthorized access, malware, ransomware, and more. In addition, despite the vulnerabilities legacy medical devices present, most hospitals do not typically replace perfectly functional medical devices just because they may have reached end-of-life from an IT perspective. Given how these devices can communicate and share information across networks, without effective network segmentation in place it can be challenging to isolate a threat once it begins to spread, especially in environments with legacy connected medical devices still in use.
In short, healthcare IoT and connected medical devices create a double-edged sword of greater interconnectivity and higher-quality patient care coupled with a much larger risk of compromise. One single device can be affected which can then cascade across numerous network segments.
This is where network segmentation comes into play.
What is Network Segmentation?
Network segmentation involves dividing up a network into smaller, more isolated parts in order to limit the spread of security threats. In healthcare, network segmentation prevents thieves from accessing a wide swath of sensitive patient data. In this way, administrators can still monitor and manage medical devices, yet confine them into smaller zones to limit risk.
Beyond these steps, network administrators can also set permissions and policies for different zones, further minimizing the risk that unauthorized access can ripple out to a much larger problem in case of an attack. In addition to being a smart practice, network segmentation is also a regulatory requirement. On its own, however, it simply isn’t enough to contend with the threats that healthcare organizations face today.
In order to further solidify the security of user data, different network segments must have different policies assigned to them in terms of who can access them, when, and how. While manual policy generation was good for the time before IoT, IoMT, and other IT systems and devices, trying to juggle and manage policies that protect each device while still prioritizing patient care is a Herculean task. Add to that, the issue of keeping up with new policies, network changes, and the need to accommodate more and more devices as they come online, and you can quickly see how manual policy generation can become overwhelming.
The Problem with Manual Policy Generation
Simply put, trying to deal with all of these systems, policies, devices, and access controls means there’s a lot of room for human error. Misconfigurations can and do happen. What’s more, trying to create and update policies in a fast-paced and ever-changing healthcare environment consumes an incredible amount of time and resources that could be spent on other crucial tasks.
Policy generation often needs specialized knowledge and experience in order to implement it across various devices and access point, which can strain an already overburdened IT team. By automating policy generation as part of your network segmentation process, you’re able to quickly respond to evolving threats with the kind of agility and flexibility that today’s healthcare world demands.
How Cylera Can Help
Cylera provides a multi-pronged plan of defense to help you generate security policies that provide protections but also can still perform effectively in demanding healthcare environments. Here’s how:
Device and Network Profiling
Cylera automatically detects and profiles every connected device. It seamlessly analyzes that device’s role, behavior, and its interactions with the network. This thorough profiling is the foundation for creating more accurate, detailed security policies that encompass each device’s unique function, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.
Policy Creation Based on Device Behavior
Through the use of machine learning and behavioral analysis, Cylera generates automated security policies that only allow necessary, secure communication. By monitoring device behavior continuously, Cylera can detect any deviations while adjusting policies to optimize security without interfering with day-to-day operations.
Segmentation Enforcement
Once the automated policies are in place, Cylera integrations with solutions such as Cisco ISE, Cisco DNA, Forescout, Illumio, Extreme Networks, and HPE Aruba ClearPass enforce network segmentation by isolating critical devices. This ensures that if ifa device is compromised, it won’t create a domino-effect out to other devices and compromise vital systems or patient data.
Real-Time Adaptation
Cylera’s automated policy generation includes real-time adaptation. Whenever a new device joins the network, or an existing device exhibits a different behavior, the platform adjusts policies on-the-fly. The healthcare environment is always changing and evolving; it’s time that devices and security had the capability to keep up and adapt.
Getting Started with Automated Security Policy Generation
Automating network security policy generation helps reduce the aforementioned risks, and Cylera is proud to offer a best-in-class solution that blends no-code ease-of-use with superior protection and flexibility.
Not only does Cylera help relieve healthcare IT teams from burdensome and repetitive tasks, it also minimizes the attack surface, reducing potential pathways for cyberattacks to compromise sensitive data or devices. Automating policy generation through Cylera also helps eliminate the need for ongoing manual policy updates, freeing up valuable resources and enabling teams to focus on more critical responsibilities.
This allows you to maximize your existing investments in your chosen tools while taking advantage of the best possible vulnerability, security and access management. Take a tour of our versatile platform, and request a demo to learn more about how our solutions can support you across all of your devices and networks.
