Why Data Privacy is Essential for All Industries

As if smartphones, medical grade computers, and industrial tablets weren’t enough of an indicator, new technology is constantly integrating into every facet of our lives. But it isn’t just hardware that’s becoming smarter, businesses have begun to notice that important data on clients, ingested through these devices, can be leveraged to streamline service and increase customer satisfaction. Whether you look at purchasing habits being analyzed to suggest other products or health history being used to perform preventative care, it’s clear to see we live in an age of data and carefully crafted experiences tailored to the individual. 

And while this integration with tech has surely made our lives across the board more convenient, there comes with it a new concern we’ve never had to consider until recently: our data privacy and cybersecurity.

Data Privacy is Becoming Common Practice

While there are businesses and caretakers who wish to use data to improve the lives of their patients and customers, there are also cybercriminals interested in using that data for more nefarious purposes. And the public has definitely taken notice. According to a survey by RSA in 2019, 75% of respondents actively limit the amount of personal information they share online due to fear of their data being hacked or used without their knowledge.  

Not only that, the average consumer has become much more discerning about the data privacy and cybersecurity measures a business will use to protect their data. And you can hardly blame them. As of writing this post, IdentityForce has already highlighted 5 major data breaches in 2020 alone, with one of those breaches having taken place at a Microsoft customer support database. 

And the security concerns don’t only strike worry in customers- businesses also stand to lose quite a bit in the aftermath of a cyberattack, an average of $3.92 million, in fact, according to IBM Security. And the danger doesn’t play favorites either. All industries stand to lose quite a bit.  

Healthcare’s Need for Data Privacy

The healthcare space is no stranger to data privacy. Starting in 1996 with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a set of standards for data privacy were set. Of course, this doesn’t mean healthcare cybersecurity is without its holes. In fact, with recent technological advances such as EHRs and order entry systems, the potential for security risks only rises. 

Healthcare providers also need to pay special attention to clinical collaboration concerns. Occasionally, a patient needs to be transferred from one hospital to another for specialized treatment. Unfortunately, in cases like these where patient data needs to be shared between facilities, the door is opened for data to be intercepted and stolen. 

The right data privacy and secure network policies can also make the difference between life and death for patients when you consider the possibility of cybercriminals hacking medical devices. 

Enterprise’s Need for Data Privacy

Consumer-facing businesses have a lot more to lose than just money. A data breach can be an immense PR nightmare for a company trying to convince consumers they’re the best choice for meeting their needs. Often times, once that credibility and reputation is lost, it can’t be brought back. At least not quickly.

Smaller businesses may be able to get away with a simple security system, but as a business grows, its cybersecurity efforts need to scale with it. Many enterprises deal with several products and services and multiple departments all dealing with different steps in the transactional process. More often than not, information is constantly being exchanged between customers and employees as well as across several departments as orders are fulfilled. For a cybercriminal worth their salt, there are countless opportunities within these exchanges for an attack. 

Additionally, within enterprises where many departments or employees operate under a BYOD policy, further opportunities arise for cyberattacks. With company-administered devices, updates for software and operating systems can be set to download automatically, ensuring the latest data security measures have been implemented across the board. However, who here can say they’ve NEVER missed an update when it comes to their personal devices? When everyone is able to simply bring their own devices from home, there comes the potential of having important data being sent to a device with out-of-date software, an easy target for an experienced cybercriminal.

Manufacturing’s Need for Data Privacy

The manufacturing industry is just as susceptible as the healthcare and enterprise industry to data privacy concerns. Many would say it’s even more susceptible due to its infatuation with always using the latest and greatest tech on the market to ensure better ROI. Unfortunately, for every piece of technology that’s connected to a network, there’s one more door through which a cybercriminal can enter.

Wearable devices are a perfect example. Many factory workers require the use of wearable tech such as smartwatches and AR glasses since they leave their hands free for more physical tasks. These devices are wonderful for delivering instructions and audio/video cues remotely and without distraction, but they all connect to the network that houses crucial data, meaning they can be infiltrated and used as a gateway to access more important devices and data reserves. 

Cybersecurity for manufacturing is especially important because it’s not just client and employee data they stand to lose after an attack, it’s important intellectual properties and even productivity in the form of a disrupted supply chain.    

Tech That Can Make Data Privacy a Reality

There’s never going to be a final solution that ends cybersecurity threats once and for all. Cybercriminals are always going to be advancing their tactics. It’s our job to match and outpace those cyberattack methods with our own defensive practices. Fortunately, there’s tech out there currently that can help you take a running start.  

Single Sign On

Single Sign On (SSO) is a form of identity management that authenticates users with multiple applications without requiring individual logins for each site or app. At first glance, this may just sound like a means of saving time and hassle from having to remember multiple passwords, but there’s a little more to it. 

Software as a service is a trend that’s been taking many industries by storm these past few years. Every day, more cloud-hosted software is being developed and used by companies across the world. Each one of these programs requires a login password and every single one of these passwords offers a criminal an opportunity to steal credentials and gain access to potentially sensitive data. With an SSO solution, however, users log in with a single password and their identities are verified and authenticated at an SSO server, cutting down the number of passwords to one while also verifying the identity of whoever is logging in. 

Healthcare single sign on solutions in particular provide the extra benefit of cutting down on EHR physician burnout. By removing the need for repeated logins, an SSO program opens up more time for physicians to be more involved and personable with their patients. 

Of course, this method isn’t foolproof. A cybercriminal can still guess that one master password. That’s where two-factor authentication comes into play. 

RFID

Radio Frequency Identification is a very effective and common means of authentication, one regularly used for multi-authentication purposes.

Using an RFID badge, an employee is able to simply swipe across a reader that’s already been pre-installed on a medical tablet or desktop computer and be granted access to programs and apps without having to enter credentials. Not only does this save time by removing the need for manual logins, it adds a physical dimension to your facility’s authentication process. Even if the worst should happen and a cybercriminal gains your credentials and passwords, without actually having the physical badge, they won’t be able to break into a device housing important data. 

CAC

If you’re looking to further bolster your data privacy and cybersecurity practices, adding another physical method of authentication is never a bad idea. Like RFID, Common Access Cards are a very common method of authenticating identity. Instead of a badge, CAC readers require the insertion of a physical card in order to confirm the identity of the user. 

In much the same way as RFID badge readers, the right tablet or computer customized to your business or healthcare facility can have the necessary hardware added into the device, removing the need for expensive peripherals that can be damaged, misplaced, or stolen. 

Biometrics

Biometrics blend the convenience of physical authenticators without requiring employees to carry multiple badges and cards. Instead, biometrics can simply scan for fingerprints or facial recognition, removing the need for any time consuming logins while also eliminating the threat of a cybercriminal remotely stealing credentials locking away important data.

Data Privacy is Here to Stay

In an interconnected world such as ours, data is constantly being created and consumed. In the right hands, this sheer abundance of information on patients, employees, consumers and more can be used either for good or less than wholesome means. As an organization that has access to this information, making sure it is properly protected isn’t a favor to your clientele, it’s a responsibility. 

Data privacy is something you’ll see slowly inching up higher on your priority list as time goes on. For more information on how you can implement tech today to empower your data security, contact an expert at Cybernet today.