Healthcare organizations have always kept the possibility of data breaches in mind, especially since 2017 witnessed the biggest and most expensive data breach to date. To counter this, more businesses have hired certified technicians, but that’s not enough.
Data security is critical to the healthcare industry. Hospitals and clinics need to ensure medical records are protected at all times to stay HIPAA-compliant. But with Spectre and Meltdown affecting every server, all healthcare providers are at risk of data breach.
As more medical practices adopt electronic health records (EHR), running out of digital storage is becoming an increasingly common issue. HIPAA-regulated practices don’t always have the option of cloud solutions, but virtualization is a secure and cost-effective alternative.
The fact that the world is going digital is unprecedented. With that in mind, the healthcare industry has also decided to embrace the digital trend in the form of EHRs. Short for electronic health records, this new type of data management system aims to improve on traditional paper-based ways.
In November 2017, healthcare data security and privacy company Protenus released a report on the most common security breaches in healthcare. Here are a few key takeaways.
Insiders are a bigger threat than hackers
Protenus is one of the largest security vendors for electronic health records (EHRs) and their mid-year review sheds some important light on the most common types of security breaches in healthcare.
Mobile devices have revolutionized the healthcare industry: They’re convenient and significantly improve work efficiency and patients’ satisfaction. Yet they also come with risks. Patient data handled by those devices can be leaked. That’s why every healthcare provider needs to be extra careful about data security when using mobile devices.
The Internet of Things (IoT) has the potential to completely revolutionize the healthcare industry. Innovations like smart pacemakers and fitness trackers monitor patients’ vitals and unearth patterns that can lead to more accurate diagnoses. But like any new technology, it also brings a slew of security risks healthcare professionals need to address.
Voice over IP (VoIP) phone systems offer far superior mobility, functionality, and cost-efficiency than traditional landlines. But like any computer system, it can be vulnerable to service disruptions, equipment failure, and cyberattacks. With proper preparation, however, your phone systems can weather any disaster.
Ever since the WannaCry and Petya ransomware outbreaks, healthcare organizations have been on their toes. But just when they thought they could relax, a new strain of ransomware has come along. A “Locky-variant” ransomware campaign is currently underway, and it’s every bit as dangerous as previous ransomware attacks.
New IT trends are usually equal parts exciting and confusing. Today, that generalization describes blockchain technology perfectly. It’s a complex concept that has the potential to totally revolutionize every industry -- including healthcare. Even if you have no plan to invest in blockchain soon, you need to understand what it is.
