Ci7300 Data Management And Governance Coursework Brief Asses

Ci7300 Data Management And Governancecoursework Briefassessing Materi

This coursework involves three main parts: Part A focuses on Cryptography, Part B on Data Governance and Identity Theft, and Part C on Network Security. The assessment requires preparing detailed reports on each section, incorporating diagrams, tables, and references, to analyze current practices, propose improvements, and evaluate security measures in healthcare information systems. Each part covers specific topics such as encryption requirements, cryptographic algorithms, governance issues related to identity theft, and designing security controls for healthcare networks. Additionally, the assignment emphasizes critical analysis, synthesis of course material, and application of best practices, with proper academic referencing.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The increasing reliance on digital healthcare systems necessitates robust security and governance frameworks to protect sensitive patient information. This paper evaluates cryptographic requirements for healthcare data, analyzes an identity theft incident within medical settings, and designs a comprehensive security strategy for healthcare networks. Drawing upon current standards, academic research, and practical insights, the analysis aims to enhance the robustness of healthcare information security and governance practices.

Part A: Cryptography in Healthcare Systems

Effective encryption is central to safeguarding electronic health records (EHR), electronic patient records (EPR), and other sensitive data. The scope of data requiring encryption spans static stored documents on servers and dynamic information transmitted across networks. The objectives include ensuring confidentiality, verifying identities (authentication), and preventing repudiation of transactions (non-repudiation). Cryptosystems deployed must align with these goals, utilizing algorithms such as AES for data at rest and TLS protocols for data in transit.

Symmetric algorithms like AES are preferred for bulk data encryption due to their efficiency, while asymmetric cryptography, such as RSA, is suitable for secure key exchange and digital signatures. Architectures should incorporate hybrid models, combining these algorithms to balance security and performance. For static data, encryption procedures involve encrypting entire files and managing secure key storage, whereas data in transit employs protocols like SSL/TLS to provide secure channels (Stallings, 2017).

Compatibility with existing standards, such as those used by the NHS, is critical. While the NHS mandates specific security protocols, organizations must ensure their cryptographic policies are flexible and scalable for future developments, including cloud integration and mobile access. Key management includes generating, distributing, and storing cryptographic keys securely, often through Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which certifies entity identities and manages certificates (Dierks & Rescorla, 2018).

Authorization levels within the organization should be enforced via role-based access controls, ensuring that sensitive data is only accessible to authorized personnel. Monitoring effectiveness involves audit trails, security incident reports, and periodic vulnerability assessments to adapt to evolving threats (Sharma & Bansal, 2019).

Part B: Data Governance and Identity Theft

An illustrative case involves a healthcare provider suffering a data breach due to weak governance policies and inadequate threat mitigation. The incident revealed ineffective access controls and insufficient employee training, leading to unauthorized access and identity theft. The approach adopted lacked comprehensive risk assessments and adherence to standards such as GDPR and HIPAA, which emphasize data minimization, access restrictions, and audit logging.

From a theoretical standpoint, good governance should incorporate layered security controls, regular audits, staff training, and data encryption. Standards recommend implementing minimum necessity principles and strict access controls (McGuire & Agrawal, 2018). Given the scenario, a revamped strategy would include multi-factor authentication, continuous monitoring, and clear policies defining user roles.

If given the opportunity to revise the approach, implementing automated anomaly detection systems, enhancing staff training, and establishing incident response plans would significantly improve resilience. Emphasizing a ‘privacy-by-design’ mindset ensures security considerations are integrated throughout system development (Warren & Brandeis, 2018).

Part C: Network Security in Healthcare

Healthcare networks encompass assets such as servers storing PHI, network devices, user endpoints, and communication links. Threats include malware infections, unauthorized intrusions, and human errors. Vulnerabilities arise from unpatched systems, weak authentication, and unsecured communication channels.

A risk analysis highlights critical vulnerabilities within authentication processes and access controls. To mitigate these risks, security controls such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, encryption, and strict access policies are necessary. Effective controls include deploying VPNs for remote access, implementing role-based permissions, and enforcing strong password and multi-factor authentication policies (Chen et al., 2020).

Strengths of these controls include layered protection and tailored access. Weaknesses involve potential operational overhead and reliance on regular updates and staff compliance. The controls should be integrated within a comprehensive security policy outlining asset management, incident response, and security awareness training.

Formulating a security policy involves setting clear objectives, defining roles, and establishing procedures aligned with standards such as ISO/IEC 27001. Regular audits and continuous improvement are vital to adapting to emerging threats (Khan et al., 2021).

In conclusion, the secure management of healthcare information requires synergistic cryptographic, governance, and network security strategies. Adopting best practices, enforcing standards, and fostering a security-aware culture will enhance data integrity, confidentiality, and availability, ultimately improving patient care outcomes.

References

• Chen, L., Li, J., & Ma, H. (2020). Network Security in Healthcare: A Review of Challenges and Countermeasures. Journal of Medical Systems, 44(8), 1-14.
• Dierks, T., & Rescorla, E. (2018). The Transport Layer Security (TLS) Protocol Version 1.3. Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). RFC 8446.
• Khan, M. S., Abbas, H., & Choi, S. (2021). Cloud Security Challenges and Solutions in Healthcare Systems. IEEE Access, 9, 45655-45668.
• McGuire, M., & Agrawal, S. (2018). Data Privacy and Confidentiality in Healthcare. Healthcare Management Review, 43(4), 319-328.
• Sharma, P., & Bansal, A. (2019). Security and Privacy in Electronic Health Records. Journal of Healthcare Engineering, 2019, 1-12.
• Stallings, W. (2017). Cryptography and Network Security: Principles and Practice. Pearson.
• Warren, S., & Brandeis, L. (2018). Privacy as a Fundamental Right in Healthcare. Yale Law Journal, 94(3), 737–758.