Tag: Cybersecurity

WATERLOO, Iowa – Now, more than ever, it’s important for HME providers – no matter how small – to pay close attention to cybersecurity to protect themselves and their patients, says Jesse Farris, IT director for VGM Forbin.  A breach can happen to anyone at any time. Case in point: Wright & Filippis, a large regional provider, was recently hit with a ransomware attack.  “Health care data is the most valuable data there is,” he said. “If you...

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – Wright & Filippis has reported a data breach with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights, as well as the California Attorney General, after the company learned it had been the target of a ransomware attack, according to news reports. The breach resulted in names, dates of birth, patient numbers, Social Security numbers, financial account numbers and health insurance information being compromised. Recently, Wright & Filippis sent out...

With cybercrime costing the world $6 trillion annually, HME providers need to perform assessments of internal and external vulnerabilities and threats regularly, not just once a year, says Jeff Woodham. HME News spoke to Woodham, vice president of operations at Mandry Technology Solutions, and host of the Medtrade session, “Cybersecurity protection and planning,” about why scammers are drawn to health care and what providers can do to mitigate that threat.  HME News: Just how...

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., and NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Bonafide Medical Group has subscribed to ClearAdvantage, a multi-year managed services program that provides customers with the benefits of an integrated and efficiently executed cybersecurity and HIPAA-compliance program, the two companies have announced. By partnering with Clearwater, Bonafide is taking proactive steps to ensure it has the right expertise and tools to meet the expectations of customers with respect to maintaining a strong security...

Q. We’ve covered the cybersecurity basics; what other activities will help reduce risk?  A. First, kudos for taking steps to address end-user behavior; protect edge/internet-connected devices; and update anti-virus, operating systems and application suites. Your organization is well positioned to fend off bad actors.  If you wish to deepen awareness of, protect against and reduce cyber risk further, consider the below advanced activities:  First, implement continuous...

Q. What specific activities can help HME providers improve their cybersecurity posture?  A. The answer to this question is multi-faceted. There is no “single bullet” theory that addresses every component of the complex nature of cybersecurity. However, some basic hygiene measures can help reduce the risks presented by cybercriminals in the digital world.   First, implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to eliminate a bad actor’s ability to access the network...

Q. Should HME providers view cybersecurity as a project or a business process? A. Many organizations that engage in improving their cybersecurity posture fall into the trap of viewing the efforts as a “project” versus a “process.” Treating these activities as a one-time project only provides the organization with a snapshot of the environment. It fails to incorporate business process management techniques that enable ongoing data collection and process improvement. For...

Q. Why is cybersecurity important to HME providers?  A. For HME providers, understanding and acknowledging the importance of cybersecurity is a key component of strategic risk management that can support the sustainability and stability of the organization. Without good practices and controls in place, the organization could face fines; incur economic damage due to ransomware; create reputational damage; or cause harm to patients, employees and the communities they serve.  HME...

ATLANTA - With most security breaches affecting small- and medium-sized businesses—not the Targets of the world—HME providers can't afford not to prioritize cybersecurity, said speaker Carol Albaugh.Providers are doing business in an environment where health care recently surpassed finance as the industry most targeted by hackers, said Albaugh, a technical solutions consultant at VGM.“It's so rich in the kind of data that hackers are looking to sell on the black market,” she...