Data breaches are becoming increasingly common, and their consequences are becoming more severe and widespread. Although no industry is safe from attacks, healthcare is one of the hardest hit. Businesses in this sector are prime targets for cybercriminals because of all the sensitive information they need to keep on hand.
From patients’ social security and debit card numbers to their insurance information and medical records, healthcare businesses can give wrongdoers a treasure trove of data to draw from. Data breaches in healthcare can have particularly serious consequences as well. In addition to placing people at risk of theft and identity fraud, they infringe upon their privacy and can even interfere with their well-being. Keeping patients’ sensitive information safe can be exceedingly difficult, but implementing the right storage and data backup strategies mitigates the risks.
Choosing the Right Backup Solutions
One of the most important measures in implementing effective backup strategies in healthcare is choosing the right solutions. From a company or facility’s EMRs and EHRs to its cloud fax platform and beyond, a long list of solutions factor into data storage and backup. Each one needs to cater to the needs of the healthcare business while remaining in compliance with HIPAA regulations and other laws that govern the industry. Having the right solutions in place alone will go a long way toward protecting healthcare businesses and their patients or clients.
Follow the 3-2-1 Rule
Additionally, healthcare businesses should consider following the 3-2-1 rule. That entails keeping 3 backup copies of data on at least two types of media with one copy stored off-site. That could include RAID-configured local servers for primary storage, magnetic tapes or specialized optical disks for secondary storage, and HIPAA-compliant cloud storage as an off-site backup.
It’s important to store data on distinctly different types of media and keep off-site copies for more protection against a greater variety of threats. Ransomware attacks, hardware failures, and natural disasters are only a few of the dangers healthcare facilities are up against, and any of those threats can have significant repercussions. All backup solutions must comply with HIPAA regulations.
Data Encryption
Data encryption is also a an effective safeguard in data storage, backup, and transmission. Encryption converts data in code that can only be deciphered with the right unique keys. It prevents data from being stolen, altered, or used for unsavory purposes. Though it’s not explicitly required for all types of health information, it’s a must for some and recommended for all of them. Certain alternatives can be used in some instances, but many healthcare facilities choose encryption because it’s one of the safest and simplest to implement.
Frequent Automatic Backups
Another important measure in storing healthcare data is scheduling frequent automatic backups. Though carrying out manual backups is an option, it’s not recommended. Even the most organized and attentive people can forget to initiate backups or find themselves unable to carry them out due to any number of reasons. With automatic backups, that’s not an issue. At the same time, frequently backing up data ensures that disasters lead to minimal losses and resulting repercussions. As trusted managed IT services in Vancouver explain—regular, automated backups are a cornerstone of data security, ensuring that healthcare organizations can recover swiftly and with minimal disruption in the event of a failure.
Protecting Data in the Healthcare Industry
Healthcare businesses face numerous data security risks. Some of those come from cybercriminals whereas others are due to mishandled information, simple mistakes, and other forms of human error. Having effective data backup strategies in place protects healthcare businesses and patients against the those threats and their potential repercussions.
