As it stands, there are many laws and
regulations regarding the protection of healthcare data and more specifically the data about the patients involved. Yet,
the measures employed by healthcare providers for this protection are
ineffective as nearly all providers have experienced some kind of data breach.
Since such data breaches have been known to cause losses, there needs to be a
change of tactic to better protect confidential files.
regulations regarding the protection of healthcare data and more specifically the data about the patients involved. Yet,
the measures employed by healthcare providers for this protection are
ineffective as nearly all providers have experienced some kind of data breach.
Since such data breaches have been known to cause losses, there needs to be a
change of tactic to better protect confidential files.
So, here are the five best practices
you need to follow in the pursuit of safer documentation of your records.
you need to follow in the pursuit of safer documentation of your records.
- Encrypt the Data
Encrypting the data is one of the
first measures you should employ. It ensures that only a select few who have
the decryption key to a particular file can access it. This is where
administrative controls come in as you choose who should get the decryption
keys (these are normally in the form of passwords).
first measures you should employ. It ensures that only a select few who have
the decryption key to a particular file can access it. This is where
administrative controls come in as you choose who should get the decryption
keys (these are normally in the form of passwords).
However, you must carefully consider the encryption you use as there are various password recovery or cracking tools
are designed to break the passwords. Luckily, by using a strong password (16
characters or more) and AES 256-bit encryption, the chances of anyone breaking
the password or attacking the algorithm will be significantly minimized as the computational power required for such a feat is currently unavailable.
are designed to break the passwords. Luckily, by using a strong password (16
characters or more) and AES 256-bit encryption, the chances of anyone breaking
the password or attacking the algorithm will be significantly minimized as the computational power required for such a feat is currently unavailable.
- Control
Portable Mobile Devices
This is easier said than done. How
can you stop everyone in the hospital from bringing their mobile phones to
work? What about memory cards and flash drives?
These are all potential risk factors as they can be used to carry
confidential data out of the front door.
can you stop everyone in the hospital from bringing their mobile phones to
work? What about memory cards and flash drives?
These are all potential risk factors as they can be used to carry
confidential data out of the front door.
Fortunately, you do not need to worry
about this as long as you have locked document use to the hospital premises.
However, this is only possible when you use a document DRM system for your
security needs. In essence, a document DRM system will allow employees to use
the data they need while they are in their offices, cubicles or even attending
to a patient. However, once they leave
the building the documents will no longer be accessible.
about this as long as you have locked document use to the hospital premises.
However, this is only possible when you use a document DRM system for your
security needs. In essence, a document DRM system will allow employees to use
the data they need while they are in their offices, cubicles or even attending
to a patient. However, once they leave
the building the documents will no longer be accessible.
Using a document DRM system you can
also lock documents to devices so they cannot be shared with others or moved to
a device you have not authorized.
also lock documents to devices so they cannot be shared with others or moved to
a device you have not authorized.
- Delete
Data Periodically
As long as you need the information,
you can keep it. But having too much data means more data is at risk. So, you
need to check for redundant data periodically both on your company’s devices
and on your employees’ devices.
you can keep it. But having too much data means more data is at risk. So, you
need to check for redundant data periodically both on your company’s devices
and on your employees’ devices.
Without the use of a document DRM
system, this would require a lot of labor.
Document DRM however enables you to automatically revoke access after a
given period of time or use by setting expiry dates. Once the date has come to
pass, the document becomes inaccessible and unusable to all parties and it is,
therefore, the same as the file being deleted.
system, this would require a lot of labor.
Document DRM however enables you to automatically revoke access after a
given period of time or use by setting expiry dates. Once the date has come to
pass, the document becomes inaccessible and unusable to all parties and it is,
therefore, the same as the file being deleted.
- Educate
Staff on Data Protection Best Practices
The most significant source of data leaks is the staff. They might leave
their offices in a hurry with a sensitive document open on their desktops. This could enable an unauthorized person to
see the information and potentially leak it to someone else. The staff may also make too many print copies
of confidential information or send it via email. Such mistakes could be the cause of a data
breach and the consequences that follow involve a lack of trust by the
patients.
their offices in a hurry with a sensitive document open on their desktops. This could enable an unauthorized person to
see the information and potentially leak it to someone else. The staff may also make too many print copies
of confidential information or send it via email. Such mistakes could be the cause of a data
breach and the consequences that follow involve a lack of trust by the
patients.
You could avoid all this by holding a
training session every so often where you show and tell the staff how they
should handle data.
training session every so often where you show and tell the staff how they
should handle data.
- Secure
the Company Network
One of the problems associated with
the digital age is the internet. Even though the internet can be a great
benefit, it can also be a cause of concern. This is because a hacker can access
your hospital files from thousands of miles away which makes it difficult to
catch him or her once the deed is done.
the digital age is the internet. Even though the internet can be a great
benefit, it can also be a cause of concern. This is because a hacker can access
your hospital files from thousands of miles away which makes it difficult to
catch him or her once the deed is done.
So, it is important to secure your
data and your internal network beforehand. This means you should install the
right firewalls and add the right antivirus software. Even then, it will
probably not be enough to keep hackers at bay. You should also have a strong IT
team who can recognize and deal with security problems as they arise.
data and your internal network beforehand. This means you should install the
right firewalls and add the right antivirus software. Even then, it will
probably not be enough to keep hackers at bay. You should also have a strong IT
team who can recognize and deal with security problems as they arise.
Once you follow these five best practices
to the letter, it will be hard for you as a healthcare provider to have your
data stolen. As a result, you, your patients, and the government can rest easy.
So, implement them as soon as possible.
to the letter, it will be hard for you as a healthcare provider to have your
data stolen. As a result, you, your patients, and the government can rest easy.
So, implement them as soon as possible.
How do you secure healthcare
data? Have you ever explored using a
document DRM system? Do you’ve any questions? Please feel free to leave your
comments below, we’d love to hear from you.
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