From infrastructure to patient: the new era of healthcare cybersecurity
Cybersecurity in the healthcare sector has evolved rapidly. What began as an effort to protect critical infrastructure has evolved into a more complex model, where information, services and, above all, people are at the centre of the strategy.
Today, talking about digital health security implies understanding an interconnected and dynamic ecosystem, in which every interaction can become a vulnerability.
Stage one: protecting the physical perimeter
For years, the priority was to shield hospitals, clinics and data processing centres. The goal was clear: to prevent external or internal attacks from compromising the systems that stored medical records and managed care.
The perimeter was well defined: medical facilities and their internal networks, servers with medical records and connected devices within the facility.
This approach made it possible to contain threats such as ransomware, data breaches and sabotage, limiting the impact to visible and controllable assets.
Digitisation and interoperability have blurred the perimeter
However, mass digitisation and interoperability between systems blurred this perimeter. Remote care, the use of connected devices and the outsourcing of critical services opened new doors for cybercriminals.
The classical model was necessary, but insufficient for an environment where information flows without physical boundaries.
Stage two: the digital health ecosystem
Today, digital health operates as a distributed network that connects hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, providers, insurers, technology platforms, IoT devices and mobile apps.
This interconnection generates obvious benefits, but also multiplies the risks:
- Diluted perimeter: Systems no longer operate in isolation. Collaboration across cloud platforms and APIs increases attack vectors and the potential for unauthorised access.
- Telemedicine and mobility: Patients and professionals access sensitive data from mobile devices, which increases the risk of data loss, identity theft and manipulation of sensitive information.
- Dependence on third parties: Increasing dependence on technology providers, cloud services and external platforms, i.e. the technology supply chain, introduces vulnerabilities that are difficult to control.
- Sophisticated threats: Attackers use artificial intelligence and advanced social engineering techniques to exploit flaws in medical devices and coordinate attacks on different nodes in the ecosystem.
Health cybersecurity must be collaborative, agile and cross-cutting
In this context, healthcare cybersecurity must be collaborative, agile and cross-cutting. It is not enough to protect infrastructures; data, services and users must be secured across the entire ecosystem.
Strategies such as multi-layered security, adaptive monitoring and the zero-trust model have become standard for anticipating risks and ensuring secure interoperability.
At Izertis we have been working on this ecosystemic approach, applying highly effective and efficient emerging strategies:
- Multilayered security: it is not enough to protect the hospital core; security must be deployed at all levels of the healthcare ecosystem: devices, users, applications, cloud services, supply chains and digital integrations.
- Adaptive monitoring: Intelligent monitoring and proactive threat detection systems capable of anticipating risks.
- Zero trust and secure interoperability: Making "zero trust" architecture standard, forcing continuous validation of identities and permissions.
Stage three: the patient as a critical asset
The real disruption lies in placing the patient at the centre of the protection model. In a system where medical information circulates through multiple hands and devices, a breach not only compromises privacy: it can affect clinical care and trust in the system.
This approach recognises that the core value of the health ecosystem lies in protecting the wellbeing and digital rights of individuals. The patient is no longer a passive recipient but an active protagonist. How does this translate into practice?
- Personalised monitoring: Analyse risks according to user profile and behaviour to anticipate incidents. Active prevention.
- Adaptive safety: Incorporate artificial intelligence to detect anomalies and trigger specific alerts to enable a rapid and targeted response.
- Dynamic identity management: Audit every access and transaction on personal and clinical data, giving control back to the user.
- Experience-based recovery plans: Prioritise continuity of care and secure access after an incident, minimising harm and trauma from the digital divide.
- Zero trust applied to people: Continuous validation at every interaction, not just between systems.
- Digital rights and empowerment: Allow the patient to manage who accesses their information, promoting transparency and trust.
- Global collaboration: Integrating the user as an active agent, with training and tools to protect themselves.
Towards cyber-safe health
The future of the healthcare sector involves building systems where cybersecurity in healthcare is not a complement, but a pillar that accompanies each patient in their digital experience. Protecting infrastructures remains essential, but the ultimate goal is to ensure privacy, autonomy and trust.
This paradigm calls for solutions that combine advanced technology, regulatory compliance and continuous training. Security becomes an added value for personalised, resilient and ethical care, based on principles of transparency, zero trust and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Building trust
At Izertis we believe that the digital transformation of the healthcare sector will only be sustainable if it is supported by robust, people-centric cybersecurity adapted to an increasingly interconnected ecosystem.
Our commitment is to accompany health organisations
As a technology consultancy specialising in digital health, our commitment is to accompany healthcare organisations in this change, providing knowledge, technology and an ethical vision that guarantees comprehensive patient protection.
We develop comprehensive solutions ranging from the implementation of secure telemedicine and digital identity management platforms to the application of AI for adaptive monitoring and early threat detection. Its holistic approach encompasses segmentation and microsegmentation of networks, compliance with regulations and international standards, and continuous training to minimise human risks.
In addition, Izertis is a leader in secure and ethical AI services, which are essential to face the new challenges of cybersecurity in healthcare.
Because digital health cannot be understood without trust, and trust is built on security.