Healthcare Data Protection: GDPR Compliance in Hospitals

The healthcare sector is one of the most vulnerable to cyberattacks. This is due to the large volume of sensitive and confidential data it manages. It is one of the sectors that generates the most data, which is why GDPR compliance and the implementation of IT security systems to minimize the risk of data breaches are critical concerns for any company, organization, entity, or association operating in this field. These measures must be included in their operational policies.

In 2022, 89% of healthcare organizations experienced an average of 43 attacks. Nearly one every week.

In addition to GDPR compliance, the healthcare sector is also subject to the Patient Autonomy Law, which establishes strict confidentiality requirements for medical data.

However, ensuring that information is not transferred to third parties does not mean it cannot be compromised through cyberattacks, especially if appropriate security measures are not in place.

How to Comply with GDPR in Hospitals and Clinics

As explained in our previous article, GDPR Technical Aspects: Data Protection in IT Systems, GDPR compliance is not just a bureaucratic process. It involves technical requirements that must be implemented within an organization’s IT infrastructure to ensure effective compliance.

Complying with GDPR goes hand in hand with preventing cyberattacks. When a hospital or clinic suffers a cyber incident, it means data has been exposed, violating both GDPR and the Patient Autonomy Law. To reduce the risk of malware infiltration, healthcare organizations must meet specific technical requirements and implement cybersecurity solutions across their systems.

Essential IT Security Measures for Data Protection in Hospitals and Clinics

Before deploying any security solution, it is essential to understand the actual needs of the system being protected. There is a common belief that adding more security measures automatically increases protection. However, at ESED, as cybersecurity specialists, we know this is not always true. To effectively reduce malware risk, systems should only include measures that truly add value and protection.

Poorly configured or unsuitable security solutions can become security gaps themselves.

Therefore, the first step is to conduct a system audit to identify vulnerabilities and determine the most effective remediation strategy.

Once the audit is completed, what solutions should be implemented?

A Defined Cybersecurity Strategy: Best Practices Guide

Cybersecurity strategies define how data is protected, processed, and used. They act as a best practices manual to reduce cyber risks and establish clear, legal, and effective procedures in the event that an attacker breaches the hospital or clinic’s security systems. This is known as a cyber incident response protocol.

Firewalls and Endpoint:

Firewalls and endpoint security solutions represent the first line of defense against malware infection attempts.

At ESED, we work with endpoint solutions that integrate XDR technology. This allows us to trace the origin of threats, isolate affected devices to prevent lateral movement, and automatically eliminate the threat.

Anti-Phishing Solutions: Email-based attacks remain the most common and effective method used by cybercriminals.

Human error is one of the main entry points for malware in healthcare organizations. Clicking on malicious links or downloading infected files, such as ransomware, continues to be the most efficient way to bypass security controls. This technique is known as phishing.

Anti-phishing solutions filter emails before they reach the recipient’s inbox, significantly reducing risk.

Credential Management: A cybercriminal can crack a 7–8 character password in as little as 2 seconds.

According to a Deloitte report, nearly 90% of user passwords worldwide are vulnerable to cyberattacks. This highlights the importance of creating strong passwords and using password managers to securely access online services.

In addition, enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA or 2FA) is essential to maximize account security.

A Real Example from Our Office

Recently, a marketing team member logged into our company TikTok account from her mobile phone. Immediately, we received an alert on our corporate email notifying us of a new or unknown device login. The situation was resolved quickly, but without two-factor authentication, anyone with the password could have accessed the account.

Regular Backups

Having up-to-date backups allows organizations to quickly and easily restore data after a cyberattack. When backups are outdated or nonexistent, data recovery often requires negotiating with cybercriminals—a scenario that never ends well.

Implementing these security measures in hospitals and clinics directly supports GDPR compliance and significantly reduces the risk of cyberattacks.