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5 Cybersecurity Must-Dos in 2025 and Beyond: Best Practices from a Healthcare CIO

By: David Slazyk | January 24th, 2025

5 Cybersecurity Must-Dos in 2025 and Beyond: Best Practices from a Healthcare CIO Blog Feature

As the Chief Information Officer at Nextech, I’ve seen how cybersecurity threats have grown in scope and sophistication. Healthcare practices are facing a major increase in attacks, from ransomware to zero-day vulnerabilities posing risk to patient data and the continuity of care. 

To address these challenges, here are five practical tips from my recent article in Journal of Health Care Compliance for improving cybersecurity in specialty care: 

1. Move Beyond Compliance

Basic standards like HIPAA, HITECH, and GDPR are a must, yet these measures are just the starting point for solid security. In fact, focusing solely on compliance leaves organizations vulnerable to modern cyber threats. Specialty practices can’t risk an attack, and therefore must go further, implementing frameworks such as zero trust. This approach assumes all access is untrusted until verified and enforces least privilege access and continuous monitoring. 

2. Use Advanced Threat-Detection Tools

The days of downloading McAfee signatures are long gone, and traditional antivirus software is not enough to combat modern attackers. Now, advanced solutions like endpoint detection and response (EDR) and extended detection and response (XDR) are essential. These tools identify and respond to suspicious activities at endpoints and across cloud environments, a critical step as technology and workflows evolve. 

3. Partner with Secure Vendors

Specialty practices often have small cybersecurity teams and limited resources. However, the approach to cybersecurity should remain the same. Choose vendors who prioritize security and have clear plans for implementing zero trust principles. Avoid self-hosting EHR systems; instead, work with vendors who specialize in secure infrastructure. This ensures your practice receives top-tier protection even as cyber threats advance. 

4. Secure Patient Portals

Patient portals are a common area of vulnerability. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is now a necessity for protecting sensitive patient data. While MFA adds a small step to the login process, it significantly enhances security. Steps should be taken to educate patients about the benefits of these measures and encourage adoption. 

5. Train and Equip Your Staff

Human error remains one of the most significant cybersecurity pitfalls. Phishing attacks frequently target employees via email. Maximize built-in email security features and consider third-party solutions tailored to email threat management. Regular staff training is critical to help employees recognize and avoid phishing attempts. Attackers are becoming increasingly difficult to detect for even cybersecurity-trained staff and investment in the human firewall is critical but insufficient as your only security measure. 

From Awareness to Action: Making Cybersecurity a Priority 

Cybersecurity in specialty medicine is about more than compliance. Your facility has a responsibility to protect patient data, maintain trust, and ensure that care delivery is not disrupted by cyberattacks. 

The path forward is clear for specialty practices: adopt modern security solutions, partner with vendors who prioritize security, and invest in training and tools that minimize vulnerabilities. By taking these steps, we can safeguard sensitive healthcare information and maintain the trust of the patients and providers who rely on us. 

 

TL;DR: Healthcare faces increasing cybersecurity threats, and compliance alone isn’t enough to protect patient data. Specialty practices must adopt advanced frameworks like zero trust, implement tools such as MFA and EDR/XDR, and partner with vendors who prioritize security. Staff education and training on common cybersecurity threats are also critical steps. As healthcare navigates security challenges, proactive protection is paramount in 2025 and beyond. 

 

About the Author 

David Slazyk oversees Nextech's IT/IS and cybersecurity strategy while ensuring the function, integrity, confidentiality, and availability of our information systems. He also leads efforts to protect and prepare our company from cyber threats, manage our data privacy initiatives, oversee software vendor management, and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.