Your medical office holds valuable patient information. Specialized IT for healthcare in Florida is vital to keep that information safe. Here’s how Dytech Group does it.
Data security is an important part of any business, whether you’re a lawyer, an accountant, a physician, or any other profession. When your business handles patients’ medical information, however, properly protecting that information isn’t just good for patient confidence, it’s legally mandated.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, regulates the protection of patient privacy and the security of patient health data. Violating HIPAA regulations can result in large fines or even jail time. With the rise in the use of electronic health records, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act was also enacted as an added safeguard over this sensitive data.
Finding a data security partner that specializes in IT for healthcare in Florida is the best way to stay HIPAA-compliant. Here are our top tips for protecting your patients’ privacy and health information.
Passwords And Multi-Factor Authentication
Strong passwords are your first line of defense against cybercriminals trying to hack into your patient data. Here are our password pro tips:
- Have unique passwords for every device, program, and user.
- Passwords should be a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Passwords should not contain personal information.
- Longer passwords are harder to hack so consider a phrase that only you would know, such as IL@v3being@d0ct0r (but don’t use that one).
Adding multi-factor authentication makes it even more difficult for hackers to gain access to your information. Think of your server as a bank vault that’s protected by a series of doors with combination locks. If a cybercriminal were able to crack the first combination, they’d have to start all over with the second door. And since most hackers use bots to do their work for them, they’re likely to move onto an easier target without such a strong line of defense.
Encryption
As more medical services use technology like electronic health records and telemedicine, sensitive patient information is vulnerable to attack because it is transmitted electronically. All data should be encrypted to keep hackers from gaining access to it.
Encryption works by converting data into an unreadable format before it is sent from one machine to another. Only a recipient with the correct decoding key can decrypt the message and read it. If a hacker were to intercept the data in transit, the information would be useless.
Disaster Recovery Plan
Before the days of electronic data storage, a disaster recovery plan would have involved keeping physical copies of patient records in a secondary location in case of flood or fire. Today, your practice’s data is likely stored on servers or in the cloud, and the threats are virtual instead of physical. Do you know how you would recover your data in the case of a cyberattack?
Dytech Group provides business continuity through the implementation of proper backup procedures, including:
- Secure backup copies of your IT infrastructure in our redundant offsite data centers, protected from natural disasters and unauthorized access
- Access to your backup files through our dedicated servers
- Automatic and ongoing secure data backup
- A clone copy of your information which can be used for data recovery within minutes in the event of an emergency
Our data security team at Dytech Group also encourages businesses to use cloud-based storage solutions. When setting up your IT for healthcare in Florida, we can offer your medical office affordable, remote cloud hosting services that provide immediate value, and improved performance.
Managed Services
It can be overwhelming to maintain your IT infrastructure, especially if you’re not an IT professional. At Dytech Group, our managed services options allow you to focus on what you do best – taking care of your patients – while we do what we do best – keeping your data safe. Our managed services packages include:
- Around-the-clock monitoring and support
- Oversight of your servers and networks
- Onsite and remote computer service with full-time field service engineers and help desk support
- Service and support for all hardware and software in your business
If you’re thinking about letting our team handle your medical business’s IT support, we are ready to get started.
Dytech Group Knows IT For Healthcare In Florida
When you need a partner to help protect your patient data and keep your business HIPAA-compliant, look no further than Dytech Group. Contact us today to set up a consultation.