How can you protect cloud-based system architectures from cyber attacks in healthcare?

1 Understand the cloud service model

One of the first steps to secure your cloud-based system architectures is to understand the cloud service model you are using and the shared responsibility between you and your cloud provider. There are three main types of cloud service models: infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and software as a service (SaaS). Each model has different levels of control and responsibility over the cloud resources and security. For example, in IaaS, you are responsible for securing the operating system, applications, data, and network, while the cloud provider is responsible for securing the physical infrastructure and virtualization layer. In SaaS, you have less control and responsibility, as the cloud provider manages most of the security aspects, such as encryption, authentication, and patching. You should review your cloud service level agreements (SLAs) and understand the security roles and obligations of both parties.

2 Implement strong encryption and key management

Another essential step to protect your cloud-based system architectures is to implement strong encryption and key management for your data in transit and at rest. Encryption is the process of transforming data into an unreadable format using a secret key, while key management is the process of generating, storing, and managing the keys. Encryption and key management can help you prevent unauthorized access, leakage, or tampering of your sensitive healthcare data, such as patient records, medical images, or research results. You should use industry-standard encryption algorithms and protocols, such as AES-256 or TLS 1.3, and follow the best practices for key management, such as using secure key storage, rotation, and backup.

3 Adopt a zero-trust approach

A zero-trust approach is a security strategy that assumes that no entity, whether internal or external, can be trusted by default and that every request and action must be verified and authorized. A zero-trust approach can help you protect your cloud-based system architectures from cyber attacks that exploit the vulnerabilities or misconfigurations of your network perimeter, such as phishing, malware, or denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. You can adopt a zero-trust approach by implementing several security measures, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), identity and access management (IAM), micro-segmentation, continuous monitoring, and logging.

5 Educate and train your staff

The human factor is often the weakest link in the security chain, as many cyber attacks rely on the ignorance, negligence, or deception of your staff. Educating and training your staff on the security risks and best practices of cloud-based system architectures can help you reduce the likelihood and impact of human errors, such as using weak passwords, clicking on malicious links, or sharing sensitive information. You should educate and train your staff on the basics of cloud security, such as the cloud service model, the shared responsibility, and the encryption and key management. You should also train your staff on how to recognize and respond to common cyber threats, such as phishing, malware, or ransomware, and how to report and escalate any security incidents or breaches.

6 Use security tools and services

The last step to protect your cloud-based system architectures is to use security tools and services that can help you detect, prevent, and mitigate cyber attacks in real-time. There are many security tools and services available for cloud-based system architectures, such as firewalls, antivirus, intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), security information and event management (SIEM), and cloud access security brokers (CASB). You should use security tools and services that are compatible and integrated with your cloud provider and your cloud service model, and that can provide you with comprehensive and actionable security insights and alerts. You should also review and update your security tools and services regularly and ensure that they are configured and maintained properly.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?