Information security
Introduction:
Security:” state of freedom from danger or risk”.
Information Security: Maintaining: • Confidentiality: Keeping your information:
1. Hidden
2. Safe
3. Private
• Availability: Making sure IT resources are:
1. Present
2. Ready for immediate use!
• Integrity: Knowing and using information that is sound and unchanged by anyone who is not authorized.
What do we need to protect? • Hardware
• Software
• Data
1. Your time 2. Your money 3. Confidential or non-replaceable information
From whom?
• Natural Hazard • Computer Failure / Media Failure • Malicious People • Sometimes, yourself
Information Security Goals:
• Data Integrity
• Data is correct
• No unauthorized modification
• Data Confidentiality
• Only authorized parties can view
• Data Accessibility
• Authorized parties can easily and quickly access
• Often a casualty of information security
EHR security:
Pros:
EHRs can provide great privacy and security, e.g.,
o Access controls can be more granular
o Authentication mechanisms provide audit trails and non-repudiation
o Disaster recovery plans assure greater availability
o Encryption can provide confidentiality and data integrity
Cons:
o Information flows more easily, risk of mishap is greater
o Collection of large volumes of data more feasible and risky
o Sharing of information for treatment, payment, and operations misunderstood
o New methods to attack data are continuously being developed
Flow of information in health care have many points to “leak”:
Direct patient care: • Provider • Clinic • Hospital
Support activity: • Payers • Quality reviews • Administration
“Social” uses: • Insurance eligibility • Public health • Medical research
Commercial uses: • Marketing • Managed care • Drug usage
NB: Even “de-identified” data is not necessarily secure
The Shields:
1-Risk assessment We should balance : • risk, • benefit, • cost and • loss of accessibility
2-Access Restriction • Authentication • Access Control • Accounting
3-Security Policies We should set documented: • goals • procedures • organization • responsibilities
Technologies to secure information:
• Deterrents – Alerts – Audit trails
• System management precautions -Software management -Analysis of vulnerability
• Obstacles – Authentication – Authorization – Integrity management – Digital signatures – Encryption – Firewalls – Rights management
Conclusion:
• The threats are real and dangerous
• Recovery cost large
• We must shield ourselves in as many ways as possible with a reasonable loss of accessibility
References:
Introduction to Biomedical Informatics, William Hersh; 2007
EHRs/NHII: HIPAA Security and EHRs, a Near Perfect Match by: Margret Amatayakul, RHIA, CHPS, FHIMSS Steven S. Lazarus, PhD, FHIMSS
Privacy, information technology, and health care, Thomas C. Rindfleisch;1997.
Submitted by Dahlia Abd-Ellatif