Last year saw some of the worst healthcare data breaches ever recorded regarding the number of attacks and the volume of data compromised. This alarming trend in healthcare data security reinforces what many cybersecurity experts have been saying in recent years: that healthcare cyber attacks are no longer a matter of “if,” but “when.”
To make matters worse, the
American Hospital Association (AHA) warned that Russian hackers could also target the US healthcare system as retaliation for the sanctions the US government imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
“The AHA is closely monitoring the potential for increased cyber risks to the US health system stemming from the ongoing military operations in the Russia/Ukraine region,” the AHA advisory said.
That’s why there’s no better time to beef up your healthcare data security than now.
Many small medical practices don’t give cybersecurity threats the attention and seriousness they deserve because they believe that cybercriminals only target big organizations. However, the reality couldn’t be more different. Healthcare organizations of all types and sizes are equally at risk from cyberattacks.
In fact, small practices can be a more attractive and more accessible target for cybercriminals. Just a quick browse through the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) list of reported breaches, and you’ll see that there are plenty of small and independent practices that have fallen prey to different kinds of cyberattacks.
You can never be too complacent when facing threats as unpredictable as data breaches. So instead of leaving your practice’s data security to chance, it’s better to be prepared and employ the necessary measures and tools to keep your data safe.
1. Start With Secure Software
Investing in a secure technology solution like billrMD is the easiest and fastest way to bolster your data security. billrMD is a cloud-based, HIPAA-compliant practice management and medical billing platform designed for medical practices, billing companies, laboratories, and diagnostic facilities alike.
Storing your sensitive data in a secure remote infrastructure instantly eliminates the pitfalls of maintaining physical servers. On top of the high maintenance costs, on-site servers are also susceptible to other types of risks such as viruses, natural disasters, and hardware failure.
With billrMD, you don’t even have to spend a dime to get started. By simply creating a
FREE account, you can submit claims right away. And as your practice grows and your needs change, you can easily upgrade your account to a set of
affordable packages to access more features and functionalities.
2. Employ Strict Password and Access Requirements
While having reliable and secure software is a crucial first step, strengthening your access requirements for emails, computers, and other office equipment is equally important in increasing your medical practice data security.
Unauthorized access is the leading cause of data breaches globally. Poor security practices such as not changing passwords regularly or using predictable passwords could still leave your data vulnerable. It’s also essential to
set clear guidelines as to who can access certain equipment and information.
3. Train Your Staff
No matter how sophisticated your technology or how foolproof your measures are, your practice can still be vulnerable to cyberattacks without well-trained staff. It’s vital that your team understands and appreciates the value of data security.
Especially now that cybercriminals are getting more creative, you need to train your staff regularly to stay up to date with the latest trends and security threats.
With the growing number of healthcare data breach incidents, you need to be more proactive in increasing your practice’s data security. You owe it to your business, staff, partners, and especially your patients.
Healthcare data security may be under greater threat now than ever, but having secure software, employing strict access requirements, and regularly training your staff can keep your practice safe from cyber risks.
