With so much of our critical information stored in digital form these days, cyber threats are a very real and very serious problem, and they can come from anywhere at any time. You might be familiar with a few of these common types of cyber-attacks: Malware “malicious...
In the healthcare industry, storing ePHI while remaining HIPAA compliant can be a tricky task. While some covered entities may opt for storing their ePHI onsite, many others rely on cloud backup servers from 3rd-party providers to safeguard their ePHI. When you choose...
What is a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)? It has become necessary for HIPAA-covered entities to set up partnerships with other organizations to safeguard their healthcare data assets. The contracts for these partnerships, which specify what each party is...
HIPAA regulations are far-reaching and apply to many types of covered entities. From single-doctor practices to enterprise hospital networks and the business associates that each works with, everyone is required to be HIPAA compliant. Since HIPAA applies to such a...
What is 2-factor authentication (2FA) vs multi-factor authentication (MFA)? 2-factor authentication is a security measure where users must confirm who they are by providing just two pieces of proof before they can receive access to a device (e.g. computer, phone),...
When it comes to protecting ePHI, one of the first lines of defense is a strong password policy for all systems that house sensitive information. HIPAA has set out guidelines for creating, changing and protecting passwords. It’s critical that covered entities follow...
Mobile devices have made life a lot easier for many of us, but they’re not without their faults. In recent years, healthcare providers and other covered entities have been relying more on smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices to get their jobs done. However,...
Telephone answering systems are a huge part of any medical practice. They help keep things running smoothly and allow for easy communication between your practice and your patients. For a long time, everything was analog and messages were being stored on tape, but now...
HIPAA has numerous rules and regulations to adhere to when it comes to patient health information. The evolving world of Internet technology has complicated this to some degree, and that includes the existence of email communication. If email messages contain...
Check out our Nerd Note podcast for a condensed version of this in-depth blog! While the current state of fairs is pretty screwy to say the least, we’re all trying to move forward with our lives as best we can. There have been big...
