Securing Healthcare Data with Network Visibility

The integration of digital technologies into work has revolutionized how tasks are performed, and how data is collected, stored and shared. The shift, driven by advances in technology such as the internet, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and mobile communication, cuts across all sectors including the health sector. The digitalization of healthcare organizations has refined the relationships between care providers and patients, changed the way patients’ data are managed, and how treatment choices are made and delivered. While the development of electronic health information and e-prescriptions as well as the deployment of electronic information and communication technologies have enhanced the delivery of quality healthcare services, they have also introduced fresh layers of challenges especially in relation to the security of healthcare data.

Healthcare Data

Every piece of information related to a person’s health status such as their medical history to diagnostics, treatments and other details collected from patients, third parties, and through wearable devices and other sources at any particular time. This data is collected and used by healthcare providers, public health researchers, and insurers to make clinical decisions, deliver care, monitor disease, improve outcomes, and support medical research.

As cyberattacks become more sophisticated, securing healthcare technologies and data has become equally critical.

Healthcare Data Security and Network Visibility

Healthcare data security is the deployment of technologies to protect health records and other sensitive information within the healthcare systems from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

According to a market analysis report by Grand View Research, the global healthcare IT market size estimated at USD 663.0 billion in 2023 is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.8% from 2024 to 2030. Since the deployment of technology in healthcare can facilitate patient-centred care, reduce medication errors by up to 80% and improve patient outcomes by up to 30%, it becomes expedient that the technologies and tools that enable the collection, storage and management of electronic health information, and other health-related data are efficiently secured, alongside the data. The first step towards achieving this is for healthcare organizations to have real-time visibility into their network in order to identify and mitigate threats long before they cause any damage to sensitive information and alter network operations.

Network visibility is the ability to monitor and analyse network traffic across all OSI layers, for a comprehensive understanding of how data moves across the network, and the ability to identify and resolve challenges in real-time. In the healthcare industry, network visibility is becoming increasingly important as it enables streamlined IT operations, the detection of threats, and improves healthcare digitization with a focus on patient-centred ecosystems of the future (Draer, 2025).

Benefits of Incorporating Network Visibility into Healthcare IT Infrastructure

By leveraging network visibility solutions, healthcare organizations can ensure optimal network performance, health data security, and the delivery of quality care to patients. Here are some of the advantages of incorporating network visibility into the healthcare IT infrastructure:

• Enhanced Network Performance: Real-time visibility into network traffic ensures the prompt detection and mitigation of threats that can alter efficiency. This will ensure the smooth operation of the network as well as the efficient deployment of healthcare applications for improved service delivery within the healthcare ecosystem.
• Improved Security: The incorporation of network visibility into healthcare technology infrastructure enables the real-time monitoring of network traffic for quick identification and resolution of unusual patterns that may indicate cyber threats and enable the protection of sensitive electronic health records (EHRs). Network visibility keeps healthcare information safe from cyberattacks.
• Improved Data Management: Network visibility enables the prioritization and optimization of data flow across a network and the NOC/SOC tools. This prevents the excessive or inappropriate collection, use, or analysis of data, and reduces the risks of non-compliance to regulatory standards, privacy violation, and their consequences.
• Support for Telehealth and Remote Work: Network visibility ensures secure and reliable access to resources by healthcare providers working remotely.
• Improved Patient-centered Care Delivery: Network visibility ensures that that patients’ health information is readily available and accessible for informed decision-making and the delivery of high-quality and personalized care.
• Harmonization of Healthcare IT Tools: Network visibility enables the successful integration of healthcare technologies to enable communication within the system. A comprehensive end-to-end network visibility keeps all the applications connected thus enabling the viewing of health reports online and promoting real-time consultation and collaboration between colleagues and specialists from clinics or whenever and wherever needed.
• Cost Efficiency: Network visibility helps healthcare organizations save costs by identifying inefficiencies in the network and optimizing resource utilization. By improving the overall performance and security of the network and the NOC/SOC tools, healthcare providers can also reduce the risk of costly downtime and wasted resources.
• Regulatory Compliance: Network visibility enables compliance to regulations such as the HIPAA, GDPR, and PIPEDA through continuous tracking and auditing of data flows. It provides detailed logs and reports required for regulatory audits and investigations.

Data Privacy Laws and Regulations Governing Healthcare Data Security

There are specific data privacy laws and regulations established to protect sensitive patient health information, ensure confidentiality, and regulate how healthcare data is collected, stored, accessed, and shared. Some of the regulations are discussed below:

1. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): This healthcare data security law is prominent in the United States and it ensures that sensitive patient health information is not disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge. The law is applicable to healthcare providers, insurance companies, third-party service providers, and any other personnel managing electronic protected health information (ePHI). The violation of HIPAA can result in penalties ranging from $100 to $50,000 per violation, with a maximum annual penalty of $1.5 million.

2. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – The European Union regulation ensures that organizations that process the personal data of EU citizens, including healthcare providers, protect them. Under the GDPR, patients have the right to access, correct, and delete their data. Patients’ health information can only be processed following the obtained consent of data subjects. Non-compliance with GDPR can result in fines of up to €20 million or 4% of the organization’s global annual turnover, whichever is higher.

3. Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) – The Canadian law regulates how private sector organizations including healthcare services collect, use, and disclose personal information for commercial purposes without compromising patients’ privacy. Organizations must report data breaches or risk penalties up to $100,000 per violation.

Compliance with these regulations can help healthcare organizations protect patient data and privacy, avoid legal consequences and reputational damage, and ensure continued healthcare services.

Telliswall Inc. has over the years shown great commitment to ensuring data security and privacy across industries including the health sector. Our visibility solutions will enable the optimal performance of your network and help you deliver high-quality care to your patients and adapt to the evolving digital healthcare landscape while you comply with the requirements of relevant regulations.

References

Draer, Z. (2025). The Importance of Network Visibility in Modern Healthcare https://blog.niagaranetworks.com/blog/modern-healthcare

Ismail, N. (2017) Network Visibility: Taking the Pulse of Modern Healthcare https://www.information-age.com/network-visibility-taking-pulse-modern-healthcare-5890/

Riverbed Technology (2025). Empowering Patient-Centered Healthcare with Visibility Solutions https://www.store.riverbed.com/blogs/network-visibility-solutions-for-patient-healthcare/

Storchak, Y. (2024) Healthcare Data Security: What It Is, Benefits and Main Challenges https://www.syteca.com/en/blog/healthcare-data-protection-solutions-monitor-and-audit-your-software

The HIPAA Journal (2025) Healthcare Data Breach Statistics https://www.hipaajournal.com/healthcare-data-breach-statistics/