Introduction
As the target of ransomware and other types of cyberattacks, healthcare organizations need to follow a cybersecurity framework that prevents breaches and the resulting loss of patient data. A Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) is a set of guidelines and written policies for data governance, risk assessment protocols, and procedures that serve to mitigate organizational cybersecurity risks. Without a structured approach, healthcare providers remain vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated threats that can compromise electronic health records (EHRs) and disrupt critical care operations.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework recommends a cycle of identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover that can be achieved using the right security tools. This proven methodology gives healthcare organizations a clear, repeatable process for strengthening their security posture while maintaining compliance with industry regulations. Each phase of the framework builds upon the last, creating a comprehensive defense strategy tailored to the unique demands of the healthcare environment.
Here's an overview of the parts of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and the solutions that can help your healthcare organization align with it. Whether you're building a cybersecurity program from scratch or looking to close gaps in your existing strategy, understanding these five core functions is essential to safeguarding patient data and ensuring operational resilience.
Identifying assets that must be kept secure and the risks that threaten them is the first step in preventing an attack. If threats can be identified, they can be stopped before the patient information stored in electronic health records (EHRs) is stolen or compromised. Achieving greater network visibility enables your healthcare organization to identify more risks, and information about the nature of a threat and its root cause can help prevent a similar attack from happening in the future.
Data protection is an equally crucial part of a cybersecurity framework. Your healthcare organization must be capable of protecting patient data, as well as the applications needed to analyze and process information. A basic 3-2-1 backup rule involves creating three backup copies of your critical data, storing backups in two different backup locations, and using one location that is geographically separated from your production data. These measures ensure that even in a worst-case scenario, your organization retains access to essential information.
Beyond backup strategies, other tools that help with network and device protection are multi-factor authentication (MFA) for access control, next-generation firewall (NGFW), and network segmentation. Together, these solutions form a layered defense that significantly reduces the attack surface available to cybercriminals. Derive Technologies works with healthcare providers to assess their current protection measures and implement the right combination of tools to fortify their infrastructure against evolving threats.
Detect and Respond: Staying Ahead of Cybersecurity Threats in Healthcare
Before your healthcare organization can defend itself against an attack, you must detect threats. Suspicious and anomalous network traffic are usually signs of an impending attack, and without the proper detection capabilities, these warning signs can go unnoticed until it's too late. Early detection is the difference between a contained incident and a full-scale breach that compromises patient data and disrupts clinical operations.
Extended Detection and Response (XDR) is the next generation of endpoint detection security that works across networks, cloud-hosted apps, and endpoints such as laptops, workstations, and tablets. XDR provides the extended visibility and analysis needed to detect threats in real time, giving healthcare IT teams the actionable intelligence they need to act swiftly. By correlating data from multiple sources, XDR eliminates blind spots and delivers a holistic view of your organization's threat landscape.
Once your organization detects a threat, you must be capable of responding. Healthcare providers should have a plan in place for how to keep operations running after an attack. A response plan involves investigating and containing an attack before it can spread, preventing the threat from causing damage such as stealing data or shutting down systems. Incident response management can analyze an incident and automate a correct response, and XDR combines detection and response security for a proactive approach that keeps your healthcare organization one step ahead of adversaries.
Recovering from a cybersecurity attack requires the restoration of critical assets, such as network components and patient data. Without a well-defined recovery plan, even a minor incident can lead to prolonged downtime, regulatory penalties, and erosion of patient trust. Healthcare organizations must treat recovery not as an afterthought, but as a core pillar of their cybersecurity framework.
Backup and disaster recovery will enable your organization to bounce back from a cyberattack. Ideally, backups should be stored off-site in case on-site backup files are deleted or destroyed. Any backup and disaster recovery plan should be tested regularly and should meet Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and Recovery Time Objective (RTO) goals. Regular testing ensures that when a real incident occurs, your team can execute the recovery process confidently and within acceptable timeframes, minimizing the impact on patient care and day-to-day operations.
Making your security strategy align with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework can be a big undertaking, but it doesn't have to be done alone. Working with a technology partner that has experience with healthcare providers ensures you get the guidance you need to uncover gaps in your framework and find the right solutions to support them. Derive Technologies has the expertise and healthcare-specific knowledge to help your organization build a resilient, future-ready cybersecurity posture that protects what matters most—your patients and their data.
The Takeaway for IT Buyers
Derive Technologies has been serving many healthcare providers in the Tri-State area for over 20 years through our dedicated healthcare practice. We understand how to help your organization choose and implement the right security tools to realize a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that aligns with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. From identifying vulnerabilities to building robust recovery plans, our team partners with you at every stage of the journey.
As a Cisco Premier Certified Partner, we have the certified expertise needed to leverage leading network security solutions for your needs. Our deep relationships with industry-leading technology vendors allow us to design, deploy, and support cybersecurity solutions that are cost-effective, scalable, and tailored to the unique demands of the healthcare industry. Whether your organization needs to strengthen endpoint detection, implement advanced backup strategies, or overhaul its incident response capabilities, Derive has the knowledge and resources to deliver results.
Building a cybersecurity framework is not a one-time project—it's an ongoing commitment to protecting patient data and ensuring operational continuity. With Derive Technologies as your trusted partner, you gain access to decades of healthcare IT expertise and a consultative approach that puts your organization's security first. To find out more about how to build a cybersecurity framework, request a free security assessment from Derive Technologies today.