Security Sentinel: Safeguarding Tech, Health, and Service

Explore comprehensive security in our category, "Security Sentinel: Safeguarding Tech, Health, and Service." Your go-to resource for cybersecurity insights across technology, healthcare, and service industries. "Security Sentinel" guides you in navigating the complex landscape of safeguarding technology, healthcare data, and service operations.

What is a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement: Why Your Organization Needs a BAA

HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA)

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One of the most important regulations in healthcare is the US Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Within that are Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) between healthcare organizations and professionals and third-party suppliers, vendors, and non-medical professionals.

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Protected Health Information: Its Significance in HIPAA Compliance (with PHI Examples)

PHI Examples

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Understanding the intricacies of healthcare data and its protection is crucial in today's digital age. Among the most critical concepts in the realm of healthcare compliance is personal health information or anything that is personally identifiable information such as a person's name or phone number. When linked to health data, they can reveal sensitive information about an individual.

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What Is Shadow IT Policy and Its Worth to Your Organization?

Shadow IT Technology

In most organizations, there's an extensive "shadow IT" network, also known as a shadow IT system.

In every mid-size and large organization, there's usually an extensive interconnected network of approved software solutions and systems. In some cases, these software or hardware solutions are proprietary and have been developed exclusively for that organization.

However, since the turn of the century, there has been rapid proliferation of cloud-based software, hardware, apps, and other systems that organizations are now using. Businesses are often spending anywhere from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually on software, hardware, and IT vendors and IT Service Management (ITSM) partners.

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HIPAA vs HITRUST vs HITECH: What's the Difference?

HIPAA vs HITRUST vs HITECH

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When it comes to Protected Health Information (PHI), healthcare providers and organizations can never be too safe. The repercussions for lost, stolen or manipulated data could cost you large sums of money, a tarnished reputation, and even jail time. According to data shared by HIPAA Journal, there were 339 healthcare data breaches of 500 or more records reported to the Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Between January 1, 2023, and June 30, 2023.

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Understanding HIPAA Telephone Rules and Phone Calls

HIPAA Telephone Rules & Phone Calls

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We live in a hyper-connected society. Almost everyone we know has a cell phone, tablet, or computer — maybe all and more. These devices are designed to make our day-to-day activities more efficient and enjoyable. While healthcare is rarely an enjoyable experience, there are always means that can be used to make it more comfortable. One of those solutions comes with improved technology that allows patients and providers to communicate and share data with speed and ease. The most common way improved communication occurs between both parties is through personal electronic devices, like smartphones. Although this sounds like a great idea, it has not exactly taken off. This is mainly because HIPAA still applies.

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Is Google Workspace HIPAA Compliant? Gmail, Meet, Drive & Other G Suite Apps

Is Google Workspace HIPAA Compliant

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Rising data breaches in healthcare have paved the way for compliance laws to keep patients' medical data secure. Thousands of healthcare providers in the US are now legally required to adhere to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). As a result, they need to use HIPAA-compliant technologies when corresponding with clients and patients online. 

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Virtual Private Network (VPN) Advantages and Disadvantages

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

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Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have been popular amongst numerous organizations and sectors. Now, with remote and hybrid work so widespread, companies need to be even more conscious of the way they allow employees and contractors to access files and internal systems.  You may ask "Do VPN's really work?" Continue reading to find out.

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Is This a HIPAA Violation? Take Our HIPAA Quiz

HIPAA Violations Quiz

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Organizations in the healthcare field will be familiar with HIPAA, formally known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Signed into law in 1996, it sets a national standard for protecting personal health information (PHI). It ensures that patients know how their information is stored and shared through consultation and consent. According to the HIPAA Journal, in the twelve months leading up to October 2023, there were 678 reported data breaches that contained 500 or more records across the country. There is room for improvement in protecting sensitive PHI, especially when dealing with large databases.

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Healthcare & Cryptocurrency: How Do They Work Together?

Cryptocurrency and Healthcare

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Mentioning cryptocurrency and healthcare in the same sentence might make some scratch their heads. They seem like two completely different entities without any relation to one another. However, there is a correlation between the two, as cryptocurrency, like bitcoin, can be used to make purchases or entice service within the healthcare industry. Like blockchain, cryptocurrency is not managed by a central authority, making its ease of use one of its most attractive benefits. 

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What Are the Effects and Costs of Downtime to Healthcare Organizations?

What Are the Effects and Costs of Downtime to Healthcare Organizations

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Any break in the standard flow of a business can result in severe financial losses. Where do these losses stem from? One of the most expensive business interruptions is IT or system downtime. What is system downtime? It's when a technological "glitch" shuts down production. For healthcare companies, it's when servers shut down and your electronic health records become unavailable. No appointment scheduling. No access to patient records. No processing of payments.

There are some estimates that downtime costs range from $427 per minute for small businesses to as high as $9,000 for large enterprises.

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