A computer display that requires password access. — Image © Tim Sandle
Strong cybersecurity is a major concern for any organization, but this may be especially true for healthcare providers. Cyberattacks not only threaten hospital operations, but can also put patients’ physical health and the security of their personal data at risk.
To expand on this issue, researchers at Radar Healthcare provided Digital Journal with some helpful tips for healthcare organizations looking to instill cybersecurity best practices in the workplace.
these are:
Establish a strong security culture
There are several important steps to establishing a strong cybersecurity culture in the workplace. The first is to provide frequent education and training sessions for medical staff.
Simple human error or negligence can have devastating consequences. Armed with accurate knowledge of how to maintain cybersecurity, your staff can make informed decisions and exercise appropriate care when handling sensitive information.
Another key element of building a security culture is for managers and workplace leaders to set an example for other employees. Keeping data safe is a collaborative effort and needs to be reflected at every level and department of the organization. Taking shared responsibility for maintaining data security should be one of the organization’s core values.
Additionally, having a dedicated security compliance team like Radar Healthcare plays a key role in ensuring compliance with regulations and best practices. That extra level of expertise and vigilance helps protect sensitive data and effectively mitigate risks.
Support for staff
Fostering a culture of support for your staff is paramount to maintaining a robust cybersecurity environment. Providing a variety of training resources, both online and in-person, will help your employees understand and implement security best practices effectively.
Protect your company’s computers
Computers are often the primary device used to store, access, and update personal health information, so organizations need to take several proactive steps to ensure these devices are properly secured.
Install antivirus software
A computer virus is malicious software, or “malware,” that can invade your device and cause serious damage, including the theft of sensitive data. The scariest thing about viruses is that they can infect your device without you even knowing it.
Malware can come from a variety of sources, including websites, hidden email attachments, and seemingly innocuous links sent from compromised email accounts. While it’s important to educate staff on how to look out for potential malware, you can’t rely on humans alone to be vigilant.
Antivirus software helps fight malware that tries to get onto your device, and a good program will scan for potential viruses. If a threat is identified, the software will place the virus in a protected folder. Depending on the particular program, you will either have to approve the removal of the virus or it will be removed automatically.
Implement data access and usage controls
Access controls enhance security by restricting access to patient information to only those users who need the data to perform their jobs. Access restrictions require user authentication, either with a PIN, password or biometric scan, to ensure they are an authorized user before sensitive data can be viewed.
Healthcare organizations can also benefit from implementing usage controls that can restrict certain actions that could put sensitive information at risk. These activities could include certain web uploads, emailing to unauthorized users, copying files to external drives, etc. Usage controls can help identify the appropriate level of protection for different types of data and uncover digital behaviors that could put personal health information at risk.
Protect your mobile devices
It is becoming more common for healthcare professionals to use mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets to access information and complete documents. However, managing personal health information on a mobile device requires many security measures.
Devices should be kept up to date with the latest operating systems. Manage privacy settings, configurations, and the use of strong passwords. Require the installation of mobile security software. Enable the ability to remotely wipe and lock lost or stolen devices. Monitor email accounts and attachments to prevent viruses. Implement policies to only allow applications that meet predefined criteria to be installed and encrypt all application data.
Conduct regular internal risk assessments
Proactive prevention is essential to avoid cybersecurity disasters. Conducting regular audits and risk assessments can identify vulnerabilities in an organization’s security operations and inadequate compliance in security awareness among employees and business partners.
Implementing a system for regular audits and risk assessments, and setting reminders for these assessments, will ensure that potential security risks are consistently monitored and addressed.
By regularly assessing current and potential security risk areas, healthcare providers and their business associates can avoid many of the negative consequences of a data breach, including reputational damage and costly fines from regulators.
Assessing security compliance of business partners
Health information is increasingly being transmitted between health care providers and business partners for a variety of reasons, including to provide care and facilitate payment. All parties must share a responsibility to ensure that personal health information is protected.
Therefore, one of the most important security measures an organization can take is to carefully and regularly assess the security compliance of its business associates, including vendors and subcontractors.
With effective security measures in place, patient data will be well protected and cybersecurity management will become a natural practice for your organization.
