3 Things You Need to Know About HIPAA Compliance and Cybersecurity

3 Things You Need to Know About HIPAA Compliance and Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity in healthcare is crucial in guaranteeing patient privacy, as healthcare providers face malicious attackers while ensuring compliance with laws.

In this blog, our experts dive into three things you need to know about HIPAA compliance and cybersecurity.

1. Why hackers are attracted to healthcare.

Although the lives of clients and healthcare workers were made easier with the integration of technology into the healthcare landscape, digital records pose a particularly attractive target for hackers.

Healthcare continuously remains one of the largest targeted industries for cyber attackers, given the high payoff for a data breach, considering the value of patient health data.

2. Is HIPAA just cybersecurity?

The Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act of 1996, what we refer to as HIPAA, was created to protect the sensitive health information of clients. 

There may be confusion around the difference between what a HIPAA program is, and how it relates to cybersecurity. Compliance with HIPAA rules and regulations is heavily dependent on a strong cybersecurity program, but we would like to clarify that they are not the same thing.

If a healthcare provider isn’t adhering to a strong cybersecurity program, there’s a high chance they have security gaps that offer points of access to a cybercriminal. At radius180, we believe cybersecurity is one part of a HIPAA-compliant program.

3. Identifying risks is imperative.

In healthcare, businesses must conduct an annual security risk assessment (SRA) in order to address and mitigate security risks.

In the event that an attack is successfully carried out, organizations must be prepared with a recovery plan. The difference in how a breach is responded to can mean the life and death of a business and (sometimes) its clients—not to mention the hefty HIPAA fines that can come with a breach.How we can help.

Healthcare businesses must have a strong cybersecurity program, as it not only aligns with HIPAA compliance and helps protect patient safety and privacy but ensures continuity of high-quality care by limiting disruptions in patient care. 

The responsibility of cybersecurity and its operations should never fall on just one person or team—and that’s why we’re here to help. We’d can become an extension of your organization and help operations continue running smoothly with patient health at the forefront.

Ready to learn more about addressing the cyber threats your healthcare business is facing, or need help getting up to speed with the IT aspects of HIPAA compliance? Contact us to Do A 180 now, or check out our white paper for more information on what you can do to prevent cybercrimes against your healthcare business.

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