The Healthcare industry is increasingly becoming the favorite target of cybercriminals. A recent study found that 95 percent of all identity theft can be traced back to patient health record loss. Protected health information (PHI) has become worth more than credit card information on the black market. Protecting your office and your patients’ data from online attacks is essential. In this post, we will provide you with seven essential tips to help you safeguard your medical office from cyber-attacks.
Multi-factor authentication is a security measure that uses two or more elements to verify your identity. MFA helps to protect your identity and decreases the chance of unauthorized access. Many healthcare organizations have use of MFA mandatory, but there are still some that make MFA a user option. Popular applications such as Gmail, outlook, slack, Facebook, LinkedIn and other healthcare related software recommend MFA. Using an authenticator app such as Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator is generally more secure compared to SMS or phone call.
Unfortunately, many users are still using weak passwords. The table below describes the length of time it takes for hackers to exploit weak passwords to potentially gain access to internal systems. Make sure that your password are at least 12 characters long and contain numbers, letters (lower and upper case) and special characters.
An unprotected wi-fi network is a huge security risk. Using a strong password is a must to protect your network, and don’t share your wi-fi password with anyone external to your organization. External uses including patients can be granted access through an appropriately configured guest network which provides secure access rather than sharing your primary network.
A virtual private network (VPN) is a popular way to grant secure access to mobile users. A VPN helps to encrypt your traffic to and front your data sets, thus adding a layer of privacy and defense from cyber-attacks. A VPN is an essential tool that helps organizations to accomplish various goals, such as:
According to survey conducted by Security.org, below are the reasons organizations use VPNs:
Anti-virus software has become essential for internet users, regardless of business or personal use.
Anti-virus software provides basic essential protection your computer and data. Below are some benefits of using anti-virus software for your office and home.
According to Okta, smaller companies use an average 73 applications and larger companies around 175. Can you imagine the awkwardness of managing and sharing these with a spreadsheet not to mention the security risk? Password managers are an essential tool to store, share, secure passwords, and provide ease of use to your team. Some of the key benefits of using a password manager are:
A reliable cloud storage backup is a must for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re just starting a small practice or you’ve been in business for years, a cloud backup solution can help protect your data and minimize the impact of an unexpected disaster.
Some of the key benefits of using a cloud data backup service are:
No one likes ads, especially the flashy ads that tempt you to click on them. Here are some of the benefits of using an ad-blocker.
Implementing security policies is not only for medium/big businesses but also for small healthcare practices. Cybercriminals look for the easiest prey. If your organization is not properly secured, it could cost you a lot more in the long run than investing the time and resources required to secure your network.
Resources:
https://consumer.ftc.gov/
https://www.cisa.gov/
https://onclavenetworks.com/healthcare-security-whitepaper/
https://www.hivesystems.io/
https://www.security.org/resources/vpn-consumer-report-annual/
https://www.okta.com/businesses-at-work/2021/