Cybersecurity in Abu Dhabi healthcare is no longer about ticking boxes. It is about proving, every day, that your facility can protect patient data, clinical systems, and connected platforms like Malaffi. That is exactly why ADHICS gap assessments have become one of the most critical compliance activities for hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers, and day surgery facilities. If you wait for a Department of Health audit to discover weaknesses, you are already late. An ADHICS gap assessment helps you find security vulnerabilities before regulators, attackers, or system failures do.

Think of it as a health check for your digital environment. It shows where you comply, where you fall short, and where patient safety may be at risk.

In this guide, you will learn what an ADHICS gap assessment really means, why it matters, and how to follow five practical steps to identify and fix security gaps in your facility with confidence.

What Is an ADHICS Gap Assessment

An ADHICS gap assessment is a structured review of your current cybersecurity and information security controls against the requirements defined by the Abu Dhabi Healthcare Information and Cyber Security Standard.

The goal is simple. You compare what ADHICS expects with what your facility actually implements.

This assessment covers governance, policies, technical controls, access management, incident response, third-party risk, and Malaffi integration security. It applies to both on-premise and cloud environments.

A gap assessment does not certify compliance. Instead, it prepares you for compliance by exposing weaknesses early.

Why ADHICS Gap Assessments Matter for Abu Dhabi Facilities

ADHICS compliance directly impacts your Department of Health licensing status and Malaffi connectivity approval. A single unresolved gap can trigger audit findings, corrective action plans, or operational delays.

Cyber threats in healthcare continue to rise, and Abu Dhabi treats cybersecurity as part of patient safety. When systems fail, care delivery suffers.

A proactive gap assessment helps you:

Reduce audit risk
Protect patient data
Improve system resilience
Plan remediation budgets accurately
Strengthen trust with regulators

Facilities that conduct regular gap assessments respond faster and recover better during incidents.

Common Areas Where Clinics Fail ADHICS Requirements

Before diving into the steps, it helps to understand where most facilities struggle.

Many clinics lack formal risk assessments or updated policies. Others rely on shared user accounts or weak access controls. Logging and monitoring often remain incomplete, especially for cloud and third-party systems.

Malaffi integrations also create blind spots when interfaces lack proper security controls or audit trails.

An ADHICS gap assessment brings these issues to the surface.

Step 1: Define Scope and Map Your Digital Assets

Every effective gap assessment starts with scope definition.

You need a clear picture of what systems, networks, and data fall under ADHICS requirements. This includes clinical systems, EMRs, laboratory systems, imaging platforms, medical devices, cloud services, and third-party connections.

Create an asset inventory that identifies:

Where patient data resides
How systems connect to Malaffi
Who owns and manages each system
Whether assets sit on-premise or in the cloud

Without asset visibility, you cannot identify security gaps accurately.

Step 2: Review Governance and Policy Alignment

ADHICS places strong emphasis on governance. Your facility must demonstrate ownership, accountability, and structured decision-making.

Start by reviewing whether you have:

Defined cybersecurity roles and responsibilities
Approved information security policies
Regular policy review cycles
Clear escalation paths for incidents

Policies must align with ADHICS control domains, not generic templates. They should reflect how your facility actually operates.

During this step, compare your existing documentation with ADHICS requirements and note where alignment breaks down.

Step 3: Assess Technical and Cybersecurity Controls

This step often reveals the most gaps.

Review access control mechanisms across all systems. ADHICS expects unique user IDs, role-based access, and multi-factor authentication for sensitive systems. Shared accounts create immediate non-compliance.

Next, examine network security. Check segmentation between clinical, administrative, and guest networks. Review firewall rules and remote access configurations.

Logging and monitoring deserve special attention. ADHICS expects centralized logs, defined retention periods, and alerting mechanisms. If you cannot trace who accessed patient data and when, you have a gap.

Also assess patch management, antivirus controls, vulnerability scanning, and backup practices.

Step 4: Evaluate Malaffi and Clinical System Security

Malaffi integration significantly raises the compliance bar.

Review how your EMR exchanges data with Malaffi. Ensure encryption protects data in transit and at rest. Verify that interfaces use secure authentication methods and generate audit logs.

Access to patient records must follow least-privilege principles. Session timeouts, inactivity controls, and access reviews help meet ADHICS expectations.

Medical devices connected to clinical systems also fall within scope. Unpatched imaging systems or lab analyzers often create hidden vulnerabilities.

This step ensures your clinical environment aligns with both ADHICS and Malaffi security expectations.

Step 5: Document Gaps, Risks, and Remediation Plans

A gap assessment only adds value when you document findings clearly.

For each identified gap, record:

The affected system or process
The related ADHICS control
The risk level and potential impact
Recommended remediation actions
Ownership and target timelines

Risk-based prioritization helps you focus on issues that affect patient safety and regulatory exposure first.

This documentation becomes your roadmap for compliance and a key input for DoH audits.

How Often Should You Perform an ADHICS Gap Assessment

ADHICS expects continuous compliance, not one-time reviews.

You should perform a formal gap assessment at least annually. Additional assessments should follow major system changes, EMR upgrades, cloud migrations, or Malaffi integration updates.

Regular reviews help you stay ahead of evolving threats and regulatory expectations.

Mistakes to Avoid During an ADHICS Gap Assessment

Many facilities treat gap assessments as paperwork exercises. This approach misses real vulnerabilities.

Avoid relying solely on policies without verifying technical controls. Do not ignore third-party and cloud systems. Skipping clinical device security also creates major blind spots.

Another common mistake involves delaying remediation. Identifying gaps without action increases risk rather than reducing it.

An ADHICS gap assessment gives you clarity in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. It shows where your facility stands, where risks hide, and how to strengthen security before audits or incidents occur.

By following a structured five-step approach, you protect patient data, support Malaffi integration, and maintain confidence during Department of Health reviews.

Cybersecurity works best when you stay proactive, informed, and prepared.

FAQs

1. What is the purpose of an ADHICS gap assessment?

It identifies gaps between current security controls and ADHICS requirements before audits occur.

2. Is an ADHICS gap assessment mandatory?

While not explicitly mandated, it is strongly recommended to maintain compliance and audit readiness.

3. Does Malaffi integration fall under ADHICS gap assessments?

Yes. Malaffi interfaces and data exchange security form a critical part of the assessment.

4. Who should perform an ADHICS gap assessment?

Qualified internal teams or external consultants with ADHICS and healthcare cybersecurity expertise.

5. How long does an ADHICS gap assessment take?

It depends on facility size and complexity, but most assessments take several weeks.