One of the key factors to being HIPAA compliant is having all of your staff members on the same page. Only people who need to have access to sensitive information should have access. Everyone else should be restricted from accessing the information in order to prevent a HIPAA compliance issue.
However, there are also other issues from an IT standpoint that could cause HIPAA compliance problems for healthcare providers. This is why many healthcare facilities are utilizing managed security services providers to keep them on track when it comes to staying HIPAA compliant at all times.
Risk Assessments Are Critical
Many healthcare facilities believe keeping their IT software current will prevent any data breaches. However, any managed security service provider will tell you that’s only one piece of the puzzle. Cyber criminals can outsmart a new software patch in a short amount of time, so you always have to be ahead of the game.
Conducting vulnerability testing and penetration risk assessments are critical to remaining HIPAA compliant. These tests not only can identify weak spots in your network, but also can identify the type of damage a hacker could create as a result. With the help of managed security services, these vulnerabilities can be patched up quickly.
Keep Up-to-Date on Regulations
The worst thing about HIPAA compliance is there are constantly new laws and regulations coming into effect. For an in-house IT staff, this can be overwhelming with all the other job duties they have to do. The job of a managed security service provider is to not only keep your information safe and secure, but to also stay up-to-date on all HIPAA regulations. It’s still important for your in-house staff to be educated on the topic as much as possible, but you won’t have to worry about it from an IT standpoint when you utilize managed security services providers.
Documentation is Key to Survival
You may think the confirmation page you receive when you update your computer software isn’t important, but it will be if your company gets audited. The main rule of thumb for HIPAA compliance is to keep anything and everything. Make notes whenever possible, so you have plenty of documentation to provide to a potential auditor. Many times, a HIPAA compliance audit will be much easier on you if you show your diligence in attempting to be compliant.
Single Point of Contact is an essential managed security service provider when it comes to helping your healthcare institution remain HIPAA compliant. Take the stress off of your in-house staff and contact us today to see how we can help.
