508-909-5961 [email protected]

Tips to reduce IoT-related risk in the healthcare industryMost, if not all, cybersecurity experts believe that anything connected to the internet can be hacked. So with the increasing popularity of the Internet of Things (IoT) and IoT devices in the healthcare industry, it’s only wise that organizations understand and address the risks associated with the ubiquity of IoT. Computing devices that contain a […]

The post Tips to reduce IoT-related risk in the healthcare industry appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Tips to reduce IoT-related risk in the healthcare industry

Most, if not all, cybersecurity experts believe that anything connected to the internet can be hacked. So with the increasing popularity of the Internet of Things (IoT) and IoT devices in the healthcare industry, it’s only wise that organizations understand and address the risks associated with the ubiquity of IoT.

Computing devices that contain a treasure trove of patient data are attractive targets for cybercriminals. Healthcare apps, for instance, hold plenty of sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers, prescriptions, and medical histories. Should hackers ever get a hold of this information, they could resell it on the dark web or use it to steal their victim's identity. They could even use this information to gain direct control over other IoT equipment, which would lead to even bigger consequences.

Similarly, hackers could exploit vulnerable medical devices to infiltrate even the most secure networks. They could use compromised IoT devices to sneak ransomware and other types of malware into a network, causing service disruptions and preventing practitioners from providing responsive treatment.

To effectively defend against IoT-related risks in your healthcare practice, consider the following:

Use multifactor authentication (MFA)

MFA requires users to provide more information than just their username and password to prove their identity, such as a password or PIN, an SMS code, or a fingerprint or retina scan. By enabling MFA on your networks and devices, hackers will have a harder time accessing your accounts and sensitive data.

Encrypt your data

Another way to protect your business and your patients from a massive data breach is through encryption. Encrypting electronic health records while they’re being transmitted or kept in storage prevents hackers from intercepting and reading confidential information.

If possible, everything that is transmitted across your network should be encrypted automatically to secure communications between IoT devices.

Install intrusion prevention systems

Since most IoT attacks are delivered via the internet, intrusion prevention systems are crucial to identifying and blocking unauthorized connections to your network. When you install intrusion prevention systems, hackers who try to remotely access or shut down your IoT equipment will be stopped before they damage your systems.

Security updates

Last but not least, IoT manufacturers regularly release security patches for their gadgets. Get in the habit of downloading these updates as soon they’re rolled out, or program your devices to automatically download and update themselves to ensure their safety from the latest threats.

When it comes to security, healthcare institutions have their work cut out for them. But whether you’re dealing with hardware security, data privacy, or regulatory compliance, it’s a good idea to partner with a managed IT services provider that specializes in helping the medical industry.

Call us today to discover how we can better protect you and your patients.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post Tips to reduce IoT-related risk in the healthcare industry appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Read More

Protecting healthcare providers from insider threatsMany healthcare organizations are at risk of data breaches caused by insider threats. These are security risks within your organization and can be any of your current or former employees, partners, and contractors who have knowledge about your computer systems. Here are five ways through which your healthcare organization can prevent insider threats from exposing […]

The post Protecting healthcare providers from insider threats appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Protecting healthcare providers from insider threats

Many healthcare organizations are at risk of data breaches caused by insider threats. These are security risks within your organization and can be any of your current or former employees, partners, and contractors who have knowledge about your computer systems. Here are five ways through which your healthcare organization can prevent insider threats from exposing your data.

Educate

All healthcare employees must be educated on patient privacy, data security, and the risks associated with certain behaviors. They must also be aware of allowable uses and disclosures of protected health information (PHI). For example, some healthcare personnel may be tempted to peek into the medical records of a celebrity admitted to their hospital. You must emphasize that such behavior is strictly forbidden and that it carries corresponding penalties.

Deter

Develop and enforce policies aimed at reducing the risk of data leaks. Make sure your employees understand the repercussions of violations and privacy breaches under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Discussing patients or PHI in public areas of the hospital, for example, can result in hefty penalties and criminal charges leading to jail time.

Detect

Healthcare organizations should implement technology that can quickly identify breaches. They also need to ensure that only authorized personnel are accessing sensitive patient data. This can be accomplished by regularly checking user access logs, as well as consistently monitoring and updating access controls. Any attempt by unauthorized personnel to access data must be penalized.

Investigate

To limit its impact, any potential privacy and security breach must be investigated promptly and thoroughly upon detection. Once the cause of the breach is identified, your organization needs to implement measures to keep breaches from happening in the future.

Train

Healthcare employees must regularly undergo comprehensive cybersecurity training, as this will turn them into an effective first line of defense against various cyber risks, including insider threats. Just because the members of your team were oriented on data privacy and security-related topics during their first day on the job doesn’t mean you should be complacent. Cybersecurity risks continue to evolve, so it pays to be vigilant and to keep your team’s knowledge updated at all times.

Encourage your IT department to provide various tips across a wide variety of cybersecurity-related topics throughout the year. Using different types of media, such as emails, printed newsletters, infographics, and even memos, to deliver these tips will make them easier to understand and keep in mind for your employees.

Protecting healthcare data from insider threats is more than just about staying compliant with industry regulations. It’s also vital to protecting the privacy of your patients and your staff, as well as the reputation of your healthcare organization.

For more information about the different ways you can keep your healthcare data secure, just give our experts a call.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post Protecting healthcare providers from insider threats appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Read More

Why healthcare companies need mobile device managementAs mobile devices become more instrumental to healthcare organizations, it’s becoming even more difficult to keep track of all devices connecting to company networks. With mobile device management (MDM), IT staff in healthcare will have an easier time watching over company-registered devices. Read on to learn more about the advantages of MDM. Compliance Governments have […]

The post Why healthcare companies need mobile device management appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Why healthcare companies need mobile device management

As mobile devices become more instrumental to healthcare organizations, it’s becoming even more difficult to keep track of all devices connecting to company networks. With mobile device management (MDM), IT staff in healthcare will have an easier time watching over company-registered devices. Read on to learn more about the advantages of MDM.

Compliance

Governments have established several regulations, such as HIPAA, to protect patient records, but mobile devices are posing a major challenge to these regulations. If companies violate the rules, they can be penalized with a fine as high as $1.5 million.

The largest compliance risk associated with the use of mobile devices is data leakage. The most common example of this is an employee keeping sensitive data or footage in his or her phone and then uploading it on social media. MDM mitigates this risk by allowing system administrators to set access and usage restrictions for data and applications so employees comply with the company’s security policies.

Cost-effectiveness

Many practices are adopting bring your own device (BYOD) policies, encouraging employees to use their own tablets, computers, and smartphones for work. MDM solutions make it possible for IT administrators to remotely monitor and control these devices. But more importantly, organizations benefit from the reduced overhead and hardware costs, since they don't have to purchase the devices for their staff.

Better device security

As long as the systems administrator uses MDM, it will be a challenge for hackers to gain access to any confidential information, regardless of where in the hospital the device is. The best MDM applications can encrypt files in a portable device and distinguish corporate data from the employee’s personal information. In the event that the employee leaves the company, the MDM software will remove corporate data on their devices, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access to protected health information. Meanwhile, if the device is lost or stolen, the MDM software can be used to fully wipe the device remotely.

Company-wide updates

One of the biggest challenges of mobile devices is it’s often difficult to keep software updates consistent throughout the company. What’s worse is that employees may put off updates because they’re on a tight schedule. However, these updates are essential in defending against the latest threats.

MDM addresses these problems with company-wide updates. When a security patch is available for business software, MDM makes it easy to track which devices are still vulnerable and lets system administrators automatically administer updates. This way, companies can secure any vulnerabilities in company-registered devices from a central location.

No changes to infrastructure

MDM applications will not demand a change in the Wi-Fi infrastructure of an organization, but if the system cannot handle all the devices logged in to the network, the support team will have difficulties managing all medical applications and individual devices. If a hospital has a strong wireless network, then there will be no need to make changes to the system.

These are just some of the advantages to having MDM in the healthcare industry. If you need more information on MDM, or if you have other technical concerns, feel free to get in touch with us today!

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post Why healthcare companies need mobile device management appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Read More

Cloud solutions have long-lasting value in healthcareHealthcare organizations should no longer be hesitant when adopting cloud computing, as the technology has become more ubiquitous and easy to use. If you know how to manage the cloud properly, it can even surpass the reliability and security offered by on-site IT. Here are just some of the business benefits of cloud computing. Easy […]

The post Cloud solutions have long-lasting value in healthcare appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Cloud solutions have long-lasting value in healthcare

Healthcare organizations should no longer be hesitant when adopting cloud computing, as the technology has become more ubiquitous and easy to use. If you know how to manage the cloud properly, it can even surpass the reliability and security offered by on-site IT. Here are just some of the business benefits of cloud computing.

Easy information access

Reviewing patient records used to be a time-consuming activity. In the past, doctors had to either lug around reams of documents or spend hours in front of a desktop computer to retrieve health records. But with cloud applications for managing electronic medical records (EMR), doctors can conveniently access medical records from anywhere, at any time.

HIPAA compliance

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) stipulates rules and regulations on how to protect patient health information. Whether you use a browser-based tool or a mobile app, cloud computing makes it easy to adapt to HIPAA regulatory updates and changes. For instance, a vendor can update its data encryption standards in the cloud and the changes will automatically take effect on all accounts and devices — no new installs or configuration necessary.

Cost reduction

The cloud also eliminates the need for on-site hardware, maintenance fees, and expensive one-time software licenses. In terms of less quantifiable cost reductions, the ability to access work from anywhere at any time boosts productivity and makes your IT department more efficient.

Scalability

Unlike in-house computer hardware, you can scale cloud storage solutions in a matter of minutes. Beyond the benefit of organizational simplicity, web-based EMR software gives you more storage than you can ever need and retrieves records in a few seconds.

Better data backup and recovery

Data loss is a real issue for healthcare practices. Will your business continuity be safe if your office IT suddenly becomes inaccessible? Even a couple of days of downtime can have serious repercussions for your organization.

Practices that store their files in the cloud don’t have to worry about this. Nearly every cloud solution stores files in more than one location so backups can be restored quickly if anything goes wrong.

Want to learn more about the ideal cloud computing solutions for your practice? Get in touch with one of our tech experts today for personalized recommendations.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post Cloud solutions have long-lasting value in healthcare appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Read More