Strengthening Cybersecurity in Healthcare

A Collaborative Approach Between Accenture and Palo Alto Networks

To improve patient outcomes and experiences, today’s healthcare organizations are increasingly adopting innovative technologies, such as AI, Cloud, and IoT. While beneficial, these technologies increase risk by expanding the attack surface. Protecting the sensitive data at the heart of modern healthcare operations requires a robust cybersecurity strategy. But every healthcare company is unique. Accenture and Palo Alto Networks have joined forces to help healthcare organizations tailor strong cyber defenses to their individual requirements. Our partnership helps ensure that every member of the healthcare ecosystem can safeguard its sensitive data and provide continued availability of care operations.

Customized Healthcare Security Roadmap

To meet the healthcare industry’s unique needs, Palo Alto Networks and Accenture recently created a custom-tailored Healthcare Security Roadmap. Our collaborative approach provides access to the best-in-class AI and security technologies alongside deep industry expertise and dedicated resources, enabling our partnership to deliver comprehensive protection for healthcare organizations.

The Healthcare Security Roadmap applies a Unit 42 intelligence-led approach to security transformation and incident response, informed by Accenture’s and Palo Alto Networks’ expertise in performing full-scale cybersecurity transformations for healthcare organizations. We calibrate defenses to counter the most prominent threats and attacks against healthcare organizations.

The engagement includes a comprehensive evaluation of the client’s on-premises and cloud environments. We perform threat profiling, network threat assessments, cloud and data security evaluations, and vulnerability discovery across cloud workloads and hosts to move healthcare organizations toward a more robust data protection strategy. There are eight modules included:

A collaborative incident response workshop takes place with the relevant executives with actual scenarios Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 has responded to in the past. The assessment is designed to be low-touch, ensuring little disruption to IT operations. At the end of the evaluation, clients receive a detailed report with findings, highlighting the most urgent issues and providing practical solutions for a clear path to improved security.

The Healthcare Security Roadmap enables clients to collaborate with Accenture and Palo Alto Networks to identify and analyze cloud-based vulnerabilities, and enhance the organization's understanding of its security posture and incident response capabilities. When a major payer worked with Accenture and Palo Alto Networks to implement advanced security measures, they were able to reduce the number of security incidents they saw by 40%. Our clients’ real-world experiences highlight the effectiveness of this engagement for enhancing data security and operational resilience.

The Need to Calibrate Defenses for Present-Day Threats

The adoption of new technologies in Healthcare, including AI, and the increasing value of healthcare data make the industry a prime target for cyberattacks. Healthcare organizations must prioritize continuous improvement and vigilance to stay ahead of emerging threats.

One example is large-scale cloud migration. Nearly 46% of healthcare organizations cite security concerns as a primary barrier to cloud adoption. The complexity of managing compliance across various platforms and regions further complicates the landscape, so healthcare providers and payers need to think strategically about enhancing cloud security.

Data breaches also remain a persistent threat in the healthcare sector. Breaches can be devastating, costing their victims in this sector an estimated average of $10.1 million. According to a Ponemon Institute report, 56% of healthcare organizations have experienced a data breach caused by a third-party vendor. These breaches compromise patient privacy and undermine trust in healthcare institutions, highlighting the critical need for effective supply chain security strategies.

The high value of medical data makes healthcare organizations a prime target for cybercriminals. Cyber attacks can disrupt healthcare services, compromise patient safety, and even interrupt the ability to provide care to patients. Healthcare security teams must stay vigilant and adopt proactive measures to mitigate threats.

A Collaborative Approach — Palo Alto Networks and Accenture

The right cybersecurity strategy can mitigate both compliance and data security risks – all while protecting patient privacy. With AI-powered technologies and deep industry expertise, Accenture and Palo Alto Networks make it faster and easier for organizations to level up their security posture. Our partnership empowers clients to navigate the complexities of cybersecurity and protect critical assets and patient data. In particular, the Healthcare Security Roadmap equips healthcare organizations with the knowledge and tools they need to build proactive defenses and create a secure and resilient future.

The comprehensive Healthcare Security Roadmap assessment provides actionable solutions tailored to each organization’s unique needs. If you’re interested in taking proactive steps toward securing critical systems and data, contact your Accenture security partner or Palo Alto Networks industry expert today. We look forward to discussing how our joint solutions can enhance your cybersecurity posture.