“How can data security in digital health be strengthened to protect patient privacy in recovery programs?”
Here is what 5 thought leaders had to say.
Blend Technology and Culture to Safeguard Patient Data
Protecting patient privacy in digital health recovery programs starts with treating data as the most sensitive asset it is. Strong encryption for data at rest and in transit is non-negotiable, but it’s only part of the picture. Role-based access ensures that only the right healthcare professionals can see patient information, while audit logs help track who accessed what and when.
Building systems with privacy-by-design principles reduces exposure risks. Regular security reviews, penetration testing, and staying compliant with standards like HIPAA are essential. Equally important is educating both staff and patients on secure practices, from strong passwords to cautious device usage. When technology and culture work together, digital health programs can protect sensitive information while still delivering efficient, personalized care.
Muhammad Naufil, Founder, SyncMyTime
Enforce Layered Controls, Audits, and Vendor Accountability
Digital health data security cannot be based on software only. Recovery programs are sensitive in a number of layers that surpass the regular medical records, and thus the access discipline must be deliberate. When assessing digital health settings in the context of workforce recovery or behavioral health programs, the initial consideration in Platinum Consulting Services is role-based access based on real job activity. When a case manager requires attendance notes, then that does not imply that he requires complete clinical history. Exposure is minimized by limiting visibility to the least. Rest and in transit encryption is anticipated. Audit visibility is what alters things. Each access point must produce a readable log reviewed every month by the leadership and not just after an incident.
Multi-factor authentication is a moot, although the culture dictates the holding of controls. Employees should realize that a common password is not handy. It is liability. Even medical staffs are exposed to unexpected gaps in phishing simulation twice a year. Vendors too are to be questioned. The agreement between business associates must specify the timelines in hour to breach notification rather than use ambiguous terms. Recovery programs need privacy which is founded on the layered controls, rather than the trust on one platform.
Maegan Damugo, Marketing coordinator, Platinum Consulting Services
Limit Data, Segment Access, Strengthen Governance
Recovery programs use digital health platforms to collect highly personal and sensitive information about patients, which can have significant impacts on their ability to secure employment or housing and create financial instability for families. To add an additional layer of protection to these types of sensitive data, organizations should limit what they collect to only what is necessary for treatment, and implement a defined timeframe for how long they will retain this data.
Organizations can reduce the opportunity for employees to take advantage of this information internally and also reduce the potential for lateral breaches through multi-factor authentication, segmenting where this information is stored, and implementing role-based access controls. By implementing third-party encryption methods (both in transit and at rest), conducting continuous risk assessments, and engaging with your third-party vendors regarding ongoing compliance, you may be able to limit the number of third-parties involved in accessing sensitive patient information. Ultimately, defining a set of governance policies, training the organization’s staff, and documenting a plan to respond to incidents can help ensure the organization maintains patient trust while ensuring compliance and providing ethical care to patients.
Nick Heimlich, Owner and Attorney, Nick Heimlich Law
Encrypt Records, Restrict Access, Train Staff
In recovery programs, protecting patient privacy goes beyond compliance—it’s about trust. At The Lakes Treatment Center, we strengthen digital health security by using encrypted platforms for all patient records, ensuring that sensitive information cannot be accessed without proper authorization. We limit data access strictly to clinicians and staff who are directly involved in care, and we regularly audit these permissions.
Staff training is another key layer, helping everyone recognize potential security risks, from phishing attempts to accidental data sharing. We also carefully vet any digital tools or telehealth platforms for strong privacy safeguards before integrating them into treatment. By combining technology, oversight, and ongoing education, we create a secure environment where patients can focus on recovery, confident that their personal health information remains private.
Travis Wilson, Chief Operation Officer, The Lakes Treatment Center
Adopt Zero Trust and Granular Consent Controls
Enhancing confidentiality of data in digital health recovery programs necessitates a shift from employing only static encryption techniques towards the implementation of dynamic granular consent management. Based on findings from IBM’s 2024 Annual Study on the Cost of Data Breach, the healthcare industry has incurred the most costly average data breach incident costs globally (almost $10 million per breach), and this risk is compounded when you consider recovery situations where the data is also closely held under regulations such as 42 CFR Part 2 which impose a greater level of control than would be required for other types of health records.
The best defense against data breaches is by implementing what is commonly known as “Zero Trust” architecture whereby no access is granted based only on an end-user’s role but instead, all requested access is evaluated and verified on a continual basis by consideration of the context of that specific request. Repeatedly, we see that the primary reason for failure of recovery platforms is due to over-privileged users. With the implementation of ABAC, the only data visible to a provider will be based upon the attributes required for their current phase of treatment; therefore, if a provider’s account were to be compromised, there would not be any lateral movement of data because of the limitation of access.
Security must be considered as a clinical requirement and not simply a technical compliance requirement. Patients will not provide information to the provider if they believe it will be disclosed outside of the recovery process. The use of AI-based anomaly detection capabilities can provide a proactive layer of protection not available through conventional rule-based systems by monitoring for aberrational or unusual access patterns (e.g., a clinician accessing patient records outside of the normal number of active patients for that clinician).
Recovery programs are built on a fragile foundation of trust that is easily destroyed by one incident. In order to protect confidential data, it is necessary to protect the long-term health of the individuals involved and regulatory compliance.
Kuldeep Kundal, Founder & CEO, CISIN
