By Thomas B. Cross @techtionary
Why you should be concerned about HIPAA
Nearly every vendor of information technology security systems has lists, checklists, documentation kits, or general guidelines on the Government’s Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996.
dinCloud realizes that HIPAA applies to any health care provider, HMO, billing service, or entity that stores, maintains, or transmits individually identifiable health information in electronic form. dinCloud also recognizes your real need to understand and know what to look for in all of the security systems available, then be able to decide how best to meet HIPAA requirements. A checklist of “best practices” is only as valuable as your ability to understand and implement any practice suggested. Our approach might be called the “why this is important” approach to understanding HIPAA for the medical practitioner.
Even though are you an IT manager, you need to explain IT to your colleagues. We also know that you are detailed in your medical practice and that this information will help you “talk IT” so that you don’t lose your practice because of something you didn’t understand. In this regard, I encourage you to email dinCloud at any time with any questions you may have in order to understand how its products fit your business needs. dinCloud realizes that each medical practice is different and has different needs.
What does this have to do with your IT Department?
dinCloud helps achieve compliance with the regulatory initiatives of the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. dinCloud offers business associate agreements (BAA) to help HIPAA covered entities safeguard personal health information (PHI).
What technologies must be in place to conform to HIPAA rules? Here are specific compliance details
164.312(a) Access Control
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the fancy term for a type of internet data network. If you use a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), cable modem, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), dedicated private line, or even a dialup modem connection, you are connected via a VPN. This means your data traffic is connected to other networks that may in turn be connected to the public internet.
There are many types of VPNs. Some are like private toll roads where many toll gates check to see who’s traveling down the highway. The internet is like the interstate highway system with few checks, but lots of on-ramps where hackers can hijack your data packets. In addition, think of SPAM as the too-many billboards along a highway that try to lure you onto their websites with the invitation of a “cookie,” which is saved along with your data request. Cookies saved on your computer invite other data packets known as spyware, adware, or malware (malicious software) to capture personal information, keystrokes, and confidential data.
dinCloud can capture and control not only questionable content, but also provides cloud multi-level anti-virus gateway and desktop protection. This is really important because it stops viruses at the network “entrance door” to your business and at the personal computer. dinCloud not only checks email content and viruses, but also extends that protection to every employee desktop – which if unchecked – can often bring viruses to the office from the road or home usage.
Cloud control is important to have one single point where all content can be managed from prying eyes, intentional theft or even innocent employee errors. It is important to have such a strategy at the network building entrance to protect you from outside threats, as well as for individual office (desktop) protection.
Key point – dinCloud controls access to a network or individual server that stores Electronic Protected Health Information (EPHI) and provides unique user identification.
Tom Cross (cross@gocross.com) is CEO of TECHtionary, the world’s largest flash animated library on technology with more than 3,000 tutorials. His Twitter accounts include @techtionary and many others. Tom also develops innovative mobile apps, which can be found here https://rewardsvipclub.com/.
For more information on our Cloud for Healthcare, please visit our Cloud for Healthcare page or request information to speak with a cloud specialist.
