Imani Tate

2 results

Safeguarding Healthcare: Prescribing Strategies to Mitigate Digital Threats

In today's digital age, the healthcare sector is undergoing a rapid transformation. Innovative technologies are enhancing patient care and streamlining operations, but they also bring significant cybersecurity challenges. Healthcare organizations, both public and private, must address these evolving threats to protect critical systems and patient data. Healthcare has long been a target for cyber threats, with malicious actors becoming more sophisticated over time. The growing use of healthcare technology, including telehealth services and wearable devices, has expanded the attack surface, making robust cybersecurity essential. The primary threats healthcare organizations face are malware and ransomware attacks, which can disrupt vital operations. This blog, based on a recent conversation I had with Amber Pearson, Executive Director of Information Security Policy, VA at a Health IT Summit panel, will unpack how healthcare organizations – both in the public and private sectors – can ward off emerging cybersecurity threats. Zero Trust: A fundamental shift One essential cybersecurity strategy is the adoption of the Zero Trust model. Zero Trust is based on the principle of "never trust, always verify." This approach doesn't automatically trust any entity, whether it's a user, device, or network, based on location or past access. Every access attempt must be verified and validated before entry. Zero Trust consists of several core components: Identity Verification: Users and devices must verify their identity using multi-factor authentication or biometrics. Least Privilege Access: Users and devices only get minimal access required, limiting potential damage in the event of a breach. MongoDB's role-based access control features can help enforce the principle of least privilege, ensuring that users and devices only have access to the specific data and functionality necessary for their roles. Micro-Segmentation: Dividing the network into smaller segments to contain potential threats. Continuous Monitoring: Real-time analysis of network traffic to detect abnormal behavior. MongoDB's scalability and flexibility make it suitable for storing and analyzing large volumes of logs and events, helping identify and respond to suspicious activities promptly. Assumption of Breach: Operating with the assumption that a breach has occurred or could happen at any time. MongoDB can assist in implementing Zero Trust by securely managing patient data and providing a flexible and scalable data storage solution for healthcare applications, including telehealth services, wearable devices, and interconnected systems. It ensures strict control and monitoring of access to patient data, even for users within the network, and third-party vendors and contractors must adhere to the same stringent security standards when accessing healthcare data. Zero Trust is not just a product or service but a comprehensive strategy that demands constant vigilance and a shift in the approach to cybersecurity. Balancing security and interoperability Interoperability in healthcare refers to different systems and devices exchanging data effectively. It's crucial for modernizing healthcare systems and delivering high-quality care. However, interoperability introduces complexity and risk in terms of cybersecurity. Interoperability means more potential pathways for cyber threats. Attackers can exploit vulnerabilities in any connected device or system to gain unauthorized access to sensitive healthcare data. To address this, healthcare organizations should: Security by Design: Collaborate with vendors to embed security in system design, including rigorous testing and encryption. MongoDB's built-in flexible security features ensure that data is protected at the database level, and its encryption capabilities can safeguard sensitive healthcare information. Continuous Monitoring: Actively watch for anomalies, unauthorized access attempts, or unusual behavior across interconnected systems. MongoDB can play a pivotal role in storing and analyzing logs and event data, facilitating real-time monitoring and threat detection. Risk Assessment: Assess risks associated with each device, system, or vendor within the interoperable ecosystem. MongoDB's role-based access control and auditing features can help organizations assess and mitigate risks tied to data access and manipulation. Interoperability enhances patient care but introduces security challenges. A proactive and collaborative approach is essential to mitigate these risks, protecting patient data in an interconnected healthcare landscape. MongoDB is an ideal partner for healthcare interoperability due to its flexibility, scalability, and robust security features. Most importantly, its document-based architecture allows healthcare systems to seamlessly integrate diverse data sources, such as electronic health records, medical imaging, and patient data, fostering interoperability. The database's ability to handle complex, unstructured data makes it well-suited for the diverse data types prevalent in healthcare. Don't discount insider threats Insider threats involve individuals with legitimate access to healthcare systems who misuse data maliciously. To combat these threats, organizations must actively monitor information systems and collaborate with organizations like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) for additional defense. The proliferation of devices and remote work introduces new challenges. Enforcing strict cyber hygiene for all connected devices is vital. Promoting a security-first culture prioritizes open communication, collaboration, and proactive measures. Building organizational resilience, with open communication, regular risk assessments, and engagement at all levels, creates a robust cybersecurity posture. In conclusion, technological advancement in healthcare must align with a robust cybersecurity strategy. Embracing Zero Trust, balancing security with interoperability, addressing insider threats, and building organizational resilience are essential steps. By promoting a security-first culture and prioritizing cyber hygiene, healthcare organizations can protect patient data and maintain the seamless operation of healthcare facilities in the face of evolving cyber threats. Visit our Trust Center to learn more about MongoDB's dedication to data security Read our whitepaper Cybersecurity: Building the Next Generation of Threat Intelligence with MongoDB to learn more about cybersecurity and MongoDB.

October 19, 2023

MongoDB Atlas for Government on AWS Achieves FedRAMP® Moderate Authorization

MongoDB has achieved the formal FedRAMP® Moderate Authorized designation for MongoDB Atlas for Government (US) , the most secure way for the US Government to deploy, run, and scale MongoDB in the cloud. Additionally, MongoDB has worked with an independent auditor to validate our ability to support customers subject to Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) requirements regarding how sensitive data is created, viewed, modified, transmitted, disseminated, stored, and destroyed. MongoDB Atlas for Government Atlas for Government is an independent, dedicated environment of MongoDB Atlas for the US public sector, as well as ISVs looking to build US public sector offerings. This developer data platform – an integrated set of data and application services that share a unified developer experience – supports a wide range of use cases including transactional workloads, time series data, search, and petabyte data storage. Built on AWS and running in US AWS regions, Atlas for Government has been generally available since June 2021 and provides the simplest way to deploy, operate, and scale modern applications, all in a FedRAMP Moderate Authorized environment. Atlas for Government highlights include: MongoDB clusters deployed in AWS GovCloud or AWS US East/West (US) regions , and leverage the full functionality of MongoDB's document database, Atlas Search, fully automated backup, time series, and more. Guaranteed high availability with a ~99.995% uptime SLA which auto-scales up or down to accommodate fluctuations in data consumption, affording greater flexibility and cost control. Unparalleled security , with all security features built-in at no additional cost. Also, Atlas for Government is operated by MongoDB employees who are US persons on US soil. Support for both AWS GovCloud regions so customers can create multi-GovCloud region clusters and backups that stay within those regions and copy to both. ISVs can use Atlas for Government to store US government data and rapidly build their own FedRAMP offerings. All encryption within Atlas for Government is FIPS validated. These features make Atlas for Government uniquely positioned to support mission-critical applications across the US public sector. How MongoDB powers key use cases across the public sector MongoDB Atlas is already powering innovative applications in a number of sectors. And now, Atlas for Government is primed to power critical applications across public sector agencies and the ISVs that support them. Healthcare MongoDB is built to bring together data from disparate databases, systems, and data formats to create a single view of the patient. And with Atlas for Government’s dynamic schema, government agencies can enrich their view of patients with data from new sources, such as connected health devices. Both MongoDB and FHIR natively support the JSON format, the standard that supports rich data structures and objects prevalent in healthcare such as patient data, claims, policies, and treatment information. Financial services Agencies that participate in financial services activities must fully commit to digital transformation – liberating data, empowering developers, and embracing disruption — to keep up with the expectations of instantaneous transactions. Whether it's trading platforms and end-to-end digital loan origination, or AI/ML-driven fraud detection systems and financial 'super apps', Atlas for Government enables innovation and speed for government agencies that conduct payments and core banking applications. Federal, state, and local government National, regional, and local governments are facing pressing challenges with rising costs, changing regulations, and complex technological demands. The traditional systems currently in place are expensive and improperly equipped to handle modern needs for scale, cost efficiency, and flexibility. Atlas for Government opens doors for new initiatives like building smart cities, planning for traffic and construction updates, and improving the welfare of citizens. Education From groundbreaking data-based research to the administrative management of schools’ complex ecosystems, proper data management can transform how educational institutions operate. A modern data platform helps institutions navigate complex challenges like providing continuous learning, teaching with limited resources, and retaining students and staff. Atlas for Government offers an intuitive, secure, cost-effective solution for institutions dedicated to all stages of education. How do I get started? Customers can fill out the form on the MongoDB Atlas for Government page and a MongoDB specialist will get in touch with further details to set up. The specialist will help you set up Atlas for Government clusters (US) and you can either launch a new workload, migrate your existing Atlas workload to Atlas for Government, or re-platform your existing workloads by engaging with our professional services. Please also refer to the technical documentation for Atlas for Government for more details, or learn more on MongoDB University .

February 8, 2023