Friday 18 July 2014

New York Network Security Company Offers Healthcare Industry IT Security Solutions That Guard Patient Privacy

By Lonnie Trevarthen


A computer system that is set up to serve the needs of a health care organization has a big responsibility. It is in charge of the confidential medical records of a large group of patients. Therefore, a New York Network Security Company must be especially diligent.

Some of the data can be protected by simply assigning a name and password to each employee who needs to see it. It is the systems administrator who sets policy. Data is monitored to make certain no unauthorized personnel access it.

The administrator uses all precautions available to keep the data bank confidential. A health care care company will use its own private network. Employees have only limited access. The responsibility of maintaining confidentiality is the main concern.

These records contain sensitive information on the health care history of each patient. It must be protected from outsiders while allowing instant access to physicians and nurses involved in direct care. Individuals higher up in the hierarchy of personnel will be allowed access.

Security begins with one-factor authentication. This means each authorized person is assigned a name and password. This is a simple precaution to take, insufficient for a health care organization.

Two-factor authenticating requires one more layer. The user must enter a name, password and a software token. This is still not enough precaution against a breach.

Much more effective is the three-factor authentication. Name, password and software token are all used. However, there is more. A retinal scan or fingerprint scan is added to the authentication protocol.

A firewall enforces the administrators regulations. Different level employees are allowed to access different data depending on the records needed to do their job. The firewall may not keep a virus from infecting the system, however.

A health care system must be protected from those who would use the information kept for patient care and billing purposes. One thing that is effective is requiring personnel to change passwords frequently. When an employee loses her or his password, supervisory personnel must be present to authorize setting a new one.




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