Key Takeaways:
- Traditional security measures leave visibility gaps – Access control and DLP solutions focus on restricting PHI access but do not provide insight into how and where sensitive data is shared across communication channels like emails, chats, and cloud applications.
- The attack surface is expanding – Cloud-based EHRs, telehealth, remote work, and third-party vendor access introduce new risks, making it harder to track and control data movement within healthcare organizations.
- Sensitive healthcare data is highly valuable to cybercriminals – Medical records sell for $60 on the dark web, making them more valuable than Social Security numbers ($15) or credit card details ($3).
- User Activity Monitoring (UAM) enhances visibility – By tracking trends in user behavior and data movement, UAM helps identify potential security gaps and compliance risks.
- UAM streamlines compliance audits – Healthcare organizations can automate logging and maintain an auditable record of data activity, reducing manual tracking burdens and ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements.
PHI Data Protection in Healthcare: How User Activity Monitoring (UAM) Improves Visibility and Compliance
Expanding Visibility Beyond Traditional Data Protection
Data protection is a top priority for healthcare organizations, with patient trust and regulatory compliance hinging on securing sensitive information such as Protected Health Information (PHI). Traditional access control and Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions focus on restricting access and preventing unauthorized file transfers but do not provide visibility into how, where, and through which communication channels sensitive data is shared.
Sensitive healthcare information is not confined to structured databases or secure repositories—it moves through emails, chat platforms, collaboration tools, web applications, and AI-powered tools. Without continuous oversight, organizations may lack awareness of how employees, vendors, and remote workers interact with this data, creating security gaps.
User Activity Monitoring (UAM) helps close this gap by tracking user activity across multiple communication platforms. This allows healthcare organizations to:
- Monitor how sensitive information is handled in emails, chat applications, and web-based tools.
- Track patterns in data movement beyond traditional file access controls.
- Identify trends in user activity that could indicate potential security gaps or risky data-handling behaviors.
The Challenge: Protecting Sensitive Healthcare Data in a Complex Environment
Healthcare organizations manage an enormous volume of sensitive data, including patient records, insurance details, and financial transactions. As digital transformation accelerates, security challenges are increasing:
- Regulatory scrutiny is rising—HIPAA and other frameworks impose strict penalties for mismanaging patient data, leading to significant fines and reputational damage for non-compliance.
- Expanding attack surfaces—Cloud-based Electronic Health Records (EHRs), telehealth platforms, remote access, and third-party vendors introduce new vulnerabilities that make tracking and controlling data usage more difficult.
- Cybercriminals target PHI—Medical records are highly valuable on the dark web, selling for $60 per record, compared to $15 for Social Security numbers and $3 for credit card details.
While firewalls and encryption secure data perimeters, they do not track user activity within authorized applications, making detecting misuse, unauthorized sharing, or non-compliant behavior difficult.
How UAM Strengthens PHI Data Protection
UAM provides continuous monitoring and visibility into user interactions with sensitive healthcare data. By capturing behavioral trends and access patterns, healthcare organizations can:
Identify Unusual Data Movement Patterns
- Track high-volume data transfers that could indicate potential misuse or policy violations.
- Identify unusual access trends, such as users interacting with records outside everyday workflows.
- Detect departments or teams accessing data unexpectedly, signaling potential misconfigurations or improper use of access privileges.
Example Scenario: A hospital IT team noticed a department accessing a high volume of sensitive records outside of its normal function. UAM provided activity logs, allowing IT to investigate potential security gaps or training issues.
Enhance Data Protection for Remote & Hybrid Workforces
- Ensure sensitive healthcare information is accessed through approved applications.
- Monitor file transfers and cloud-based collaboration tools for potential policy violations.
- Help security teams investigate suspicious activity, such as employees attempting to download patient records to personal devices.
Example Scenario: IT administrators noticed a remote employee frequently interacting with patient records in an unusual pattern. UAM provided historical data on usage trends, helping the compliance team determine whether additional security training was needed.
Improve Data Handling Practices & Reduce Compliance Gaps
- Identify workflow inefficiencies where data-sharing practices could lead to accidental exposure.
- Highlight repetitive security mistakes, such as sending sensitive information via unsecured emails.
- Generate behavioral insights to guide compliance training efforts.
Example Scenario: A compliance audit revealed that employees regularly copied patient data into unauthorized collaboration platforms. UAM’s data provided historical usage trends, helping compliance teams implement corrective action.
Ensure Visibility for Compliance & Security Audits
- Maintain an auditable record of user activity across applications where sensitive data is handled.
- Support compliance teams with historical data on user interactions to facilitate HIPAA and regulatory audits.
- Reduce administrative burden by automating logging instead of relying on manual tracking methods.
Example Scenario: A healthcare provider preparing for an OCR audit used UAM reports to verify data access patterns, reducing audit preparation time quickly.
Why Healthcare Organizations Are Investing in UAM
Data protection isn’t just about security but trust, compliance, and operational efficiency. Healthcare providers are turning to UAM to:
- Enhance visibility into sensitive data usage across multiple platforms.
- Streamline compliance audits with automated activity logs.
- Reduce the risk of unauthorized access and data mishandling.
- Improve security awareness by identifying behavioral patterns that indicate risk.
Without proper monitoring, organizations react to security incidents rather than preventing them. By implementing UAM, healthcare providers gain the insights needed to strengthen security, reduce compliance risks, and protect patient data.
Next Steps
Assess your organization’s visibility into sensitive data usage. Veriato UAM can help improve data security and compliance strategies if gaps exist.
Schedule a Demo to see how UAM can transform healthcare data protection.
FAQs About UAM for Healthcare PHI Protection
- How is UAM different from traditional security measures like firewalls or DLP?
Firewalls and DLP focus on perimeter security and restricting file transfers. UAM provides visibility into user activity across communication platforms such as email, chat, and cloud-based applications to help organizations understand how sensitive information is handled. - What are the biggest risks to healthcare data today?
Key risks include misconfigured cloud storage, unauthorized third-party access, insecure remote work practices, and lack of visibility into how data moves through communication channels. These risks continue to grow, with healthcare data being highly valuable to cybercriminals. - Does UAM help with HIPAA compliance?
UAM creates an auditable record of user activity related to PHI and sensitive data, making it easier to demonstrate compliance during audits. It helps compliance teams understand how data is accessed and used, supporting proactive security measures. - Can UAM prevent accidental data exposure?
UAM does not block actions but helps identify behavioral trends that could indicate security gaps, such as unusual data movement or access outside expected workflows. Organizations can use this insight to refine policies and training programs.
How does UAM support security for remote healthcare workers?
UAM tracks how remote employees interact with sensitive data across approved applications, helping organizations identify potential data handling risks and improve security practices for remote teams.
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