Partner POV | Building Trust Through Identity: Addressing Security Challenges in Modern Healthcare

This article was written and provided by our partner, Zscaler.

Why Healthcare Security is Unique

Healthcare workflows are vastly different from other industries. Unlike professionals such as accountants or engineers, clinicians spend the bulk of their time focused on patient care, not interacting with technology. The primary concern of these end users is significantly different, and their work methods reflect this.

This focus on care creates unique challenges. Healthcare professionals often share workstations, devices, and data, making it harder to track identity in real-time. Meanwhile, hospitals remain prime targets for ransomware attacks because of their mission-critical operations. The combination of shared assets, constant workflow changes, and heightened regulatory requirements has led to friction between clinical care teams and IT security departments.

Innovative Solutions Driving Transformation

Healthcare organizations are tasked with solving both productivity and security issues simultaneously—and technological innovation is key. 

• Passwordless Authentication- Passwordless authentication is a powerful "win-win" solution. Integrating biometric logins, behavioral analytics, and intelligent PIN systems can replace the cumbersome, time-consuming process of typing in lengthy credentials. Without passwords to remember—or to reset—clinicians can reclaim more time for patient care, while IT departments benefit from enhanced security and reduced risk of human error. The potential savings go far beyond seconds shaved off workflows.
• Mobile Workflows- Another transformative technology is the growing use of mobile devices in clinical settings. Phones and tablets are tools that could replace traditional workstations, enabling more flexible, streamlined workflows. These devices can empower clinicians to ditch rolling carts or desktop logins in favor of a smartphone that connects them directly to critical systems and apps. However, it is cautioned that mobile integration requires careful execution. Mobile devices, by their very nature, are mobile. For a successful rollout, healthcare organizations must address challenges such as device sharing, fleet management, and initial setup hurdles. For example, shared devices should easily transition between users with minimal effort—using badge scans or face recognition for quick personalization.
• AI-Powered Efficiency- It wouldn't be a modern conversation about technology without discussing artificial intelligence. There is incredible potential for AI to make security an "invisible" part of clinician workflows. Using AI, healthcare institutions can automate identity verification and policymaking tasks that currently burden IT teams and distract clinicians. Beyond security, AI also offers opportunities to elevate workflows. For example, predictive algorithms can anticipate a clinician's needs, delivering key patient information exactly when it's required, reducing time spent searching for critical data. However, the efficacy of AI solutions depends entirely on the quality, protection, and curation of the underlying data they use.

The Danger of Poor Execution

Even the best technologies can fail if they're deployed without clinician input. In shared healthcare environments, it's crucial for IT teams to consider factors like ease of use, device accessibility, and workflow compatibility. An example was recounted of failed device rollouts where clinicians abandoned state-of-the-art workstations, not due to flawed hardware, but because boot times and added clicks slowed them down. Doctors have literally timed how many seconds new processes take and calculated the number of patients they miss during a shift, noting that this is not something that can be ignored, especially given clinician burnout and patient satisfaction concerns.

From Trust Issues to Trust Building

The solution to these longstanding issues is to rebuild trust through technology. Features that prioritize speed, simplicity, and clarity are essential to making security "invisible," giving clinicians one less thing to worry about in their often-stressful settings. Removing friction, streamlining identity verification, and reducing cognitive load are all part of a broader strategy to align IT and clinical goals. The message is clear: security teams must collaborate with clinical teams to design systems that prioritize both care delivery and regulatory compliance—and never sacrifice one for the other.