Shaping Cybersecurity For Healthcare
NIST’s Role in HIPAA Compliance
As organizations in the healthcare sector navigate the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats. Adhering to established frameworks becomes paramount for protecting electronic Patient Health Information (ePHI). Federal law mandates organizations adhere to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act to secure sensitive patient health data. This prevents unauthorized disclosure. HIPAA ensures that this delicate information is utilized only for its intended purpose and remains undisclosed for any other reason.
In July 2022, NIST presented a structured approach to cybersecurity risk management with a focus on healthcare and HIPAA compliance. Threat actors actively seek opportunities to exploit patients, underscoring the continued importance of leveraging the framework efficiently and comprehensively. Cutting corners could lead to severe repercussions, from financial penalties to potential mistreatment or, in extreme cases, patient fatalities.
Therefore, it is imperative for healthcare organizations to not underestimate this matter. They should be diligent in selecting the appropriate tools to safeguard both their patients and their organization from potential risks. It is also important to note that even with the aid of this resource guide, healthcare organizations need to undergo the same rigorous compliance process as any other sector.
The Challenge
Navigating 108 “Yes” or “No” Subcategories in a “Maybe” Reality
NIST’s is comprised of 108 subcategories covering a concepts that support organizations in creating a robust cybersecurity program to manage risk. These subcategories are created to be addressed in a “yes” or “no” format when cybersecurity programs are rarely that simple. HIPAA is not only concerned with “who” has access to “what”, it puts the strongest emphasis on “why” they have access to this information.
Taking this perspective into account, many healthcare organizations have adopted a “1-N” relationship where one subcategory aligns to multiple practices or tools within security for ePHI. How can healthcare organizations uphold the stringent standards outlined by the NIST Framework while also addressing HIPAA’s emphasis on the “why” amidst escalating cyber threats and the
genuine, potentially catastrophic consequences of a breach?
The solution lies in seamlessly incorporating the SPHEREboard Identity Hygiene and remediation platform alongside other security components by leveraging SPHERE’s extensive connector library. This comprehensive approach enables organizations to fortify their cybersecurity programs, ensuring both their safety and that of their patients.
The Solution
How SPHEREboard’s Capabilities Support NIST CSF & HIPAA Compliance
SPHEREboard is designed not just to align with but to elevate NIST CSF & HIPAA compliance. Our focus on prioritizing Identity Hygiene, fortifying Privileged Access Management practices, and protecting ePHI sets SPHEREboard apart in enhancing your organization’s cybersecurity posture.
With these challenges in mind, we developed an Analysis Matrix to align SPHEREboard with the subcategory components of the NIST CSF, employing the following concepts:
- Complete – One or more of SPHEREboard’s capabilities addresses all components of the NIST Stage Subcategory
- Contribute – One or more of SPHEREboard’s capabilities addresses all components of the NIST Stage Subcategory
- Inform – SPHEREboard provides insights that can be used to decide HOW to identify and address risk in the NIST Stage Subcategory
Subcategory Example:
Access permissions and authorizations are managed, incorporating the principles of least privilege and separation of duties
When you break it down, this subcategory consists of not one, but five concepts:
- Accounts Provisioning
- Accounts De-Provisioning
- Account Modification
- Account Attestation
- Remediation “Hygiene”
The Results
Mapping SPHEREboard Capabilities to the NIST Framework
To align SPHEREboard’s intelligent discovery, intuitive reporting, and automated remediation capabilities with NIST, we broke these capabilities into four categories within the context of the CSF:
- Identify – SPHEREboard leverages advanced analytics of Accounts, Groups, and identities to identify and evaluate an organization’s risk exposure
- Protect – SPHEREboard utilizes intelligent discovery and enforcement of identities related to accounts with elevated permissions, file system access, collaboration tools, and access groups
- Detect – SPHEREboard automates sustainability processes to ensure controls are met and risk is reduced on an ongoing basis
- Respond – SPHEREboard enables organizations to execute a remediation plan by automating the remediation of control violations
Our evaluations determined that SPHEREboard’s Identity Hygiene capabilities either directly or indirectly supported 24 of NIST’s framework subcategories, with the greatest impact being in the Identify and Protect categories.
The Value
SPHEREboard’s vital role in your NIST CSF & HIPAA compliance efforts
No single tool can cover all 108 NIST subcategories simultaneously. SPHEREboard, however, focuses on a broad spectrum of categories related to identity and privileged access management. It seamlessly integrates with an extensive array of tools and processes, effectively closing critical gaps in any company’s Identity Hygiene program by answering the vital question of “who” has access to “what” and “why”.
SPHEREboard’s wide range of capabilities zero in on major components of the NIST framework such as:
- Intelligent discovery (NIST CSF Subcategory PR.AC-1, ID.AM-2, RS.MI-2, and more)
- Identity, account, and group correlation (NIST CSF Subcategory ID.AM-3, ID.AM-2, ID.GV-3, and more)
- Advanced analytics and reporting (NIST CSF Subcategory ID.RA-1, PR.PT-1, ID.AM-2, and more)
- Remediation of account, group and data control violations (NIST CSF Subcategory ID.BE-4, RS.MI-2, PR.AC-1, and more)
- Sustained protection of an organization’s assets (NIST CSF Subcategory PR.AC-4, PR.DS-1, PR.DS-3, PR.DS-5, and more)
You can download the complete list of SPHEREboard’s NIST supporting capabilities here.
Learn More
Explore how SPHERE can support your organization’s compliance with the NIST Framework and HIPAA guidelines, providing the assurance that your most critical information, as well as that of your patients, remains secure. Contact us for more information.
About SPHERE
SPHERE is the global leader in Identity Hygiene. We are dedicated to reshaping modern identity programs by embedding this foundational fabric, enabling organizations to quickly reduce risks. Our expertise lies in leveraging automation to deliver immediate time-to-value, providing an identity lens that protects an organization’s accounts, data, and infrastructure.
Driven by our core values of passion, empathy, and transparency, our vision drives us to continually innovate, helping our clients to sleep better knowing their attack surface is drastically reduced, thwarting the plans of bad actors every single day.
We’re ready to help you address your identity hygiene and security challenges.
