Cyber-attacks are increasing in frequency and severity, putting healthcare organizations at risk. The best way to protect your organization from cyber-attacks is to implement the proper security measures and create a cybersecurity plan. This blog post provides information on the best practices for protecting your healthcare organization from cyber-attacks:
1. Security Risk Assessment
A security risk assessment is one of the most important first steps to protecting your organization from cyber security breaches. A security risk assessment provides the baseline for security measures you should take to protect your organization. It also shows how your current security measures are effective (or ineffective).
2. Implement security measures to protect your organization
Once you complete a security risk assessment, it is time to implement security measures that will protect you from cyber security breaches. The security risk assessment will identify what security gaps exist and security controls/measures you should implement to address them.
3. Cyber security policies to protect your organization
Once you have implemented security controls/measures to address identified security gaps it is time to write a cyber security policy. A cyber security policy is an internal policy that outlines security measures an organization takes to protect itself from cyber security breaches. A cyber security policy should address security training employees receive, security awareness initiatives used to educate staff, and security policies for employees (like acceptable use policies). A key component of a cyber security policy is risk assessment; your cyber security policy must have an ongoing security risk assessment that educates about security policy.
4. Testing security controls in your organization
Regular security testing is an excellent way to ensure your security controls/measures are working properly and are not vulnerable to security breaches. Security audits should occur regularly, after your organization implements security measures, provides security awareness training, and completes security risk assessments. A security audit provides an independent opinion on your security controls/measures to ensure they are protecting your organization from cyber security threats.
5. Create a program that provides regulatory compliance training for employees
Regulatory compliance is a big concern for healthcare organizations because of HIPAA and other privacy regulations. One way to ensure employees are complying with these regulations is by creating a training program that outlines all the security requirements and provides ongoing training to keep healthcare workers informed about any changes or updates. Security Risk Assessment, Training & Awareness Best Practices for Healthcare Organizations.
6. Keep up-to-date on the latest health cyber attacks
Healthcare organizations need to stay abreast of security incidents and cyber security trends/threats to identify security gaps and security awareness training needs. By being aware of security incidents, organizations can recognize security issues due to recent technology or healthcare advancements that may pose new security risks. In addition, by staying up to date on the latest health cyber-attacks, your organization can identify security gaps in its defenses before a major cyber-attack occurs compromising sensitive patient data.
Conclusion:
As security threats continue to increase healthcare organizations must assess their cybersecurity programs by implementing security risk assessment best practices. Use security awareness training initiatives to keep employees up to date on cyber security threats, create security rules or policies that block specific types of traffic based on the security risks they pose, and address change management procedures for necessary updates throughout your healthcare organization. The best practices that we have outlined in this blog post are a good starting point for protecting your healthcare organization from cyber-attacks. If you have any questions or need help creating a cybersecurity plan for your organization, we are here to help you, you can contact us.
