HID Survey Reveals Critical Concerns in Healthcare Security
HID, a worldwide leader in trusted identity solutions, has released its State of Healthcare Security Report based on input from more than 200 security and IT professionals working in a broad range of healthcare facilities.
The survey uncovers seven themes, as follows:
- Healthcare’s surge in both cyber and physical security attacks:
Instances of ransomware attacks on the healthcare sector have almost doubled according to The Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Additionally, a staggering 80% of nurses have encountered workplace violence within the past year according to National Nurses United, a prominent national union of registered nurses.
- Notable 77% of participants believe it is critical for healthcare facilities to achieve digital and physical security integration:
Survey respondents believe that it is important for their facilities to achieve digital and physical security integration to fight the dramatic increase in cyber and physical security attacks.
- Evolving security practices – From physical to digital identity management:
Conventional physical approaches such as ID badges are progressively being complemented, or in certain instances, replaced, by digital credentials such as mobile and biometric authentication. The survey indicates that 32% of healthcare facilities implement biometric authentication.
- Securing visitor access:
Enhancing safety and streamlining compliance efficiently and effectively managing visitors through these integrated systems is crucial. Presently, 38% of healthcare facilities continue to depend on paper forms and badges for visitor access management. 30% have implemented access control systems and 24% use electronic patient management solutions.
- Manual vs. automated security – The shift towards real-time responses:
The survey revealed that 56% of healthcare facilities utilize automated alert systems that provide real-time notifications of potential threats. These systems allow staff to respond efficiently to emerging situations, often before they escalate into full-scale incidents.
- Barriers to technological adoption: Budget constraints and beyond
The survey revealed that budget constraints are the most significant barrier, cited by 74% of respondents. However, the cost of inaction is likely to be far greater. The financial and reputational damage caused by a security breach can be devastating, not to mention the potential impact on staff and patient safety.
- Looking ahead: Embracing a layered security approach
The surge in violence within healthcare workplaces, coupled with the fact healthcare is now a prime target for cyber criminals, calls for a multi-layered security approach. This multi-layered security approach propels the adoption of integrated security management systems, real-time location systems, biometrics, and physical security measures such as duress badges and more.
