While we’ve seen an increase in healthcare data breaches stemming from vendor vulnerabilities, the sources can be manifold.
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The recent breaches have exposed multiple sources of data breaches.
One source is from vendors and vendor tools.
We’ve seen a huge increase in vendor cyberattacks, as cybercriminals find it easier to hack vendors than healthcare entities directly. Many vendors have fewer security measures in place than healthcare entities.
The second source of violations is employees.
Employees who incorrectly access patient charts are a major source of healthcare breaches. Employees can also be a source of vulnerability if they click on phishing or ransomware links.
The third source is analytical tools.
Analytics tools can be used to capture information and perform data analysis on behalf of healthcare entities. However, they may be used by various websites and may violate HIPAA in the collection of protected health information.
How can you protect your practice from the above risks?
First, make sure all your security is up to date. Protect your own data as much as possible through encryption, firewalls and more.
You then want to ensure that you require adequate protection from the vendor through your business associate contracts and agreements. You should also regularly audit vendors and inquire about their security measures.
Finally, you must regularly and comprehensively train your employees on their duties and the potential risks. We often recommend using fake phishing emails as a training tool.
We also help our clients ensure they are protected through their agreements and we provide thorough employee training.
If you have questions or need assistance with your healthcare contract, employee training, or security, contact Rickard & Associates today.
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