The Top 3 Problems That Plague Healthcare Organizations
Technology has changed the healthcare world—both for better and for worse.
Just as technology helps the healthcare industry through the convenience of data storage and access, it also presents serious cybersecurity, compliance and management risks.
The 3 Top Challenge Healthcare Organizations Struggle With
Cybersecurity
If you’re paying attention, you’ll have noticed that cybercrime is getting worse in the healthcare world.
FireEye researchers have noticed an increase in targeted attacks against healthcare organizations that house large amounts of valuable patient data. These hackers are using credential theft malware, ransomware, extortion campaigns, and cryptomining to execute these attacks.
Over the past two years, many databases associated with healthcare have been put up for sale on the dark web, as well as the sale of access to healthcare systems in these markets.
Did you know that ransomware attacks accounted for 50% of cybercrime incidents in the healthcare industry in 2020? That trend continued through 2021 as well, with 43% of medical organizations experiencing at least one attack over the past two years.
As the healthcare industry ramped up vaccination research and production over the course of the pandemic, cybercriminals refocused their efforts on this valuable data.
That’s why cybersecurity is so important for healthcare organizations, and also so difficult to manage. Effective cybersecurity is an ongoing initiative that many practices lack the resources to consistently manage.
HIPAA Compliance
No one is beyond the reach of the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
It’s easy to assume they’re only really concerned with the “big fish”. Investigations can take years, so why would they worry about smaller healthcare organizations like yours and your potentially minor data breach, when they can focus on major ones?
Case in point – America’s second-largest health insurer, Anthem, was hit with a record-breaking $16 million fine for exposing the medical data of more than 79 million Americans. With cases like that to consider, why would the OCR care about you?
Unfortunately, this thinking isn’t exactly realistic – the OCR is just as willing to investigate your minor data breach as they are major ones like Anthem’s. Frensenius Medical Center was handed a $3.5 million fine after five data breaches, each of which affected fewer than 300 patients.
The reality is that HIPAA compliance is complicated, time consuming, and ongoing. Managing it seamlessly on an ongoing basis is difficult for medical practices of all types and sizes.
Storage
Have you considered how much your compliance depends on your data storage and management capabilities?
Data has assumed a significant role in all healthcare operations, which makes data storage increasingly important. The way your data is stored is something that you need to consider carefully—it’s mission-critical for the efficiency, security, and success of a practice.
As technology becomes a more and more vital part of all healthcare operations, so does data. Without simple access and confident security, you’re left with potential lags and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
The amount of storage needed with the required redundancy makes it difficult for internal IT teams to handle all of the necessary processes to maintain a healthy storage environment. Any small issue can quickly escalate and threaten data security, availability, and integrity, which puts your compliance status at risk as well.
Looking For Expert IT Services For Medical Businesses?
MainStreet IT Solutions is a premier and reliable IT service provider for the healthcare industry. Our solution stack gives our healthcare clients the peace of mind they need to know their patients and practices are protected. We keep your IT environment operating smoothly, so you can focus on practicing medicine.
HIPAA Compliance Support
Compliance Assessment & Strategy
Our compliance services begin with a comprehensive assessment of your IT systems, the findings of which are compared with compliance cybersecurity controls. Our team will then develop a strategy to mitigate any risks of noncompliance, providing detailed documentation that you can demonstrate your commitment to compliance.
Remediation
Once the assessment is complete and the strategy has been developed, our team gets to work implementing any necessary changes in order to bring you to a state of confident compliance. No matter what aspect of your cybersecurity is lacking, we will match it with a tested and proven solution to make sure it doesn’t put you at risk any longer.
Compliance Management
Compliance is not a one-time effort. Ongoing compliance requires ongoing management, monitoring your systems for any potential cybersecurity instances, and reporting to the appropriate parties. As your IT systems age, and compliance requirements are updated, our team will make sure you stay compliant, applying necessary changes as need be.
Network Security & Management
Server Management
Thanks to a 24/7 monitoring and alert system, we will proactively be alerted to potential issues affecting your servers’, allowing us to address the issues with corrective action before bigger problems arise.
Cybersecurity
We will manage all aspects of your network, from firewalls to routers and switches, to keep your practice’s data and sensitive information confidential and secure.
Storage Management
We can ensure you always have the space you need to properly store and protect your patients’ data. No limits, no data loss, and no other types of issues will threaten your compliance.
Solve Your IT Problems For Good
Don’t struggle with IT for another minute, when compliance and patient experience are on the line.
MainStreet IT Solutions provides services for all of your unique IT needs, allowing you to focus on your quality of care—instead of faulty IT.
Set a meeting with our team to discover more.
