There are many different types of cybercrime, with diverse objectives and differing levels of tactical complexity. Budget constraints can mean that hardware and software are out of date and have vulnerabilities that can be exploited by ruthless cybercriminals. A lack of user expertise can also mean that insecure practices are being used that can put sensitive and personal data at risk. Poor password practices, shared email accounts and a lack of awareness around IT security are all things that can cause significant issues if left unaddressed.
At the beginning of 2017, Experian predicted that the health care sector would be the most heavily targeted industry, and there have been some very high-profile attacks on the healthcare sector and the NHS in recent years. This presents the sector with some very big problems moving forward.
Information governance and data protection are very prominent within the Care Quality Commission’s inspections on health and social care environments. Changes in data protection laws are set to come into play in May 2018 with the introduction of the General Data Protection Review (GDPR). Within this remit, IT security is a precedence and it is essential that data is protected at all costs.
With approximately one million IT viruses released every day, businesses and IT security vendors, such as www.intrasource.co.uk, have their work cut out to stay ahead of the game. Leading cyber security experts are consistent in their advice in the fight against cybercrime and data theft……..they all highly recommend a multi-layered approach to protecting IT systems.
Here at FACEMED, securing your personal data is a top priority. To this end, we have put in place a robust IT security and disaster recovery policy incorporating the following:
A quality anti-virus product
A quality anti-spam product
Strong password policy
Auto-locking of idle machines
Encryption software
Data back-ups to a secure offsite location
Multi-factor authentication
Information governance policies and procedures
Regular staff training
