Tag: Cybersecurity

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...