Hospitals are merging with other medical facilities. Big labs are acquiring smaller facilities. Mergers and acquisitions in healthcare have grown into a multi-billion dollar industry.
Of course, it’s not just the biggest names in the industry that join forces. One of the best ways physicians and other medical practitioners can survive is through value-based efficiencies. Independent practices can come together for core business practices, tools that allow them to create a robust business model while remaining true to their core.
But all of that can impact cybersecurity and how easy it is to hack in. Gaping holes can form as you try to bring together two platforms.
A new Forescout Research Labs report revealed that more than 35 percent of the workstations used in healthcare are currently using unsupported versions of Windows. They also found that across all sectors, medical devices, networking equipment, and VoIP phones are the riskiest device groups.
Now add in a global pandemic.
Providers were already struggling to adapt to new technology and combining resources. Now they are trying to accelerate the way they integrate new systems into their practices. Where they may have been trying to merge telemedicine, for example, into their business model over several years, suddenly became a norm almost overnight.
To move forward, practices should keep two things in mind.
1. Rethink their technology and asset management strategies to protect their data from future threats.
When two business models merge, there’s a period of overwhelm while the two come together and create one core business model. While they plan and strategize about the largest systems that impact their business, smaller decisions are often pushed to the wayside. Like what devices each staff member logs in on. Or smaller, less essential apps and programs that can open up doorways to patient data.
Hackers look for easy ins. If you don’t have a granular understanding of the foundation of your business practices, it can be as disastrous as leaving the door wide open. This is where it’s often best to bring in a security expert who can help you build your base.
2. Collaborate whenever possible.
The global pandemic made everyone come together to develop new approaches to get things done. As we move into a new normal, a lot of those workarounds will never disappear.
The lines of where and how we work have been blurred forever. That makes the attack surface that much larger and harder to secure.
You can’t worry about the competition as you once did. Instead, it’s time to adapt quickly to a new environment where partnerships give you more protection.
Collaboration is especially important for smaller organizations, where they might be stressed for resources. With so many new options being created every day, it’s equally important to have someone on your side that can help you learn best practices and avoid pitfalls.
How have you been adapting to our new work environment?
For IT Strategy, Cloud Conversion, or Help Desk Services reach out to us at Silver Linings Technology 360-450-4759.
