Cybersecurity: Perform routine scans

Q. What are vulnerability scans and how do they help me?

A. Vulnerability scanning is a lot like a routine physical at your physician’s office but intended for your IT systems. These scans use special tools to look for any security weaknesses in your network, systems and applications. By doing this regularly, you can spot potential problems early and fix them before they turn into big, and expensive, issues.  

Why care about regular scans? 

Regular scans help you find and fix vulnerabilities before hackers can exploit them. This means fewer data breaches, ransomware attacks and other cyber headaches. It also provides valuable feedback on how well your security measures are working. Your IT team can use this info to fix recurring issues and make your security even stronger. 

One of the biggest perks of regular scans is that they help you check if your IT team is keeping everything up to date. Scans can spot outdated software, missing patches and misconfigurations, making sure your IT team addresses these ASAP. This ongoing check-up helps keep your systems secure and less vulnerable to attacks.  

In the health care industry, you know all about regulations. Regular vulnerability scans can also help you meet these requirements, avoid fines and show your commitment to protecting patient data. 

Having a regular vulnerability scanning program is a must for anyone in the health care sector. It can help catch security issues early, continuously improve your security measures, verify that your IT team is on top of things, and ultimately, help you stay compliant. In an industry where patient safety and data integrity are vital, regular vulnerability scans aren’t just a good idea—they’re essential. 

Brandon Potter is chief technology officer at ProCircular. Reach him at bpotter@procircular.com.