In 2024, the healthcare sector experienced over 700 data breach incidents, which is higher than any other industry, including finance. These breaches exposed more than 275 million patient records, with password-related vulnerabilities serving as the primary attack vector in most of the cases.
While threat actors use various penetration methods, compromised credentials remain the most consistent and damaging entry point.
These statistics reflect a fundamental threat to patient and organizational safety. Current implications extend far beyond financial penalties or reputational damage. A breach of electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) can disrupt patient care, compromise safety, and undermine trust in the whole healthcare system.
“Since 2020, as reported by HHS Office of Civil Rights, 590 million medical records have been impacted by health care breaches, meaning that the entirety of the U.S. population has had their health care records compromised in some manner, with most being impacted more than once.” — American Hospital Association
This reality has transformed password management from a routine IT function into a mission-critical component of healthcare delivery.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets specific requirements for password management that healthcare organizations must address through comprehensive policies and technical safeguards. Yet, the regulation leaves many security leaders struggling to translate broad requirements into actionable implementation strategies.
What is HIPAA and who does it cover?
HIPAA, introduced in 1996, is a U.S. federal law that sets strict rules for protecting sensitive patient health information from unauthorized disclosure. While it is often associated with privacy protections, HIPAA also includes the Security Rule, which specifically addresses the safeguarding of electronic Protected Health Information.
ePHI refers to any personally identifiable health information that is created, stored, transmitted, or received electronically by a covered entity or business associate.
“The role of the CISO in healthcare is very unique. I believe that information security is a patient safety issue. And I think a lot of organizations are just starting to think about it as not just a risk to a patient's information but a risk to a patient's life. Bad information in a medical record could actually kill someone. I see the role of the CISO as integral to the delivery of quality patient care.” — Anahi Santiago, CISO at Christiana Care Health System
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