Going through a ransomware attack can be a complete nightmare for healthcare organizations. Ransomware can affect any network or computer, and the cyber criminals essentially hold your data and files at ransom. If you don’t pay the ransom, you will lose your files permanently.
Organizations are at the mercy of hackers at that point, so it’s important to do everything you can to prevent it from happening. This could be in the form of using IT consulting services frequently to determine how secure your network is, or running your own tests to determine it. And when it comes to HIPAA, you definitely want to ensure you’re following best practices and procedures.
What to Do In The Event of A Ransomware Attack
If your organization is unfortunate enough to experience a ransomware attack, you must first notify the local authorities. You may even need to report the incident to the Office of Civil Rights. The reason why reporting the incident is critical is because of HIPAA compliance. If you already have a quality HIPAA compliance solution in place, you’ll have to provide complete documentation of the solution to demonstrate your diligence. Not having this documentation available can lead to hefty fines, since there’s no way to prove you did everything you could to prevent the attack from occurring.
Can HIPAA Help Prevent Ransomware?
Your HIPAA compliance program can’t prevent a ransomware incident. However, you could avoid significant fines and penalties if you were diligent before, during and after the breach occurred. If you didn’t already have a disaster recovery service in place, you should have hired them immediately when the breach occurred. The best way to prevent ransomware is to work with the best managed security service provider to keep your network security up-to-date.
HIPAA Compliance Programs Can Protect Companies
As mentioned, HIPAA can’t prevent a ransomware attack. But the last thing you want to deal with is a HIPAA violation when you’re in the middle of cleaning up the remnants of an attack. Healthcare providers today simply don’t have the time or resources to dedicate to maintaining a completely HIPAA compliant organization. That’s why third-party providers offer backup solutions for small business owners to ensure the company won’t come crashing down in the event of a data breach. Plus, having a diligent HIPAA compliance program will go a long way in helping to ease the burden of a cyber attack.
Single Point of Contact provides comprehensive IT consulting services to ensure the impact of a potential ransomware attack is minimal. We tailor our services to HIPAA compliance practices, so you can ensure you are getting the best service possible. Be sure to call or email us at any time to learn more about how our services can protect you from ransomware and the dreaded HIPAA violation.
