Abbas et al. (2017) assert that cloud computing is a technological innovation that offers several benefits for many organizations, including those in the healthcare industry. However, the technological model also entails many novel means through which information leakage can occur alongside user classified data security and privacy being compromised because of the nature of this technology. Imperatively, three critical security and privacy challenges relate to cloud computing in healthcare.
Firstly, data storage confidentiality is a security challenge because cloud computing does not guarantee a strong data privacy framework for patients. As such, data can be hacked and get accessed by unauthorized people who may use it for criminal purposes (Snell, 2016). As such, due to the complexity of the system, many components are stored on a public cloud that can be accessed by many people thus increasing potential attacks on a large scale.
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Secondly, by the nature of the data storage protocols, organizations in healthcare sector cede control of their patients’ data to external players that may use this essential asset to manipulate the data for their selfish interests. More fundamentally, users and data owners lose their privacy as their details are shared among several entities and individuals. The challenge is that loss of privacy amounts to constitutional violations yet cloud computing technology does not address this issue.
Thirdly, cloud computing presents potential opportunities for data breaches, system vulnerabilities, and malicious people who can access the information and steal vital details about an individual. The breach of data implies that users are harmed because their information is taken and lack security about their addresses, Social Security numbers, and other critical information (Snell, 2016). These systems also become vulnerable since they can be exploited by hackers and bugs in their programs. As such, cloud computing provides numerous benefits for the healthcare sector but opens an avenue for security and privacy breaches.
References
Abbas, H., Maennel, O. & Assar, S. (2017). Security and Privacy Issues in Cloud Computing.
Annals of Telecommunications , vol.72, No.5-6, pp. 233-235.
Snell, E. (2016). What Are Top Healthcare Cloud Security Concerns? Retrieved from
https://healthitsecurity.com/news/what-are-top-healthcare-cloud-security-concerns
