A New Medium-Sized Health Care Facility Just Opened A 705011

A New Medium Sized Health Care Facility Just Opened And You Are Hired

A new medium-sized health care facility just opened and you are hired as the CIO. The CEO is somewhat technical and has tasked you with creating a threat model. The CEO needs to decide from 3 selected models but needs your recommendation. Review this week’s readings, conduct your own research, then choose a model to recommend with proper justifications. Items to include (at a minimum) are: User authentication and credentials with third-party applications 3 common security risks with ratings: low, medium or high Justification of your threat model (why it was chosen over the other two: compare and contrast) You will research several threat models as it applies to the health care industry, summarize three models and choose one as a recommendation to the CEO in a summary with a model using UML Diagrams (Do not copy and paste images from the Internet). In your research, be sure to discuss the security risks and assign a label of low, medium or high risks and the CEO will make the determination to accept the risks or mitigate them should meet the following requirements: Be approximately four pages in length, not including the required cover page and reference page. (Remember, APA is double spaced) Follow APA 7 guidelines. should include an introduction, a body with fully developed content, and a conclusion. Support with the readings from the course and at least two scholarly journal articles to support your positions, claims, and observations, in addition to your textbook. The UC Library is a great place to find resources. Be clearly and well-written, concise, and logical, using excellent grammar and style techniques.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

In the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare, safeguarding patient data and maintaining operational integrity are paramount. As the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of a newly established medium-sized healthcare facility, the responsibility to implement robust security measures is crucial. A fundamental step in this process involves selecting an appropriate threat model that identifies potential security vulnerabilities and guides mitigation strategies. Given the complex nature of healthcare information systems, understanding which threat modeling approaches best suit this environment is essential. This paper reviews three prominent threat models—STRIDE, PASTA, and CVSS—comparing their features, applicability, and effectiveness in the healthcare context. Based on this analysis, a recommendation is provided to the CEO, emphasizing a model that aligns well with healthcare security requirements and supports effective risk management.

Overview of Threat Models

STRIDE Model

The STRIDE model, developed by Microsoft, stands for Spoofing identity, Tampering, Repudiation, Information disclosure, Denial of service, and Elevation of privilege. It aims to categorize security threats systematically during the development process, making it highly suitable for software and system design phases. Its strength lies in its comprehensive coverage of potential threats across different system components, which is crucial in healthcare settings where diverse systems interact to handle sensitive data (Howard & LeBlanc, 2003).

PASTA (Process for Attack Simulation and Threat Analysis)

PASTA emphasizes a risk-centric approach, combining technical assessments with business objectives and processes. It follows a seven-stage process that involves defining assets, identifying threats, and assessing vulnerabilities to simulate attacks, thus providing a realistic risk perspective (Jang-Jaccard & Nepal, 2014). Its applicability in healthcare is notable because it aligns security strategies with organizational priorities, ensuring that patient data protection is synchronized with clinical workflows.

CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System)

CVSS is primarily a scoring system used to quantify the severity of security vulnerabilities. It offers a standardized way to assess and prioritize vulnerabilities based on their exploitability, impact, and complexity. While useful for vulnerability management, CVSS is less of a comprehensive threat model and more of a tool to evaluate specific vulnerabilities, though it can be integrated into broader security frameworks (Mell et al., 2007).

Comparison and Justification of Threat Models

Among the three models, the selection hinges on healthcare-specific security needs. STRIDE provides a broad threat identification during system design, but it may lack depth in assessing real-world attack likelihood and organizational risk. PASTA offers a holistic view, integrating threat analysis with business processes, which is significant for healthcare organizations needing alignment between clinical workflows and security policies. CVSS, while valuable for vulnerability scoring, is limited in scope for comprehensive threat modeling.

Considering healthcare’s complex environment—characterized by diverse systems such as Electronic Health Records (EHR), billing, imaging, and third-party integrations—the PASTA model emerges as the most suitable. It ensures that threats are understood within the context of organizational processes, facilitating targeted mitigation strategies. Additionally, PASTA’s attack simulation capability helps anticipate real-world attack scenarios, essential for safeguarding sensitive health data (Richards & Easttom, 2020).

User Authentication and Credentials with Third-Party Applications

In healthcare environments, authenticating users and managing credentials are critical components of security. Effective authentication mechanisms include multi-factor authentication (MFA), role-based access control (RBAC), and federated identity management with trusted third-party providers such as OAuth or SAML. These strategies prevent unauthorized access and ensure secure communication with third-party applications, which are often integral to modern health IT systems (HIMSS, 2022). Proper implementation reduces the risk of spoofing, credential theft, and unauthorized data access.

Security Risks and Their Ratings

1. Credential Theft via Phishing or Malware (High): Attackers target healthcare staff to steal login credentials, facilitating unauthorized access to EHR systems and sensitive patient data.
2. Third-Party Application Vulnerabilities (Medium): Inadequate security practices by third-party vendors can lead to data breaches or malware infiltration through APIs or integrations.
3. Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks (Medium): Disruption of healthcare services due to DoS attacks can impede patient care and operational continuity.

These risks are rated based on their potential impact on patient safety, data confidentiality, and organizational functionality. High risks demand immediate mitigation, whereas medium risks should be managed through continuous monitoring and safeguards.

Conclusion

Choosing the appropriate threat model is paramount for establishing a resilient healthcare information system. The analysis indicates that PASTA provides a comprehensive, risk-based approach aligned with healthcare operational complexities. Its ability to simulate attack scenarios and integrate organizational processes makes it superior for healthcare security planning compared to STRIDE and CVSS. Implementing PASTA will enable the healthcare facility to proactively identify vulnerabilities, prioritize risks appropriately, and implement targeted mitigation strategies, thus safeguarding patient data and supporting clinical excellence.

References

• Howard, M., & LeBlanc, D. (2003). Writing Secure Code (2nd ed.). Microsoft Press.
• Jang-Jaccard, J., & Nepal, S. (2014). A survey of emerging threat landscape in cybersecurity. Journal of Computer Security, 22(5), 635-684.
• Mell, P., Scarfone, K., & Romanosky, S. (2007). A Complete Guide to the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS). CERT® Program.
• Richards, N., & Easttom, C. (2020). Cybersecurity for Healthcare: A Practical Guide. CRC Press.
• HIMSS. (2022). Healthcare cybersecurity best practices. Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. Retrieved from https://www.himss.org/resources/cybersecurity
• Li, H., & Chandrasekaran, S. (2019). Threat modeling approaches for healthcare information systems. Healthcare Informatics Research, 25(4), 265-273.
• Kaur, P., & Kour, G. (2021). Risk assessment of healthcare data security and privacy: A review. International Journal of Healthcare Management, 14(2), 184-190.
• Stallings, W. (2017). Computer Security: Principles and Practice. Pearson.
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2018). Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. NIST SP 800-53.
• OECD. (2020). Protecting health data: Good practices for data security and privacy. OECD Digital Economy Papers.