Securing the Future of Healthcare: Strategic IT Security Investments as a Cornerstone of Organizational Resilience

This is part two of BHS Connect’s five-part series on the ROI of IT security. We’ve already explored how smart investments lead to greater efficiency and compliance. Now, we turn our attention to resilience. In this article, we’ll look at how proactive security strategies prepare healthcare organizations to handle emerging threats, natural disasters, and digital transformation challenges.

We all know that the long-term success of a healthcare organization hinges on a proactive and strategic approach to IT security. With the rise of telehealth, AI-powered diagnostics, and interconnected medical devices, the digital transformation of healthcare has opened new doors for care and collaboration—but it has also introduced greater risks. Cyber threats and operational disruptions are becoming more sophisticated, making security a top priority. Drawing from our experience with leading organizations, the BHS Connect team has compiled best practices to help healthcare systems stay secure, resilient, and ready for the challenges of tomorrow.

Preparing for Quantum Computing

Quantum computing, though still in its early stages, is already casting a long shadow over traditional cryptographic methods. The sheer power of quantum computing poses a significant challenge to modern encryption methods like RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) and ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography), which are foundational to securing sensitive healthcare data. For healthcare providers, the implications are profound. Patient records, financial information, and operational systems all depend on encryption as their first line of defense. As quantum capabilities advance, relying on today’s encryption standards won’t be enough. Preparing for the quantum era isn’t just a forward-thinking strategy—it’s a necessary step to ensure long-term security and resilience in the face of emerging threats.

While quantum-resistant encryption has yet to reach mainstream adoption, the clock is ticking. It’s as Anand Oswal of Palo Alto Networks indicates in a recent Forbes article, Breaking Encryption: How To Prepare For Tomorrow’s Quantum Risk Today, “Athletes train for months and years before a big marathon, not the day before the race. Preparing for a post-quantum world is like training—it needs to start in advance.”  A critical strategy is adopting cryptographic agility—building flexible systems that can adapt to or replace current algorithms as post-quantum standards are developed. By prioritizing this adaptability in both software and hardware, organizations create a safety net against the disruptive potential of quantum advancements. Cryptographic agility ensures they can pivot quickly and securely, maintaining trust and safeguarding sensitive data in an unpredictable future.

With strict regulations and high stakes, proactive preparation for quantum threats offers the healthcare sector a critical advantage, strengthening security and ensuring long-term compliance. Resources like NIST’s Post-Quantum Cryptography project are helping to shape quantum-resistant standards. By keeping a close eye on NIST’s progress and recommendations, healthcare leaders can stay informed and ensure their strategies align with the latest best practices in cryptographic security.

Preparing for quantum computing starts with evaluating current cryptographic tools. A thorough audit of encryption practices, identifying vulnerabilities, and upgrading outdated systems are essential first steps. Tools incompatible with future quantum-resistant protocols should be prioritized for replacement as part of a long-term transition plan. By weaving these preparations into their broader cybersecurity strategies, organizations can ensure they’re ready when quantum computing moves from theory to reality.

Building internal expertise or collaborating with external specialists in quantum-safe encryption offers a meaningful edge. Educating IT teams on quantum computing’s implications and fostering a mindset of continuous learning helps organizations stay ahead of rapid technological changes. While the transition to a quantum-ready future will take time, starting now ensures organizations are better prepared to safeguard their systems, protect patient data, and uphold their reputations when the shift arrives.

Creating a Resilient Infrastructure for Crisis Situations

Natural disasters, pandemics, and other large-scale crises have highlighted the fragility of traditional IT infrastructures. Building a secure and resilient network with redundancy and distributed systems can ensure essential healthcare operations continue, even in the face of major disruptions. By designing systems to “fail open,” critical applications remain functional, even if a server or data center experiences a failure, helping to sustain care when it’s needed most.

We’ve seen successful organizations implement robust backup and disaster recovery strategies, including offsite data storage and secure cloud-based platforms. These redundancies help minimize disruptions and ensure patient care remains the top priority.

Here are a few examples of how redundancy and distributed systems can bolster healthcare IT resilience:

• Multi-Region Cloud Services: Hosting applications and data in multiple geographic regions (e.g., across different data centers) helps ensure that if one region goes offline due to a disaster, critical services can remain operational in another.
• Load Balancing: Distributing traffic evenly across several servers or data centers prevents a single point of failure, minimizing the impact of outages or high-demand scenarios.
• NIST Guidelines: The NIST SP 800-34 Contingency Planning Guide provides a structured approach for developing robust continuity strategies, including backup and disaster recovery for healthcare organizations.
• Cloud Provider Best Practices: Many major cloud providers have published resilience frameworks. For instance, Microsoft’s Azure Well-Architected Framework includes guidance on designing highly available and resilient workloads, while AWS offers resources on multi-region application architecture.
• Disaster Preparedness Planning: The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) TRACIE website shares healthcare-specific resources and toolkits on disaster response and recovery, ensuring infrastructure remains operational during crises. 

Data Protection Amid Rapid Digitalization

Because many healthcare systems rely on many different platforms ranging from EHRs and patient portals to wearable sensors and remote monitoring devices, this widens the surface for potential threats. When we build integrated systems with security as a guiding principle, data can move from point to point without giving intruders a foothold. It’s like setting up a sturdy house that’s easy to walk through, yet keeps unwanted guests at bay. Securing these diverse technologies begins with standardized data formats, for example HL7 FHIR, coupled with strong API gateways such as OAuth 2.0 or OpenID Connect. A zero trust mindset also helps by splitting systems into separate zones. In addition, using a microservices framework can contain breaches, so that one compromised piece does not topple the entire infrastructure.

This approach helps protect sensitive information while allowing smooth communication between all the systems involved while balancing ease of use with privacy.

Preparing for the Future

Gathering from what we’ve seen in leading healthcare facilities, future-proofing your organization starts with a deliberate, multi-layered approach to security—blending technology, training, and collaboration to build resilience against emerging threats. Here’s how to turn that approach into action:

• Conduct a Comprehensive Security Evaluation
  Start by taking a close look at your current security measures. This process should include penetration testing, vulnerability scans, and thorough audits of access controls and data protection protocols. For example, check if network-connected medical devices are running outdated firmware or if employee credentials are adequately secured. Under the HIPAA Security Rule, risk analyses should test administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to ensure compliance with HIPAA standards. Periodic risks analyses also help healthcare organizations stay compliant with audit and breach notification requirements. Think of it as a three-pronged approach to ensuring data remains confidential, trustworthy, and accessible when needed. For further guidance on conducting a HIPAA-compliant risk analysis, refer to the OCR’s HIPAA Security Risk Assessment Tool provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).
• Implement Scalable Security Solutions
  Equip your organization with tools that grow and adapt as threats evolve. Ensuring a secure, compliant platform enhances scalability and reliability. Two cloud-based examples could be AWS and Microsoft Azure, both of which provide built-in security features like real-time threat monitoring tailored to healthcare needs. Adopting a zero-trust architecture further strengthens security by assuming every user and device is a potential threat until verified, reducing unauthorized access through strict identity verification and continuous monitoring. Additionally, agile encryption methods ensure your data stays protected against future cryptographic advances by enabling easy upgrades to new standards, including post-quantum security measures.

• Strengthen Employee Training and Awareness
  Your staff plays a crucial role in maintaining a secure organization. By equipping them with the right tools and training, they can become your strongest line of defense against cyber threats. Conduct regular phishing simulations to help employees identify deceptive emails and other security risks. Establish a clear, straightforward process for reporting suspicious activity, ensuring staff feel empowered to take quick action. Provide role-specific training tailored to each department’s needs—for example, emphasizing secure prescribing practices for clinicians or focusing on secure payment processing for billing teams. While human error remains a risk, proactive education can significantly reduce vulnerabilities and create a culture of security awareness. For further reading on phishing attacks and training your employees to spot them, the BHS team recommends these Teach Employees to Avoid Phishing by Cisa. We also like their printable tipsheet about avoiding phishing scams.
• Foster Collaboration and Shared Insights
  Security is a team effort strengthened by working with industry peers. Networks like the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center (H-ISAC) and Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3) exchange information about emerging threats and effective countermeasures. For example, in August 2022, the HC3 detected a phishing attack aimed at healthcare providers. The scam used Evernote-themed emails to trick recipients into downloading a Trojan that stole login credentials. HC3 quickly issued an alert, helping other organizations take preventative action and protect their systems. Collaborating with these networks not only enhances awareness of emerging threats but also strengthens your organization’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to cyber risks.
• Promote a Culture of Accountability
  Security is most effective when it’s embedded in the organizational culture. Limit access to sensitive data through role-based access controls—for example, ensuring a nurse can only access patient information relevant to their care. Implement automated record-keeping systems to log access to patient records, creating a clear trail for auditing and accountability. Encourage daily habits, such as locking computers when stepping away and avoiding public Wi-Fi for work-related activities, to make security a seamless part of everyday operations.

Future-proofing isn’t a one-and-done effort; it’s about creating an organization that’s adaptable, secure, and always alert. By integrating advanced technology, continuous training, and collaborative practices with a culture deeply committed to security, healthcare providers can protect their operations and, most importantly, the trust of their patients.

Final Thoughts

Securing the future of healthcare goes beyond plugging today’s gaps. It calls for a forward-looking plan that spots and handles what’s on the horizon. At BHS Connect, we view IT security investments not just as a shield for patient data, but as a driver for stronger operations, smoother compliance, and fresh thinking. By staying ready for threats like AI-driven hacks and quantum computing, building solid systems that can handle a crisis, and keeping data protection at the heart of a rapidly digitizing industry, healthcare organizations can set themselves up to succeed even when the road ahead is unclear.

Next, we’ll discuss how a security-driven culture can transform data protection efforts across your organization. Read it here: Fostering a Security-Driven Culture: How IT Resources Bring Data Protection Efforts Together

If you missed the first part of this series, catch up on how IT investments drive efficiency and compliance with The ROI of IT Security: How Smart Investments Lead to Greater Efficiency and Compliance