#United States #Nashville #MultiCare Health System #Elisity #CSO Award

MultiCare Health System Honored with 2026 CSO Award for Microsegmentation Initiative

MultiCare Health System, the largest not-for-profit health organization based in Washington State, has gained prestigious recognition by being named the winner of the 2026 CSO Award. This award was given for the project titled 'From Department of No to Culture of Yes: Enabling Modern Healthcare Through Identity-Based Microsegmentation'. The initiative has been a significant step in revolutionizing healthcare operations, implementing advanced technology to secure over 40,000 connected devices across multiple facilities. This includes 13 hospitals and over 350 urgent care and outpatient clinics, all while ensuring seamless patient care without disruption.

The microsegmentation initiative was executed as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the organization's cybersecurity framework. Jason Elrod, MultiCare's Chief Information Security Officer, accepted the award at the CSO Cybersecurity Awards Conference held in Nashville, Tennessee from May 11-13, 2026. This recognition marks the third consecutive year that an Elisity customer has received a CSO Award, showcasing the platform’s value in enhancing organizational security.

Elisity is a company that specializes in identity-based microsegmentation. They developed the technology that enabled MultiCare to secure its vast network infrastructure which had evolved through various mergers and acquisitions. Traditional segmentation methods such as VLANs, NAC, and firewalls would have demanded a massive re-architecture of the network, potentially requiring 6 to 14 additional full-time employees (FTEs) and about 300 hours of operational adjustments per site. With microsegmentation, these challenges were successfully avoided, as the existing hardware acted as enforcement points for security parameters, ensuring compliance and operational efficiency without the need for extensive renovations or new equipment.

In real-world applications, MultiCare's team showcased their efficacy by discovering and classifying 99% of all devices within minutes during the project’s initial proof of value, without any interruptions to the essential clinical operations that depend on constant connectivity and accessibility. The deployment became fully operational in March 2025 and extended to 80% of the targeted sites by the end of that year, remarkably achieved by just 2 FTEs rather than the industry-wide benchmark of 14.

The integration with other advanced security solutions, including Claroty, CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender, and ServiceNow, allowed for a comprehensive understanding of identity context throughout the entire security stack, thus fortifying their defenses.

Jason Elrod stated, “Elisity works, does what it says it can do. It allows us to microsegment in a way that is sustainable and doesn’t add a ton of overhead. In healthcare, where downtime isn’t an option, that is critical.” This statement emphasizes the importance of technology that not only enhances security but also ensures operational continuity, creating a bridge to future advancements in healthcare systems.

The CSO Awards serve as a recognition platform for significant achievements in security projects, highlighting their value and leadership. MultiCare's recent accolade reinforces the trend of using innovative technology in tackling prevalent cybersecurity challenges. The acknowledgment reflects a paradigm shift within security teams, as they redefine their roles from mere enforcers to proactive business enablers.Further illustrating the widespread necessity for improved microsegmentation, a survey commissioned by Elisity found that 90% of U.S. cyber decision-makers feel they are lagging behind in securing necessary infrastructure. MultiCare's successful deployment exemplifies how healthcare organizations can effectively bridge this gap without compromising key operational elements.

As the health sector faces urgent challenges, the insights shared from MultiCare’s deployment will be discussed in an upcoming webinar, titled 99% Plan It, 9% Have It: A CISO Playbook for Closing the Microsegmentation Gap, where both Jason Elrod and other industry stakeholders will explore key findings and deployment experiences. In conclusion, the strides made by MultiCare Health System not only highlight the importance of microsegmentation but also reflect the ongoing evolution of security methodologies in response to the ever-changing landscape of cybersecurity threats.

For more information about Elisity's microsegmentation solutions specifically tailored for the healthcare sector, visit elisity.com.