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Things We Can Learn from Information Security in Healthcare
In many ways, businesses and individuals can learn a lot from the healthcare industry.
16:41 13 November 2018
The increasing number of cyberattacks and the growing value of your information means there is now a bigger need for sufficient information security measures, even when you are only a personal user. Thinking your information is not worth stealing isn’t justified anymore; anyone is a target.
In many ways, businesses and individuals can learn a lot from the healthcare industry. Ever since HIPAA was first introduced, the entire healthcare industry has been implementing various security measures across the board. Here are some of the security tips you can borrow from the healthcare industry.
Encrypt!
Encryption isn’t as difficult to use as it was before, so there is really no reason not to encrypt your data sufficiently. Even family photos and old documents are worth encrypting when you realize just how valuable they can be.
You don’t need a dedicated encryption software to get started either. Both Windows and macOS have built-in encryption capabilities, and all you have to do to start encrypting files is turn the built-in encryption of the operating system on.
Sure, you can go the more advanced route and find a capable encryption software too. Not only will you be able to encrypt using private encryption keys, you also have the ability to manage multiple keys and only encrypt certain files with the right software.
Protect Data Streams
Next, you want to start paying closer attention to the data you transmit in and out of your devices. There are reasons why the healthcare industry relies on the best solutions to protect internal and external communications; the Spok secure texting app is a good example of such a solution.
Personal users also have a lot of options when it comes to securing data streams. Visiting secure websites and only entering your personal details when a valid SSL security is present are the two steps you can begin with.
You can also rely on messaging and communications apps that use end-to-end encryption. WhatsApp supports this function. Telegram offers an even more comprehensive data encryption. You can even find secure messaging apps designed to provide additional layers of protection.
Be More Involved
Information security measures are only as effective as the people using them. Learning more about how to best protect your data and some basic information security best practices is definitely important.
The more you are aware of the security best practices, the better you can safeguard your data. At the very least, you will be able to identify potential security risks early, even before they turn into a security headache.
The same can be said for others in your life. When you share a home network with family members, for instance, setting up the access point with maximum security and teaching family members to connect to the secure AP is necessary.
There is one last tip to keep in mind and that is to stay up to date. Update the software and security measures to remain protected against the latest security threats. Combined with the other things we have learned from the healthcare industry, protecting your personal information better is certainly easy to do.