We've talked here before about frequent attacks on the health area and how important it is to always be aware of data protection, especially in this area (but not only there). Unfortunately, the truth is that many healthcare organizations are not taking all the necessary steps to prevent or deal with ransomware attacks.

Today we decided to make this post so that more organizations can take the necessary precautions and learn how modern data protection features can help them to be more resilient before, during and after an attack.

How to keep healthcare data safe

Some practices are recommended to maintain cyber health security so that we can always stay ahead of the threats that are constantly evolving threatening the privacy and data protection of patients and healthcare professionals.
Among the most common methods such as backup and encryption, we have others such as:

Restricting access to data and apps

We can say that the fewer people have access to certain data, the easier it is to keep that data safe. When we restrict access to this data to only people who need it for work, we are ensuring that only authorized users have access to that data.

Data usage monitoring

Logging access and usage data allow providers and business partners to monitor which users are accessing which information, applications and other resources, when and from which devices and locations. So if an incident occurs, an audit trail can allow organizations to identify precise entry points, determine the cause and assess the damage.

Control mobile devices and ensure they are secure

More and more we see the use of mobile devices assisting in day-to-day administration. A doctor, for example, can use his smartphone during working hours to check a patient's data. For this access to be secure for the organization's data system, include security measures such as:

• Manage all devices and settings
• Enforce the use of strong passwords
• Enable the ability to remotely wipe and lock lost or stolen devices
• Encrypt application data
• Monitor email accounts and attachments to prevent malware infections or unauthorized data infiltration
• Educate users on mobile security best practices
• Implement whitelisting guidelines or policies to ensure that only apps that meet pre-defined criteria or that have been pre-approved can be installed
• Require users to keep their devices up to date with the latest OS and app updates
• Require installation of mobile security software such as mobile device management solutions

Conduct risk assessments regularly

Conducting regular risk assessments can identify vulnerabilities or weaknesses in a healthcare organization's security, deficiencies in employee education, inadequacies in the security posture of suppliers and business partners, and other areas of concern.

Finally, educate your team

A simple human error can result in disasters and costly consequences for healthcare organizations, so don't wait for that to happen to take an extra measure of protection. Organize regular training for your organization's healthcare team so that everyone has the knowledge they need to make smart decisions on a day-to-day basis and be careful when handling data.

Of course, these are not the only protection measures, don't forget to always have your backup up to date and count on a good provider of security system against cyber attacks.

Get in touch with us to learn more about our partners' solutions.