Best Practices to Mitigate Cyber Threats
In honor of Identity Theft Awareness Week, it’s a great time to review the best practices you can implement to protect patient data in your organization. Providers can better protect their patients, maintain a trusting relationship, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements by understanding and addressing the risks before identity theft occurs.
- Train Employees
Phishing is a form of scamming from attackers that contain malicious links in emails or text messages. The websites can contain malware, otherwise known as ransomware, created to sabotage systems and organizations. Providers must train employees to report and recognize phishing and social engineering scams to keep a company’s information system safe and secure. The instated security awareness program should also include new techniques attackers employ and be updated frequently as trends develop. Unsecure websites should also be restricted from the employees’ browsers to keep critical company information safe.
At State, in addition to new hire security training and annual compliance courses for all team members, we conduct phishing tests monthly. Recognizing that humans are often the weakest point in security protocols, we consistently test staff to ensure they are careful before opening every email. Those who open phishing test emails must take remedial security training, with disciplinary measures up to termination for those who repeatedly open phishing tests.
- Know Your Incident Response Plan
A security incident will be chaotic, but even more so if you don’t have a plan or conduct exercises regularly. Work with your Information Security team to ensure your plan has been tested and is up to date. Make sure you understand your organization’s response protocols.
At State, we recognize the need to mitigate, adapt, and respond to ever-changing cybersecurity threats. Therefore, we invest significant resources in regular tabletop exercises and scenarios to prepare in advance. This ensures every member of the response team knows what is expected and can tackle potential roadblocks.
- Audit Your External Partners’ Security Systems and Controls
It is valuable to know the security posture of your business partners. A vulnerability in any of your business partners can cause a significant breach for your organization. Do you have an inventory of all business partners and regularly assess their security risk? What security compliance frameworks do your business partners employ and are audited against?
State leadership prioritizes maintaining the highest security standards, which is why we maintain the rigorous HITRUST r(2) certification. Recognized as the most stringent framework for healthcare organizations, you can rest assured that State has appropriate controls and systems in place to protect your patient data.
Key Takeaways
Identity theft is a significant concern for hospitals and healthcare providers in today’s digital age. By understanding the best practices for overcoming cyber threats, you can better protect your patient’s sensitive information and maintain the solidarity of your operations. Conducting ongoing risk analysis, training employees, and maintaining consistent security controls are essential to aid this process.
At State, we support our clients in safeguarding their data and compliance with regulatory requirements. By remaining vigilant and proactive (instead of only reactive), hospitals can mitigate the risks associated with identity theft, sustain patient loyalty, and ensure the highest level of patient care. Together, we can create a safer and more secure healthcare environment.