Healthcare Network Security: Issues, Solutions, and Architecture

This report provides an overview of network security within the healthcare sector, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding patient data and maintaining system integrity. It begins by outlining a typical healthcare network architecture, including servers, firewalls, routers, and switches, and highlights the developments in healthcare networks with the implementation of Hospital Information Systems (HIS). The report identifies potential security issues such as the increasing number of connected devices, vulnerabilities in embedded systems like patient monitoring and medication scanners, and the risks associated with consumer-friendly IT policies. For each identified issue, the report proposes solutions, including the implementation of Network Access Control (NAC) systems, incorporation of security solutions to protect critical data, and adaptation of NAC systems to address threats related to consumer devices. The report concludes by reiterating the critical role of network security in protecting healthcare systems and ensuring data authentication and safety from intruders. Desklib offers a platform for students to access similar solved assignments and study tools.

Running head: OVERVIEW OF NETWORK SECURITY
OVERVIEW OF NETWORK SECURITY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Heath care network architecture................................................................................................................3
Server......................................................................................................................................................3
Firewall....................................................................................................................................................3
Router and switches................................................................................................................................3
Development in health care network..........................................................................................................4
Security in health.........................................................................................................................................4
Potential security issue................................................................................................................................4
Solution to potential security issue.............................................................................................................5
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................6
References...................................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
The health care sector can be stated as one of the most important sectors which is relating to
the life of the common people. Whenever there is linking of heath care sector with any technological
aspect it should be taken into consideration that security aspects are high enough in the sector of
operation. A device which can directly reduce the overall risk factor can be stated as one of the most
advantageous related to any technological aspect. It can be stated here that in the heath sector if any
risk factor is identified it can directly impact the overall system which is related to the concept.
The report takes into consideration the sector of the health care which is connected to the field
of implementation in the network based technology. In this sector there can be different types of
problem or issue faced which are majorly discussed in the report. On the other hand, the report also
takes into consideration the mitigation aspects which can be related to the concept.
Heath care network architecture
In recent times it can be stated that the sector of the health care is improving due to the invent
of the different types of technology into the concept. This is due to the factor that most of the institutes
which are related to the health care is implementing computer based network and the technology of
hospital information technology (HIS) into the internal working. The main advantage which can be
related to the concept is the remote access and the distribution of the medical record to the medical
community. In the sector of the deployment of the health care into the network architecture different
devices should be used which would be executing the internal functionality of the system.
Server
It is proposed in the most of the institution that a three-layer client server architecture solution
should be implemented. The implementation of the server would be very much beneficial in the sector
of the improved authorization, data security, authentication, the sector of privacy access and protection
of the overall system. The authentication methods which would be implemented within the process is
the secure socket layer (SSL) protocol based TCP/IP.
Firewall
The main aspect which is related to the implementation of the firewall is to protect the overall
system and secure the patient data which would be present in the system. It can be stated as one of the
most important security measure which can be implemented at the entry point of the data. The data

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which would be entering the network would be checked for the purpose of the authentication and it
would be restricting those data which would be harmful for the system.
Router and switches
The implementation of thee router and the switches are directly done in the access layer which
is directly linked with the aspect of two distributed layer of switches which is related to the purpose of
redundancy. The access layer which is robust would be directly be beneficial in the sector of the
supporting the software and the hardware attributes [11]. The main components of the attribute are the
power redundancy and the path redundancy.
Development in health care network
It can be stated here that in the recent few years it can be majorly seen that the implementation
of the hospital information system is very much important which bring different kinds of advantage. The
main sector of the advantage which can be related to the concept is in the sector of the financial,
administrator and clinical documentation part [7]. The need of such a system directly arose when the
need of an efficient resource management, security of the data and the high availability of the data
arose. The implementation of such a system can be seen in most of the areas which is related to the
health care. One of the disadvantage which can be related to the context is that it does not include a
proper standard solution.
The main advantage of networking the health care sector is that it gives the access of national
sharing of the information in an authenticated manner, directly improves the doctor and patient
relationship, time and cost saving and convenience.
Security in health
The security in the concept of the health care can be considered as one of the most important
factors which should be taken into consideration [6]. It can be stated here that due to the
implementation of the domain controller the security of the data is usually maintained in the system. In
order to get a complete solution relating to the security the connection which is between the server and
the client must have a strict enforcement policy and rules. As stated by [1] the infrastructure network
which is related to the health care usually has two gateways. The main function which is related to the
gateways is to provide packet filtering technique on data which is entering or leaving the cline side to
the server farm side ad very much vice versa. The connection which is created from the sector of the
different sites are mainly done through an open network which is the internet. The possibility of the

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deployment of a private network backbone can also be done which would be directly raising the cost
which is related to the concept.
The main aspect which can be stated in context of the securing of the channel would be the use
of channels which are encrypted. The concept is achieved by means of deployment of virtual private
network (VPN) between the deployment of the gateway [9]. The main functionality which is related to
the communication which is done thorough VPN is that it directly ensures that the data which is passed
through the concept is encrypted so that no activity which is related to the intruders are enforced into
the process. The use of the digital authority it can be directly be assured which VPN community can
participate in the different sectors which is related to the VPN [12]. This approach can be very much
beneficial in the sector of mitigation aspect which is related to the man in the middle attack. The main
components which is related to the man in the middle attack mainly consist of an attempt to intercept
the traffic of data which is between the different logical sites. As stated by [4] Strong process of
encryption can be very much beneficial in the aspect which directly ensure that even if the data is
intercepted it cannot be directly be deciphered [1]. The aspect of the encryption can be very much
beneficial in the sector of the implementation of a security mechanism which would be directly securing
the system.
Potential security issue
Some of the potential problem which is faced in the sector area as follows:
Issue 1: More devices which can increase risk factor
In the concept of the health care sector it can be stated that there are many devices which are
connected in the concept of internet in order to communicate with each other. According to [2] It can
be stated that most of the devices in this sector are very much vulnerable to the security issue. One of
the major issue which can be related here is the loss of the data which can occur [9]. The security of the
data can be considered as one of the most important factor which can be related to the technology.
Issue 2: Embedded devices
In the concept of the heath care it can be stated that there are different components such as the
patient monitoring system, medication scanner and imaging devices. These devices help in the sector of
the identification, tracking and monitoring of the record of the patient [11]. However, these devices
directly put strain on the aspect of the bandwidth and exposes the network to the different types of

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viruses in by means of new connected devices that are different from the traditional personal
computers.
Issue 3: Consumer friendly IT
It can be stated here that the aspect of the employees and the physician need to directly access
the network of the facility in order to conduct their business needs [5]. In this sector the
consumerization can be stated to one of the biggest problem which can be playing a very much
important role. Due to the involvement of more users in the sector of the own device manipulation,
health care would be directly seeing more security threats [6]. As a fact it can be stated that the aspect
of the consumerization of the IT is directly driving the need of the network security solution that directly
covers up the multiple layer devices and the components of the infrastructure.
Solution to potential security issue
Solution 1: more devices which can increase risk factor
The main solution which can be stated here is that use of the network access control (NAC)
solution. This directly offers the ability to identify each of the type of user and the connected devices
and the scan for threat identification. On the other hand, the NAC solution would be directly offering a
standard which is related to the network security status across all the devices which are connected.
Solution 2: Embedded devices
The main aspect which should be taken into consideration in the aspect is the incorporation of
security solution that would directly reduce protect the integrity of the critical data which is often
referred as private data [3]. On the other hand, it should also reduce the vulnerability gap which exact in
the sector of the network in which the devices are connected.
Solution 3: Consumer friendly IT
One of the main solution which can be related to the consumer friendly IT is the adaptation of a
good NAC system which can stave off each of the threats which are related to the concept [5]. The
concept of the response of the security solution would be identifying any consumer service which is
adopted. It should always take into consideration the aspect of generation of a scan when a new data
tries to enters the network.

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Conclusion
The report main focus point was the heath care sector when relating to the network
manipulation. Whenever a device is connected to the network device vulnerability aspects play a very
vital role which has to be taken into consideration so that the overall system is kept safe and the data
which is present in the system is very much safe from the intruders. The devices should be safe so that
the data which is generated from the system is authenticated.

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References
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(2015). The PRISMA extension statement for reporting of systematic reviews incorporating network
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mobile health apps: a review and recommendations." Journal of medical systems39.1 (2015): 181.
[8] Grajales III, Francisco Jose, et al. "Social media: a review and tutorial of applications in medicine and
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[10] Popp, Janice, et al. "Inter-organizational networks: a review of the literature to inform
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[12] Couët, Nicolas, et al. "Assessments of the extent to which health‐care providers involve patients in
decision making: a systematic review of studies using the OPTION instrument." Health Expectations 18.4
(2015): 542-561.