Preventing Cyber Attacks in the Healthcare Industry
As more services are going remote, cyber security is becoming increasingly vital. Securing health records is just as important as protecting the credit card information. When looking to improve healthcare online security, it’s smart to know where the attacks may come from as well as how to prevent them.
Cyber Security Challenges
The internet is a great way to handle needs virtually, but there are a lot of dangers that come with it. Businesses have several challenges to overcome. Here are a few of them:
- Malware: Preventing malware is extremely important because it can shut down entire networks. It’s also one of the most common attacks. In extreme cases, criminals will only fix the problem if a ransom is met.
- Phishing: Phishing can be done through emails and will use websites that look credible but seek to gain information.
- Poor encryption: Poor code encryption can cause holes where hackers can hide or find a way to break the code.
- Human error: When you run a company that needs to protect the information of patients, you’ll want to make sure that you eliminate as much human error as possible. This includes making sure passwords are strong and changed often.
Securing the Information
Knowing what the challenges are in healthcare online security, it is time to formulate a plan to improve security. Any healthcare business in Alberta should consider implementing all of the following measures:
- Enforce proper computer habits: Any person working for your company should make a strong password and be required to change it every three to six months. In addition, make sure computers are up to date on malware protection and antivirus software.
- Eliminate outside electronics: To prevent any data from being removed from the office, mobile phones and personal computers should be prohibited at the office. If they are working remotely, employees should make sure they have up-to-date malware software and a firewall installed.
- Track access: Using a system that tracks when an employee logs in will help track where someone accessed the network and when. Should an attack occur, you can then figure out what needs to be secured or if an employee is at fault.
If your company handles medical information in Red Deer or Calgary, it’s best to hire cyber security professionals to make sure your system is set up correctly. They will also help manage your security and keep everything up to date. With a security team working in the wings and using these strategies for prevention, the risk of an attack will be lowered.