Challenge
Role-Based Access Secures Patient Data
Healthcare establishments need to strictly protect sensitive patient data, research, and other highly confidential material. Tightly controlling access to the network becomes essential to ensuring that patient health information, research data and confidential information remains accessible only to those authorized to view it. By establishing role-based access, healthcare organizations can authorize specific individuals to have some, all or no access to resources on the network. By adding user authentication, unauthorized users attempting to gain access to the network are blocked, further avoiding potential breaches to patient confidentiality.
Secure, Manage and Provision Medical Devices
With the proliferation of medical devices on the network, securing and managing these devices presents unique challenges to healthcare IT organizations. A wide range of patient monitoring systems, medical imaging devices, diagnostics equipment and other devices require uninterrupted network connectivity. Many of these devices are “mobile” (frequently moved throughout the facility) and may be connected to the network either via wireless LANs or wired Ethernet. An effective solution for managing medical devices ensures that only authorized devices are connecting, and contains asset management capabilities for locating and tracking devices throughout the facility.
Secure Wired and Wireless Access for Visitors and Guests
An increasingly diverse and mobile population of users and wireless devices increases the complexity in securing both wired and wireless environments. The growing number and types of devices used by doctors, nurses, clinicians, specialists, and other medical professionals adds to the concerns of securing the network, as does the growing number of visitors and guests seeking access. Add to that the reliance on anywhere/anytime connectivity to systems and to the devices used for patient care (patient monitoring, medical imaging, diagnostics equipment, etc.), and a security solution for both wired and wireless, and for users and guests is essential.
Solution
Network Sentry
In healthcare environments, Bradford Networks’ Adaptive Network Security Platform ensures network integrity by adapting dynamically to evolving network threats. Some of the solutions built on the ANS platform include:
- Access Manager: Provides role-based network access for different types of users to track and better secure Protected Health Information (PHI).
- Device Tracker and Device Profiler: Provision, locate and track IP-enabled medical devices and secure the network ports to which they are connected.
- Guest Manager: Secure guest and wireless networks, while accommodating increasing numbers of mobile devices used by administrators, clinicians, patients and visitors.
Resources
Whitepaper
- Top 4 Network Security Challenges in Healthcare
- HIPAA Requirements Addressed By Bradford’s Network Sentry™
- The Emergence of Adaptive Network Security
- 802.1X and NAC: Best Practices for Effective Network Access Control
- Securing Network Access for Guests and Contractors
- PCI 2.0 Requirements Addressed By Bradford’s Network Sentry™
Case Studies
- Columbia University Medical Center
- Medical University Of South Carolina
- Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
- Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust
Videos
Susquehanna Health
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
