After Ascension’s Cyberattack: How Healthcare Practices Can Improve Cybersecurity

After Ascension’s Cyberattack: How Healthcare Practices Can Improve Cybersecurity

by | Healthcare, Industry - Healthcare, News, Newsletter

The cyberattack on Ascension has highlighted the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures in the healthcare industry. This severe disruption, which led to widespread system outages across multiple states, underscores the vulnerabilities within our healthcare systems. To safeguard against such incidents, healthcare practices must adopt comprehensive cybersecurity strategies. Read on as we explore preventative measures and actionable steps for practices to enhance cybersecurity.

Routine Security Audits and Assessments

Healthcare practices must implement routine security audits and assessments to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities within healthcare systems. Conducting these audits helps ensure that security policies and protocols are up-to-date and effective against the latest cyber threats. It’s best to hire third-party cybersecurity experts to perform these audits. They’ll offer specialized knowledge and an unbiased perspective.

Cybersecurity Training for Employees

Human error remains one of the most significant cybersecurity risks, so educating employees is a necessary method of defense. Training should cover the basics of identifying phishing attempts, safe browsing habits, the importance of strong passwords, and protocols for handling sensitive information.

Comprehensive Incident Response Plans

An incident response plan is important for minimizing the impact of a cyberattack. The plan should outline the steps to be taken in the event of a breach, including roles and responsibilities, communication strategies, and recovery procedures. An effective response can contain the breach, prevent data loss, and restore normal operations more quickly.

Backup and Recovery Systems

Investing in reliable backup and recovery systems is essential to sustain operations in the event of a cyberattack. Practices should also test their recovery systems periodically to ensure data can be restored quickly and accurately. With strong backup protocols in place, healthcare organizations can minimize downtime and data loss.

Cybersecurity Improvements

It’s never too late to invest in cybersecurity improvements. Below are some recommendations for healthcare practices:

  • Ensure all software and systems are updated with the latest security patches.
  • Implement advanced firewall and antivirus solutions to defend against immediate threats.
  • Restrict access to sensitive data to only those employees who require it based on roles and responsibilities.
  • Shift to a zero-trust policy where verification is required from anyone attempting to access resources within the network.
  • Establish a routine review process for cybersecurity policies and update them as needed to address evolving threats.
  • Consider implementing AI-driven security systems that can detect and respond to threats in real-time.

The cyberattack on Ascension serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities within the healthcare industry as well as the importance of taking proactive measures to safeguard against threats. By prioritizing regular security audits, comprehensive employee training, incident response plans, and strong backup systems, healthcare practices can stay ahead of future attacks.

 

Small Business Success Strategies for Thriving in a Post-Pandemic Digital World

Small Business Success Strategies for Thriving in a Post-Pandemic Digital World

by | Accounting News, Business Growth, COVID-19, News

The Covid-19 pandemic has proven to business owners that a major key to long-term growth and success is found in digital strategy. No matter your industry or niche, businesses need the following core attributes in order to prosper in a post-pandemic digital world.

Adopt a Flexible Mindset

Technology is perpetually changing and progressing, and it will continue to shake up the way we work. When small businesses adopt a flexible mindset, they are prepared to assess new technology and expedite change as needed. This swift adaptation allows them to gain the biggest benefits of new technology.

At minimum, make sure you have an online presence with an up-to-date website as well as active and engaging social media accounts. You will also want to create a digital marketing plan—or hire a marketing agency to create one for you.

Learn to Outsource

As an entrepreneur you might be in the habit of doing everything yourself, but the digital world moves too quickly to be able to sustain growth this way. The most effective and efficient way to run your business includes outsourcing. Smart and calculated outsourcing can tremendously boost your profits and productivity. Essentially, you are trading some measure of control over your business for “extra” time, allowing you to work smarter and more efficiently. Depending on your industry, outsourcing opportunities could include tasks such as:

  • Accounting and tax preparation
  • Payroll
  • Web and marketing design
  • Copywriting
  • IT management
  • Social media marketing

Embrace Digital Communication

Consistent communication efforts through digital networks are essential in today’s internet landscape for gaining and retaining clients. By giving your clients multiple channels of communication through a website, social media accounts, and email—and responding to feedback and questions in a timely manner—you have the opportunity to troubleshoot issues as they arise, improve satisfaction with clients, and retain a loyal client base. You also have the opportunity to expand your reach, share specialized messaging, and establish valuable relationships with audiences across online channels. Some ways to connect and communicate with both existing and prospective clients include:

  • Launching social media campaigns
  • Distributing an email newsletter
  • Running banner ads
  • Publishing blog posts and articles
  • Sending discounts and offers through email
  • Offering how-to videos, web series, and behind-the-scenes looks at products and processes through a YouTube channel

Install Cybersecurity

No matter how small your business, it is a target to hackers who want access to sensitive information of both your company and your clients. And as more companies go digital, attacks will only increase. A surefire way to lose trust in a client is to expose their sensitive data through a security breach. Invest in at least basic cybersecurity in order to safeguard your website and other digital accounts from malware attacks or phishing scams.

Some key elements to start protecting your business include:

  • Install an SSL certificate for your website
  • Make sure you have a firewall
  • Keep software and systems up-to-date
  • Use strong passwords