October 1, 2020 Today may be the kickoff of Cyber Security Awareness month, but it’s never too early (though, possibly too late) to pay attention to the cyberthreats that surround independent practices. Now we know there’s probably plenty of other things that sound a little more exciting than cybersecurity – but the recent Cybersecurity Advisory from the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) highlights why having the right safeguards in place to secure your patient’s protected health information (PHI) is, well, kind of a big deal. With the rapid increase of cyber threats due to COVID-19 already on your mind, here’s some key takeaways appropriate to cybersecurity awareness month to help your practice handle a suspected cyber threat like a pro: We know that channeling your inner investigator and hunting for clues does sound like fun but knowing how to handle a suspected breach is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cybersecurity. While there’s no sure-fire way to avoid falling victim to a cyberattack, you can implement various technical safeguards to reduce the risk. Having a strong defensive line isn’t just important for football (cybersecurity isn’t the only thing we’re excited about this month) – it’s also imperative to making it a bit harder to access your practice’s data. Having multiple barriers to entry and a better understanding of how to detect a threat is the best way to protect your practice and following the right process after an attack will help to mitigate the damage done.
