Home Expert Corner Hospitals Needs to Integrate Cyber and Physical Security for a Safer Future
Hospitals Needs to Integrate Cyber and Physical Security for a Safer Future
0

Hospitals Needs to Integrate Cyber and Physical Security for a Safer Future

0

Kerry Brock, Vice President of Sales for Healthcare RTLS at HID, discusses the growing importance of Real-Time Location Systems in healthcare, focusing on improving security, operational efficiency, and patient safety.

While hospital data breaches and ransomware attacks against software systems dominate headlines, another related crisis is looming: the need to protect the physical environments where care is delivered.

Kerry Brock

More than three-quarters of healthcare security and IT professionals responding to a recent survey believe in the importance of integrating cyber and physical security systems. Incorporating physical security tools such as surveillance cameras, biometric access controls, patient visitor management, and real-time location systems (RTLS) into a unified security framework can greatly enhance the ability to safeguard both individuals and sensitive data.

As with many advanced cybersecurity initiatives, the most significant barrier is cost, cited by 74% of respondents. Other barriers include lack of executive support (31%) and the perception that physical security ranks low among organizational priorities (24%).

The survey, “Securing the Future of Healthcare: Insights into Security and Resilience Across the Organization,” brought responses from more than 200 security and IT professionals from across the healthcare spectrum, including 40% from large network hospitals and 13% from urban/suburban university hospitals.

Just like a cyberattack, a physical security breach can devastate a hospital, resulting in financial and reputational damage that’s hard to recover from, not to mention the potential impact on staff and patient safety.

Hospitals need a multi-layered security strategy to protect both their digital assets and the physical spaces where those assets are used.

Greater need for physical security
By their nature, hospitals are open and welcoming environments, but physical security presents a growing concern. Imagine unauthorized personnel in emergency department (ED) treatment rooms, laboratories and imaging suites, staff areas and administrative offices. According to the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS), taking the proper steps to control patient and visitor movement is critical to prevent violence and unauthorized access to restricted areas.

While most intrusions may be innocent, think about the havoc a single individual with malicious intent could cause. Nearly one-third of survey respondents were neutral to extremely dissatisfied with their hospital’s current security measures, and another 45% reported they were only somewhat satisfied. These figures demonstrate the ongoing security challenges that hospital executives face.

The healthcare industry is shifting how it manages identity and security, moving from physical to digital identity management solutions and blending physical and cyber security measures.

Evolving identity and surveillance solutions
Traditional access control methods like physical ID badges and lanyards still play key roles in hospital security strategies. However, these approaches are increasingly being supplemented — or even replaced — by digital credentials such as mobile and biometric authentication. The survey shows that 32% of healthcare facilities already use biometric authentication, and 11% have adopted facial recognition technologies. This reflects a broader shift toward more secure, scalable, and mobile-first identity management solutions, especially in large urban hospitals where operational efficiency is critical.

Despite these advancements, the move toward digital identity methods presents new challenges. While 74% of facilities still rely on physical access control systems and 80% use surveillance cameras, healthcare providers must strike a balance between digital solutions and traditional visual identification methods like badges, which remain essential in many areas. Visual ID methods are particularly important in settings where physical identity confirmation is crucial, such as high-traffic zones and sensitive areas.

Updating patient visitor management
It’s likely no surprise that nearly 40% of facilities still manage visitor and vendor access using paper forms and badges, according to the “Securing the Future of Healthcare” survey. However, 30% of respondents report implementing access control systems and 24% are using electronic patient management solutions, showing a strong trend toward deploying digital methods.

Providing visual identification for visitors and preventing bad actors from accessing sensitive areas or data helps ensure that healthcare environments remain safe and secure. This enhances the visitor experience and facilitates compliance and reporting needs, increasingly important as healthcare regulations become more stringent.

A layered security strategy not only helps safeguard critical infrastructure but also increases the trust and safety of patients, staff, and visitors alike. By adopting future-proof solutions that integrate multiple security layers, healthcare facilities can ensure they are prepared to meet both current and future challenges.

Growing use of real-time location systems
More than half of respondents (56%) say their facilities use automated alert systems that provide real-time notifications of potential threats, triggering a response before an escalated incident can occur.

The duress badge is a valuable addition to automated alert systems, allowing workers to discreetly signal distress by pressing a button on their badge. Unlike panic buttons, which are still in use at 58% of facilities, distress badges are inconspicuous and can bring a more proactive response from security. When badges are integrated with real-time location systems (RTLS), security personnel can pinpoint precisely where assistance is required.

Fifty-three percent of survey respondents foresee a move toward automated security responses like these, with 33% planning to adopt automated security solutions in their facilities. Automated systems that integrate both cyber and physical security measures can contribute to a more resilient and responsive healthcare security environment.

The future of healthcare security
A future where cyber and physical security challenges are tackled at the same time is foreseen by 67% of respondents. The goal is to create a comprehensive security framework that can adapt to the complexities of modern healthcare facilities. Adopting a layered approach to security and taking advantage of emerging technologies will help prepare institutions for a safer future, one that protects patients, staff, buildings, and data.

SNS Mideast
Visit Us On Linkedin