Healthcare has always been on the cutting edge when it comes to technology, if only because the latest devices and programs all contribute to our ability to save lives.
Recently, however, healthtech has expanded by leaps and bounds, especially given the growth of telehealth during the pandemic. This has forced the industry to consider the broader context of the field’s technology use and encouraged individual practices to more carefully consider the platforms they’re using.
Since most healthcare organizations haven’t significantly revamped their in-house tools since they were mandated to introduce EMR systems, it’s important to explore what the market has on offer today.
This is especially important to consider from a security standpoint. Without the right software and infrastructure, you could be putting your patients’ privacy at risk.
Growing Vulnerabilities
Many people assume that with better technology comes better security; and while that can be true in some cases, it’s also true that the overall proliferation of medtech means that there are more potential vulnerabilities as well.
Think of it this way; if your organization is a house, the more windows it has, the more ways there are for a burglar to break in. Each of those windows is a stand in for another piece of technology or piece of software that your organization is using.
The more you use, the more vulnerabilities you have – but that doesn’t mean you can’t secure those vulnerabilities better.
Evaluate Your Service Providers
If we continue with the window analogy, the first step to ensuring your medtech isn’t a threat to organizational security is evaluating the providers – some people make stronger, higher quality windows than others.
In practice, then, that means that if you start with HIPAA compliant cloud storage in the first place, you won’t have to do as much work to ensure your technology is providing your patients and your practice with the necessary safeguards as you would have ot if you opted for a less secure option.
While there are almost always secondary ways to secure a system, like installing alarms on your windows, those added protections are even better when you start with a strong framework.
Employ More Monitoring
One of the most important things we’ve learned about technology in recent years is that standard security protocols are never enough. Hackers are constantly upgrading their approaches and are often working behind the scenes in hopes of compromising your organization.
That’s why, if you’re going to successfully keep them on the outside, rather than allowing them to break into your home, you need to be monitoring your system for threats at all times. Security professionals can help you set up a system that is triggered by attempts to break in, rather than just successful breaches, and which can shore up your defenses against the latest security issues.
While providing your patients with the care they need is obviously the most important issue for healthcare organizations, as a provider, you also need to ensure you’re employing individuals who know how to address the evolving security concerns of a modern business.
You are, after all, still a business and you need to address the full scope of your responsibilities. Even though you didn’t enter the healthcare industry to tackle technology or security issues, you can’t do your job without addressing these pressing concerns.
