Tag Archives: Encryption

Risk Assessment: Quantifying Risk and Impact

By Gary Pritts | Published: March 8, 2012
HIPAA Covered entities, including hospitals and physicians who are implementing electronic records with hopes of attaining Meaningful Use and qualifying for federal incentives, are performing a computer security risk analysis, or risk assessment. Conducting regular risk assessments has been a requirement of HIPAA since 2005. However, many organizations have been weak in their compliance. Organizations [...]
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Securing your Home Wi-Fi Network

By Gary Pritts | Published: February 29, 2012
Virtually everyone has a home wi-fi network. It provides convenient access for laptops, smartphones, tablets and gaming devices. How do you protect yourself? Administration Account.  The first step is to secure the administration account for your wireless router or wireless access point. Change the factory admin account name, and use a strong password (at least [...]
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OIG To Review Portable Device Security, OCR HIPAA Enforcement

By Gary Pritts | Published: November 18, 2011
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, the agency’s watchdog, has released its annual work plan. It is 117 pages specify hundreds of work items reviewing every nook and cranny of the health system. Medicare and Medicaid contractors, and hospitals will be scrutinized for their security controls to prevent the [...]
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Mass General and Cignet Health Hit with $5.3M HIPAA Fines

By Gary Pritts | Published: February 24, 2011
The Obama Administration continues to accelerate its enforcement of the HIPAA Privacy and Security rules.  This month saw two additional $1M+ fines. On February 4, 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued its first-ever  Civil Monetary Penalties.  The fines were levied against a Washington DC area clinic/health plan, Cignet Health, which received [...]
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Top 10 Computer Security List for Medical Practices

By Gary Pritts | Published: October 1, 2009
Physician practices have become more reliant on computer technology, the internet has connected most computers, and small mobile devices are everywhere. The net result is that practices are more exposed to computer security problems than ever before.  With a small or medium sized practice’s limited resources, what are the most important computer security steps to [...]
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