Preventing Data Tampering in the Healthcare Industry

I today’s world, where data is slowly becoming the new form of currency, data tampering has become a major concern for organizations all over the world. It particularly concerns the healthcare organizations as personal health information is up for grabs. With hacked medical records fetching a premium in the black market, it opens the door to massive risks in terms of identity theft, insurance fraud, extortion, and can even compromise patient care.

This is where blockchain can come in, with its near-unhackability and the potential benefits it offers. It can maintain the integrity of patient data, preventing the issues of tampering. As the blockchain will have time-stamped data, it can be used to authenticate the credibility of any electronic health records while also offering a platform to securely share protected health information between the care providers and the patients. However, blockchain may not enter mainstream healthcare anytime soon.

In the meantime, healthcare organizations can have dedicated security teams that secure internal systems against threats. The organizations do not have to take the road alone; they can partner up with organizations that understand cybersecurity and have the know-how and experience to tackle the various threats that can affect organizations. The healthcare industry is one, where internal threats sometimes are of a greater threat than external ones. So implementing continuous training sessions for employees is vital for them to understand ramifications of what could happen if they are not careful. Organizations need to account for budgeting as well, fully funding their cybersecurity requirements.