The healthcare industry has made remarkable strides in adopting technology to improve patient care and operational efficiency. Telehealth, or telemedicine, has become a key component in providing remote healthcare services, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. While telehealth offers convenience, flexibility, and expanded access to healthcare, it comes with its own set of cybersecurity challenges.

With personal patient information, social security numbers, and sensitive health data transmitted over phone lines and the internet, healthcare providers face significant privacy risks. Cyberattacks like ransomware, phishing, and data breaches have surged in recent years, making cybersecurity in healthcare a top priority.

In this blog, we will explore the prevalent cybersecurity risks in telehealth and examine how NVIS AI can help address these privacy concerns to ensure patient data remains secure.

The rise of telehealth and associated privacy risks

Telehealth services have seen exponential growth, allowing patients to consult healthcare providers from the comfort of their homes. As the demand for remote healthcare has increased, so has the threat landscape. The transition to telehealth has disrupted traditional in-person medical practices and exposed vulnerabilities, mainly due to the insecure nature of internet and phone communications used during telehealth sessions.

Privacy and security concerns in telehealth

With telehealth appointments, sensitive patient information like health records, social security numbers, and insurance details are exchanged over networks that may not be adequately protected. This vulnerability introduces several cybersecurity risks:

1. Ransomware attacks: Ransomware is one of the most pressing cybersecurity threats facing healthcare. This malicious software encrypts the victim's files and demands a ransom to restore access. The privacy risks of telehealth become particularly acute when healthcare providers cannot access patient data due to ransomware attacks. Hospitals and clinics, often using outdated or unpatched systems, become prime targets because downtime can have life-and-death consequences.

   • Case in point: In 2016, the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center was forced to pay $17,000 in Bitcoin to regain access to its systems. In another instance, the DCH Health System had to temporarily shut down its computer systems after a ransomware attack in 2019.

2. Phishing attacks: Phishing is the precursor to most ransomware incidents. Cybercriminals send fraudulent messages designed to trick recipients into divulging login credentials or other sensitive information. Healthcare employees, patients, and administrative staff are often targeted, leading to massive data breaches.

   • Real example: In 2015, hackers infiltrated Anthem, one of the largest health insurance companies in the United States, using phishing emails to gain employee login credentials. This breach resulted in the theft of personal information from over 78 million individuals.

3. Data breaches: Healthcare data breaches have spiked in recent years, with hospitals and clinics being prime targets. The increased use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the exposure of over 29 million records annually. Breaches result in costly recovery efforts, with the average cost of a healthcare data breach reaching over $10 million between 2021 and 2022.

Addressing the privacy risks of telehealth with NVIS AI

To effectively address the privacy risks associated with telehealth, healthcare organizations need advanced cybersecurity solutions that offer more than basic protections. NVIS AI's innovative technologies provide a comprehensive, layered approach to secure patient data and healthcare communications. Here’s how NVIS AI mitigates the cybersecurity risks of telehealth:

1. Layer 2 encryption for securing data in transit

One of the main vulnerabilities in telehealth communications is the lack of secure channels for data transmission. Patient data often travels over public or unprotected networks, making it susceptible to interception by malicious actors.

How NVIS AI solves this: NVIS AI's Layer 2 encryption protects data at the data link layer, creating a secure communication channel for transmitting sensitive patient information. This encryption ensures that all data exchanged during telehealth sessions, including video calls, files, and personal information, is encrypted at its source and remains secure during transit.

By using NVIS AI's encryption technology, healthcare organizations can effectively shield data from being accessed or manipulated during transmission, significantly reducing the risk of data breaches and ransomware attacks.

2. Zero Trust architecture to prevent unauthorized access

A major concern in healthcare cybersecurity is unauthorized access to patient data and telehealth systems. Phishing attacks often lead to credential theft, allowing hackers to infiltrate the network.

How NVIS AI solves this: NVIS AI implements a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) model, ensuring that no entity within or outside the network is automatically trusted. Each access request is authenticated, verified, and validated based on user identity, device health, and other risk factors.

For telehealth providers, this means that even if an attacker manages to steal credentials through phishing, the Zero Trust policies will restrict their ability to access the system without further authentication. This level of granular access control prevents unauthorized actors from moving laterally within the network or exploiting telehealth services.

3. Static NVIS IP for secure remote connections

Telehealth services often rely on dynamic IP addresses, which can introduce security vulnerabilities. Dynamic IPs are unpredictable and can be targeted by cyberattacks such as IP spoofing.

How NVIS AI solves this: NVIS AI uses static NVIS IPs, allowing every endpoint in the healthcare network to operate like a server. This architecture eliminates the need for complex configurations like Network Address Translation (NAT), port forwarding, or third-party static IP subscriptions. By offering a consistent and secure IP address, NVIS AI ensures that telehealth connections are protected and cannot be exploited by IP-based cyberattacks.

4. Immutable blockchain technology for data integrity

Data integrity is critical in healthcare, where tampering or unauthorized access to patient records can have life-threatening consequences. Malicious actors often attempt to modify logs or erase evidence of their activities.

How NVIS AI solves this: NVIS AI leverages Ethereum blockchain technology to create immutable records of all network activities. Every access attempt, data transfer, and communication is stored on a decentralized, tamper-proof ledger. This blockchain-based audit trail ensures that any attempts to alter or delete data are immediately flagged, preserving the integrity of patient information.

Conclusion

Telehealth has transformed the healthcare landscape, providing accessible and flexible care for patients worldwide. However, it has also introduced new privacy risks, including ransomware, phishing attacks, and data breaches. To address these challenges, healthcare organizations must adopt a robust cybersecurity strategy that covers every aspect of patient data and communication.

NVIS AI offers an advanced security solution tailored to the unique needs of the healthcare sector. By utilizing Layer 2 encryption, Zero Trust architecture, static NVIS IPs, AI-driven monitoring, and blockchain technology, NVIS AI ensures that healthcare providers can deliver telehealth services securely. By adopting NVIS AI's innovative technologies, healthcare institutions can protect patient data, maintain compliance with regulations, and build trust in their telehealth offerings.

Secure your healthcare network with NVIS AI today. Schedule a demo or contact our team of experts today.