As a study shows: 9 out of 10 IT professionals in the healthcare industry attest to deficiencies in the security of patient data. Over 90% of healthcare facilities in Germany have already suffered a data protection incident.
According to a recent study by SOTI entitled "A crucial investment: At the pulse of technology in healthcare", 91% of healthcare facilities in Germany (70% worldwide) have suffered at least one data protection incident since 2020. Still, 83% of respondents (76% globally) believe that full digitization of medical records can improve data security and reduce the risk of data loss.
Digitization & data loss
The advantages of digitization in healthcare are obvious: cost and time savings for the facilities, easier access and better quality of care for patients. But the IT specialists in healthcare facilities also warn of security gaps when handling electronically managed patient data.
Almost two-thirds of those surveyed in Germany (50% worldwide) are concerned about insufficient employee training and stolen or lost devices, which sometimes contain sensitive patient data. 74% of healthcare professionals surveyed (57% globally) see highly sensitive patient data in healthcare facilities as more at risk than ever. Since 2020, there have been security incidents, in particular due to the following reasons:
- Loss of data due to intentional or negligent misconduct by employees (63% in Germany; 49% worldwide)
- Data breaches due to external causes, such as DDoS attacks (59% in Germany; 48% worldwide)
Germany sad leader
"Among the countries we surveyed, Germany is the sad frontrunner when it comes to security incidents," says Stefan Mennecke, VP of Sales, Central, Eastern and Southern Europe at SOTI. “In addition to incomplete integration of connected devices and high device downtimes, a lack of data protection is one of the main obstacles to successful digitization in healthcare. The SOTI study results underscore the importance of a comprehensive and professional approach to this topic.”
security measures are still insufficient
The surveyed IT specialists in the healthcare sector see a need to catch up in various areas, but 85% of the healthcare facilities surveyed in Germany (73% worldwide) are now conducting data protection training for all employees with access to patient data. 75% of facilities (68% globally) have IT help desks or equivalent apps in place to quickly resolve issues using IoT and telehealth devices.
“Securing sensitive healthcare data is critical to patient trust. Without this, the digitization of the healthcare system cannot succeed,” explains Mennecke. “Digitization must therefore be carried out professionally and comprehensively. With an enterprise mobility management solution, healthcare organizations can protect devices and data, building trust with patients. By remotely managing devices and IoT endpoints, they can be deactivated in the event of a data breach, preventing patient data from falling into the wrong hands.”
Directly to the study PDF at Soti.net
About SOTI
SOTI is a leading provider of mobility and IoT device management solutions with more than 17.000 enterprise customers and millions of managed devices around the world. SOTI's innovative portfolio of solutions and services provides the tools companies need to truly mobilize their operations and get the most out of their mobility investments.