MN502 Overview Of Network Security

Network security is important for every organisation as it enables security in all the resources and assets. Network security act as a defence for all the layers as it protects all the resources and offers integrity to the data packets. It identifies various threats and stops them to penetrate in the system. In health care network, security helps in securing the data from all the third party users.

In health care networks security is maintained by firewalls that do not allow unauthenticated user to access the data. In this report, the focus is upon the health care networks and how steps could be taken to protect the network from all the bugs. The first part of the report focuses upon the architecture of health care networks and the devices that are needed to transfer data from one network to other.

Literature review on Healthcare Networks

It is observed that medical institutions are using computer networks and healthcare network technology to make sure that data remain secure and allow access to information through a centralised system. Health care centres have adopted the use of healthcare networks so that the problems of authentication, security and privacy are resolved. In the network architecture, there are various devices that offer benefits. The network architecture consists of routers, firewalls, switches and hubs [1]. Hubs are a device that is used to link various components with the servers and workstations. They are basically used to support various clusters in the network. Switches are also used to move the data packets from one device to other [8].

Switching devices are used to connect network adapters to MAC address. Router is a device that is used to send the data packets from one network segment to another. Theses network devices are used to exchange information from device to other. They transfer the information through a most efficient path. Load balances and firewalls are also the part of network architecture [2]. Firewall controls the overall traffic and assures that security is met. Load balancer is used for making sure that all the servers perform same function. Load balancers decide ere the packets need to be sent. These devices help in making sure that information is secured and is transferred in an authenticated manner without causing nay security breach.

Recent developments in healthcare networks

There are various developments in healthcare networks like the navigation is done through pocket wallets. Customers are allowed to control all their operations through phone access. They can fix their appointments through mobile gadgets along with payments could be den using their pocket ecosystem [3]. The innovation has swept the entire health care industry by making all the operations automatic. They also make use of artificial intelligence so that monitoring could be done easily and by minimizing the staffing challenges. Artificial intelligence makes sure that operations are completed in faster time with full rates [14]. It has also offered staffing flexibility along with health care facilities.

The recent development in the health care is use of block chain facilities that helps in controlling the data. Internet of medical things is the other development that helped healthcare IT systems to communicate with each other [4]. Some of the new devices are available that helps in tracking and sharing the data just by being connected through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. These developments helps in increasing the speed and offer remote monitoring that increases accountability of patients by offering accurate results instead of relying upon the manual reports. The automation also decreases human efforts and increases adaptability by offering a complete built on a feedback loops that patient outcomes can be improved.

The importance of security in healthcare networks 

It is very important to maintain security of all the health care networks as it stores confidential and private information of a patient which should not be leaked. If security breach occurs patients may not feel secure in receiving the care they need. It is important to maintain privacy of all the data in the health care network as it may allow access to unauthorised user and also allow competitors to use the data [2]. For these reasons, it is necessary for the health care professionals to use smart strategies to prevent data breaches and keep patients information confidential. The health care information is very important as it contains facts regarding someone life.

Thus, it is necessary to control all the access and allowing only valid user to access the information [10]. It is important to protect the system as cybercrimes are increasing which has improved the risk of data of being stolen. It makes use of secure sharing tool so that patients’ record could be managed and secured easily [13]. The healthcare industries need to protect the data so that success rates and efficiency increases. The security reduces the chances of risks and increases liability of practising consistently.

Possible potential security issues in Healthcare Networks

The threats are increasing in the health care department. Some of the current issues are:

Ransomware- It is a serious problem that is faced in health care network. It is a malware that have caused serious issues in the operations and services. They use the sensitive information through some other gateways. Accessing the information through unauthorised means causes security breach [3]. They enter in the system and access eth files without any knowledge. It updates the information without any notice that may create false information about the patient. Ransom ware is one such attack that prevents the company to access the files of valid users [11]. This is an issue as the authorised user is not able to access the information and hackers use the encrypted information. They future deliver wrong instructions to third party users by exchanging the information and future leak the confidential information about the patient. 

Legacy medical hardware and software- It is found that the hardware and software also consists of bugs. The medical equipment’s are quiet expensive as they cannot be replaced. If the hardware or software gets affected it infects the entire system  [4]. This in turn breaches the overall security. The cybercrimes are increasing thus it is important to install firewalls and antiviruses software in the system so that overall security is maintained. These have increased the risk of information leakage as it allows third part user to access the information [12].

Phishing- The phishing attacks have increased in the recent times as it risks the overall healthcare industries. In the report, it was found that email attachments are used to transfer health care records to patients. Thus, these have increased due to phishing as it captures all the personal information along with login credentials [4]. From the report, it was found that national health information sharing and analysis centre have increased the risk of fraudulent emails. Thus, these phishing attacks should be removed so that all the programs are protected and authentication is maintained.  

These issues are increasing as the demand of medical records. The risk is associated for handling the medical information that is stored over internet. The cybercrimes have increased as reports and all the medical information is shared through the online networks [5]. The risk can be eliminated or reduced by taking backup of the data so that even in case of failure information can be discovered back.

Possible solutions

These issues are increasing day by day, thus some of the possible solutions that are taken to avoid these threats are using leverage trusted technology that helps patient to make effective decisions about their health issue [6]. Healthcare cyber security creates actionable insights by allowing only valid user to access the trusted data.

• The solution for ransomware is that information should be backed up so that it can be recovered in case of loss. It is also suggested that macros should not be enabled and all the attachment should be opened carefully. The best way to safeguard the system from cybercrimes is to use a proper intrusion system as it secures all the open ports [7]. The antiviruses protect the system and safe it from all the infections.
• The solution for legacy medical hardware and software is using a secure network, secure identities and secure mobile environment. The hardware and network can be secured by protecting the network through firewalls, antimalware programs, network isolation or spam filters. These methods helps in controlling the identity by allowing access to only valid user and making sure that information is remains confidential [8]. Intrusion prevention system is used for featuring signatures so that only valid users have the rights to access the information [9]. It detects all the bugs that might have penetrated in the system.
• The solution for phishing attack is making sure all the web applications are secured. Web applications are used to exchange healthcare information so that information is secured from all the web attacks [10]. Apart from that, attacks can be controlled by designing an access control list that determines the valid user that access the information and stops threats to hit the system and cause any security breach. Phishing of data can be resolved by verifying the site security and checking all the online statements regularly. High quality of firewalls also helps in stopping the intruder to hit the system [8]. There is various antivirus software available that help in dealing with the loopholes. Mostly, phishing attack occurs through emails and spams thus it is assured that emails are done through authenticated site.

Conclusion

            It can be concluded from this report that security is a key concern in every sector.  In health care networks there   are various issues like security breaching which can cause loss of confidentiality, integrity and availability. In this report the recent developments that took place in healthcare networks are discussed and the importance of security in health care networks is analysed. The threats that hit the heath care networks are also discussed. Additionally, the potential security issues in the health care network are discussed. Some of the common threat that is faced in health care network is ransomware, phishing and legacy medical hardware and software. The solution for these attacks is backing up the data at regular time interval, securing the network using firewalls and antimalware software.

References

 [1]F. Cohen, "Managing network security — Part 15: Y2K alternative solutions", Network Security, vol. 1998, no. 1, pp. 16-18, 2016.

[2]F. Cohen, "Managing network security — Part 15: Y2K alternative solutions", Network Security, vol. 1998, no. 1, pp. 16-18, 2015.

[3]A. Willem and P. Gemmel, "Do governance choices matter in health care networks?: an exploratory configuration study of health care networks", BMC Health Services Research, vol. 13, no. 1, 2013.

 [4]P. Silverston, "The Importance of Teaching Risk Assessment and Safety-Netting Skills in Primary Care", Primary Health Care: Open Access, vol. 04, no. 01, 2014.

 [5]G. Meads, V. Lattimer and A. Burgess, "Urgent health care networks", Primary Health Care Research & Development, vol. 9, no. 02, 2017.

 [6]D. Mascia, F. Pallotti and R. Dandi, "Determinants of knowledge-sharing networks in primary care", Health Care Management Review, p. 1, 2017.

[7]W. Madsen, "Health Care Industry Debate: Electronic Versus Digital Signatures", Network Security, vol. 2000, no. 12, p. 5, 2016.

 [8]B. Hancock, "Network Solutions Re-evaluates Security", Computers & Security, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 398-400, 2016.

 [9]D. Forte, "An overview of the best known virtual solutions", Network Security, vol. 2008, no. 10, pp. 16-18, 2016.

[10]"Cybersecurity: Obama takes care of business", Network Security, vol. 2009, no. 2, pp. 1-2, 2015.

 [11]A. Willem and P. Gemmel, "Do governance choices matter in health care networks?: an exploratory configuration study of health care networks", BMC Health Services Research, vol. 13, no. 1, 2015

[12] S. R Islam., Kwak, D., Kabir, M. H., Hossain, M., & Kwak, The internet of things for health care: a comprehensive survey. IEEE Access, 3, 678-708, 2015.