Author: Stuart Crawford

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Important Tips For Law Firms Choosing Outsourced IT Providers

How Does One Choose Technology to Properly Manage People, Planning, and Processing in the Legal Sector?

Technology Law Firm Providers

Although law firms are often willing to improve and modernize their level of technology to better serve their clients, they are hesitant, as they do not know where to begin. What sort of technology would best fit their personal situation? Additionally, many firms are partner-based where there is less collaboration that is often found in other organizational structures. This can make it difficult to implement new technology, even when there is a consensus that it would be beneficial.

The security of personal information, however, is important in any organization. This is even more vital in the legal sector. The legal ramifications and increased regulations to protect the privacy and security create greater challenges. Increases in the volume of data handled by many law offices require a more technically savvy, automated system. The skill levels of those trying to illegally obtain that sensitive information points to a higher level of governing security. There are several aspects to consider.

What Are Variations Between Information Governance (IG) and Data Governance?

The “Information Governance Initiative” (IGI) defines IG as the following: “The activities and technologies that organizations use to maximize the value of their information while minimizing risk and cost.” Where Data Governance focuses primarily on data, IG goes beyond merely governing data. It requires businesses to work closely with Information Technology (IT) to improve the following aspects:

  • Improve data protection
  • Improve overall business processes
  • Improve information management

Effective IG works to utilize IT counterparts to implement the improved organizational technology. The goal is to protect data and information, as well as overall make the business more efficient. This improves the attorney/client experience and ultimately improves the bottom line. Therefore, it offsets the initial cost of increasing technology.

How Does Communication Technology Improve the Attorney’s Experience?

By integrating more modern communication technology options, firms enable data transfer and information to reside in a centralized location to which the necessary parties have access. With portals, such as the LAA Online Portal, associates collaborate on cases and share files with ease.

Chatbots provide a simple way for clients to contact their lawyer directly. They also let consultants speak one-on-one without scheduling appointments. With faster communication, the typically slow “wheels of justice” are sped up exponentially. A combined approach that a consulting IT organizes and implements, reduces confusion and errors, as answers are often prompt, if not instantaneous.

Law Firm Technology Companies

How Does Organization Technology Aid Law Firms?

Organizational technology includes such things as improved data management plans, as well as better file storage systems. As information is more readily available, it is easier to find. Rather than spending hours or days searching through paper archives and journals, the information is right at a lawyer’s fingertips. They are easily accessible via search terms. This frees legal staff to spend their time on other aspects and tasks. It decreases workload and, perhaps, allows the firm to take on a greater number of clients. This results in a more profitable fiscal year.

What Forms of Content Analysis and Information Management Are Required?

Not only does IG require a data organization system. It requires information storage featuring secure retrieval. Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is a concern for any business. This is important in the legal sector, as having secure and easily accessed records is instrumental. Protection against loss is necessary.

More than ever before, risk management is part of IG’s importance for law offices. The potential threats of losing data to a cyberbully have increased as the technology itself has grown. In fact, the accident transferal of sensitive material is not out of the realm of possibility. This is especially true as associates spend more time working digitally, rather than working with hard copies. Without the proper protections in place, this could be catastrophic.

Data mapping allows an organization to determine what information is in their possession, where that information should be located, and how to easily access it. This is important for the following purposes:

  • Business Intelligence
  • Compliance
  • Data Privacy
  • Data Security
  • Litigation
  • Risk Management

It is also important that firms work with those who understand and can meet their specific needs. There aren’t a “one-size-fits-all.” An individual approach per field, as well as office, is required. Working with a team to develop the best plan is integral for successful, sustainable use.

In Conclusion

Implementing more advanced technology is required for the proper governance of information. With the currently available IG technology, solutions provide content level and file level analysis throughout a legal firm or a network of partners. Having access to the right IG plan for a specific law firm allows it to fulfill the necessary communication, organization, filing, security, data privacy, and legal accountability that some data requires. IG practices realize how important the three key ingredients are in creating a functional, efficient workspace. The essential elements are people, process, and technology.

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BaseStriker Attacks And Defense: What Should Business Owners Know?

Basestriker

BaseStriker attacks are software attacks that computer hackers use in an attempt to break through the defenses of an account or program. These attacks have been developed through unique coding while operating in a phishing-style in recent times. They’ve been so successful that they’ve grown and evolved becoming increasingly problematic to small business owners.

Basestriker

Used to get past anti-phishing filters while splitting and masking links with URL tagging code, researchers have found that Microsoft business products have become a big target. In the past, Microsoft Office 365 used very effective forms of security for their software and cloud-based products. Safe Link and Advanced Threat Protection feature some excellent security protocols.

baseStriker Attacks on the Rise

baseStriker attacks are escalating. Recently Microsoft reported that the security protocols built into Office 365 failed to protect 100 million email users. This is one of the largest security flaws ever reported for Office 365. Unlike similar attacks that could be discovered and blocked, hackers were able to use this vulnerability to completely bypass all of Microsoft’s security. This included its advanced services like ATP and Safe Links.

The name baseStriker originated due to the method hackers used to create this vulnerability. They split and disguise a malicious link using a tag called the <base> URL tag. This results in your antivirus software not being able to detect the link as malicious.

How baseStriker Attacks Work

A malicious link (that would normally be blocked by Microsoft security) is sent to the user. This URL is split into two snippets of HTML: a base tag and a regular href tag. In traditional phishing scams, a malicious link found in an HTML email would be blocked by the security programs found in Office 365. When these programs see a suspicious link, they perform a lookup using a list of known bad links.

For those customers who use Advanced Threat Protection, the suspicious URL is replaced with a “safe link” that prevents the user from proceeding to a phishing website. Using baseStriker methods, a phishing email that contains a malicious link is allowed through the email filters because they not handling the <base> HTML code correctly.

How ATP and Safe Links Can Help

Office 365, ATP, and Safe Links, along with Office 365 ATP Safe Attachments combine a number of security features for enterprise organizations. These are offered as part of Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection. Safe Links can help protect your business by providing time-of-click verification of web addresses in both official documents and websites.

This type of security can be customized by setting your own ATP Safe Links policies. Your security team can setup up your Office 365 program so that it works the way your business does. Once your ATP Safe Links policies are in place, your security team will get regular reports that show how Advanced Threat Protection is working. This information can help your security team take other steps to create stronger security for your company.

In spite of all these advancements, hackers work harder than ever to find new ways to get through all this security and steal personal and financial information.

What Attacks Have Been Common And What Has Been Done?

Security Affairs explained that baseStriker attacks have been more common in the past year. They were increasingly frequent in October 2017 and have continued since that time. The attacks are most commonly used to bypass Safe Links.

While Safe Links have been improving user capacities to protect against attacks in programs including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, baseStriker attacks have intensified.

Gmail users have not been as vulnerable to this specific method of attack because their developers have created base tag detectors. Mimecast has also built in ways to protect Office 365 users with Gmail accounts.

Microsoft is continuing to make improvements that address weaknesses in their security products. Patches and additional security protocols are being developed for the future. The landscape of hacking evolves almost daily so security must evolve as well.

Current forms of Office 365 security attempt to identify potential security risks through scans of base domains, and until some software development is built that does not ignore relative URLs, the security risk is expected to remain. Due to this, as Avanan reports, the attack method is analogous to viruses of biological immune systems, with even known attacks not being successfully addressed by Microsoft.

SC Media reported that Microsoft is aware of the issue and has dedicated resources to address it. Of course, they have recommended that customers follow common best practices for safe computer operations, but they have yet to develop software products that are capable of automatic recognition in the same manner as Gmail.

What Can I Do?

Enabling two-step authentication from within Office 365 allows users to reduce their vulnerabilities to information thefts made by malware. Organizations can purchase Advanced Threat Protection and have their security team optimize it for best protection. All employees should be trained on the latest hacking methods so they are well aware of what to look for. Many companies today are hiring IT consultants to come in and assess their security protocols, then recommend improvements.

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Is Human Error the Leading Cause of Data Breaches in the U.S.?

Security Breach

New Study Shows That the Global Cost of a Data Breach Is Up in 2018

The Ponemon Institute recently released its annual Cost of Data Breach Independent Study that was sponsored by IBM Security. This study included two new factors that impact data-breach costs: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the all-encompassing use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Security Breach

The analysis also factored in the cost of a “mega breach” — the breach of 1 million records or more — and also used a formula to measure the financial cost of customers’ loss of trust in a company.

According to the 2018 Cost of a Data Breach Study, around 25 percent of all U.S. data breaches were recognized as carelessness or user error. The study stated that users consistently failed to properly erase data from devices. The study also reveals that negligent breaches are about half as frequent as criminal breaches.

The rate of data breaches is rising, and they are costing companies more to manage. U.S. businesses are shelling out about $7.9 million per year to fight off and recover from data breaches.

Root Causes by the Numbers

The study made known that malicious or criminal attacks caused the most data breaches at 48 percent. 27 percent were due to human error, and 25 percent were comprised of both IT and business process failures (system glitches).

Data Breach Cost Is Up in 2018

In this year’s study, the average cost of a data breach per compromised record was $148, and it took companies 196 days, on average, to uncover a breach. Based on these averages, The Ponemon Institute determined that the per-capita cost, average cost, and overall cost have swollen in 2018.

With the U.S. leading the way at almost five times that of the global average of notification costs, the Middle East had the highest percentage of the most expensive type of data breaches: Malicious or Criminal Attacks.

Globally, here is how the numbers broke down:

The Size of the Breach Does Matter

The Ponemon Institute’s 2018 report found that the average total cost of a breach ranges from $2.2 million for incidents with fewer than 10,000 compromised records to $6.9 million for incidents with more than 50,000 compromised records.

The study also revealed that a “mega breach” (what the Ponemon Institute deems as 1 million compromised records) can cost upwards of $39.49 million. As expected, this figure goes up as the amount of breached records grows.

The Consumer Impact

According to the report’s findings, organizations globally lost customers due to data breaches in the past year. But it also pointed out, businesses that put in the effort to improve customer trust reduced that number significantly. When a Company’s senior-level leader, such as a CEO or CISO (chief information security officer) addressed customer’s security concerns and pointed to fixing the issues, businesses lost fewer customers and reduced the overall cost of the consequences of a breach.

The Effects of AI and IoT

The 2018 study, for the first time, assessed the effects of a company implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The conclusion is AI security platforms have saved companies an average of $8 per compromised record at identifying and containing breaches by incorporating machine learning and analytics. So far, just 15 percent of companies reviewed in the study said they had fully implemented AI. At the same time, businesses that comprehensively use IoT devices pay on average, $5 more for each compromised record.

How Companies Can Reduce Data Breach Costs

In total, The Ponemon Institute’s 2018 report included 477 companies. It found that the mean time to identify a breach was 197 days, while the meantime to limit a breach is 69 days.

There are, however, strategies that support businesses and work on lowering the likely cost of a data breach. This is the 13th year of The Ponemon Institute’s study, and an alarming trend has reared its ugly head. For the fourth year in a row, the study found a connection between how fast a business detects and contains a breach and the sum of the total cost when all is said and done.

Conclusion

The study found that, above all, preparation and vigilance is crucial. An incident response team can reduce the cost of a breach by as much as $14 for each breached file from the average per-capita cost of $148. Comparably, extensive use of encryption can cut the cost by $13 per person. What all these statistics mean is that companies can reduce the cost of a data breach and reduce the negative effects to their company simply by being prepared. Your company needs a data breach team on staff who knows what to do and how to respond should any type of breach occur.

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More Than 3M Records Exposed in Q2 2018 Healthcare Data Breaches

A recent study conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Scout, a healthcare marketing firm, uncovered some interesting statistics about healthcare data security and public perception. It determined that out of 2,000 US adults, about half are extremely or very concerned about the security of their healthcare data.

Healthcare Data Breaches

Another study, conducted by Protenus Breach Barometer, found that in the second quarter of 2018, from April to June, more than 3.15 million patient records were compromised across a total of 142 healthcare data breaches. The report reinforces the need for strong security measures in the healthcare system, concluding that healthcare organizations must maintain vigilance and be constantly on the lookout for best practices in healthcare privacy.

Examining The Data

Protenus Breach Barometer joined forces with Databreaches.com to gather data from a number of sources, including press reports, HHS, and nonpublic data from Protenus’ AI platform. According to incidents reported to the HHS or by the media, 31% of these breaches were executed by insiders.

 

According to the report published by Protenus, it’s believed that an individual healthcare employee who has breached patient privacy once is more than 30 percent more likely to repeat the offense within a three-month time frame. The chances that the employee will do so again within one year rises to more than 66%. Therefore, a delay in identifying and reporting these offenses is further putting institutions at risk.

The company estimated that out of 1,000 healthcare employees, more than nine are responsible for breaching patient privacy — an estimate up from five employees in the previous quarter.

One of the most common insider-related data breaches was family snooping, which accounted for a whopping 71% of the reported privacy violations. This number is down from 77 during Q1 of 2018.

According to the report, it can take organizations, on average, 204 days to identify a breach once it has occurred. Out of 61 incidents in which data was disclosed, the average time between when a data breach is identified, to the time it is reported to HHS or other sources, is 71 days. According to HHS requirements, a healthcare organization must report a breach involving 500 or more individuals no later than 60 days of discovery of the breach. Coincidentally, the largest gaps between the occurrence of the breach and discovery were reported with insider-related cases.

Out of the 143 healthcare data breaches disclosed, healthcare providers reported 99 of them, whereas 15 of them were disclosed by an insurance company or health plan. Business associates and third-party vendors were responsible for disclosing 18 of the cases, and ten were reported by other organizations.

It’s well known that healthcare security teams are lacking in manpower. It was reported that in hospital teams responsible for identifying insider threats, one investigator may be responsible for monitoring nearly 4,000 employees on average. This individual is responsible for 2.5 hospitals and handles a median of 25 cases.

With cyber threats on the rise within the industry, it’s vital that healthcare organizations do more to more to protect patient data. Thirty-eight states were included in the report’s 142 disclosed health data breaches. Out of these, California was responsible for the largest number of data breaches, with 20 incidents. Texas reported 13 incidents, ranking it the second highest.

The Rise Of Healthcare Hacking

Cyber threats are common in the digital world, but the stakes are particularly high in healthcare systems. According to the report, healthcare hacking accounted for 52 data breaches in Q2, which is a figure up from 30 during Q1.

Forty-four of these hacking incidents affected 2,065,813 patient records, with seven of them involving malware or ransomware. Ten hacking incidents mentioned a phishing attack.

In addition to phishing, malware, and ransomware, 23 incidents of those reported were related to theft. More than 600,000 patient records were compromised, with data disclosed for 19 of the 23 incidents.

Healthcare Hacking Prevention Tactics

There are some actions healthcare organizations can take to ensure they are keeping up with best practices in patient record security. The most important action to take is to perform an organization-wide risk analysis that covers all devices that contain ePHI or systems and devices that may be used to access PHI. Once this is performed, organizations can put into action a risk management plan that addresses and reduces all identified vulnerabilities.

It’s also important for healthcare organizations to keep up-to-date with the latest in equipment and regulations. All software systems should be maintained properly, with encryptions and backups implemented accordingly to protect patient information to the fullest extent. According to HIPAA, a good strategy for patient information backup is the 3-2-1 approach, which calls for at least three copies of data, across two different media, with one of these copies stored securely off-site.

Healthcare organizations may also do well to consider teaming up with threat intelligence organizations to keep privy about newly discovered threats and vulnerabilities. All of these steps combined can form a strong line of defense against healthcare hacking.

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What Security Precautions Should You Take If Using Snapchat?

What Is Snapchat And What Business Uses Does It Have?

Snapchat is a form of now commonly used social media more recent than Facebook, Myspace, or Twitter. It’s unique in that it allows users to create pictures or messages that are only available for a short period of time before they become inaccessible to viewers. This is considered a convenient self-cleaning of media in addition to its other features. Just like Facebook timelines and Twitter feeds, users are allowed to create original “Stories” as 24-hour feeds of content presented chronologically through the app.

Snapchat

A “Discover” feature allows businesses to have an interactive exploration of their products or services. The app was developed for mobile technology and continues to evolve with the emphasis on virtual ‘stickers’ and affected ‘reality objects.’ Although not all features are unique to the software, business uses of Snapchat can include some pretty attractive features:

  • Frequently updated postings
  • Promotion through marketing channels
  • Creating sponsoring lenses
  • Allowing people to explore content through interactive features
  • Integrated content created by users
  • Promotion of products or services through discounts and promotion code marketing
  • Promoting new products

One of the best features that users love is that SnapChat allows celebrities and other people of interest to directly access the app. This means you might be able to view Jennifer Garner’s favorite places to eat or check out LeBron James on vacation in Italy.

Many of today’s top organizations are now successfully using the Snapchat app, including:

  • Taco Bell
  • Disney
  • Gatorade
  • Starbucks
  • McDonald’s
  • AT&T
  • Many others

As with other widespread social media programs, Snapchat can be used in traditional business practices including the social media marketing mix, brand strengthening processes, community engagement, and brand awareness.

According to The Social Media Examiner, over 100 million people use the app every day, responsible for up to 400 million snaps each day, and while 71% of the estimated billion viewers are between the ages of 18 to 34, it is considered one of the fastest growing networks. Access to live events can be provided through streaming, and the NBA is an example of a major organization that has been taking advantage of this.

Private content can be delivered through the software, and contests and other perks can be added to the organization’s storyline. Internal developments can be shown through the service while users can partner with influencers. People can also effectively “follow” organizations analogous to post subscriptions available on Twitter or Facebook.

What Are The Security Risks And Why Should I Be Concerned?

Snapchat’s features can be more convenient for some users, but it has security risks that may also be unique and therefore uniquely be concerning to users. The software, in short, may not be as private as it may seem. The creative nature of the app means that much of the user provided content is not covered by the same privacy and protection offered through other social media services like Facebook and Twitter.

The “snaps” that are made and posted can be potentially retrieved with software tools, and both forensic analysts and hackers alike have some potential to exploit this. According to the Telegraph, it is possible for hackers to intercept Snaps in transmission processes despite levels of encryption. This is due to the potential for decryption through a form of reverse engineering possible through the Android application package file.

This does not mean that Snapchat is less secure than services such as iMessage, but it is likely less secure than many people assume. Another potential issue is the possibility that a business will not have access to records if claims are made regarding the nature of posts that have automatically deleted. This could result in dually unfounded claims in court that can cost the organization funding and negative publicity if nothing else.

As explained in depth by The Hacker News, the source code of the program itself has also been hacked and posted online after a cyber thief was able to obtain it. The posting made the confidential information of the organization vulnerable to other people who could misuse it. In addition, a number of apps now exist that can capture your Snaps without alerting you. One popular site like this called “SnapSave” was breached in 2014 and 200,000 Snaps were leaked publically.

What Additional Security Concerns Should I Have If Using SnapChat?  

In general, businesses who plan to use SnapChat should take some precautions to avoid being exploited. These are discussed below:

  • Enable login verification (2FA).
  • Educate users at your workplace who will be in charge of SnapChat with information about security breaches and such.
  • Manually restrict and control access.
  • Ignore random requests.
  • Make sure that only those connected with your account are able to connect with it.
  • Limit who can see your stories.
  • Transfer private snaps saved in memories to the ‘my eyes only’ section for added privacy.
  • Never publically share your Snapcode or username.

Conclusion

SnapChat can be a powerful business tool that lets your company connect directly with your consumers, fans, and other interested parties. However, by following a few security protocols you can protect your account against hackers and other intruders. As with all your IT technology, hackers are always on the look-out for weak perimeters that will allow them to come in and steal from you.

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Windows 10 Enterprise Is Microsoft’s Most Secure Operating System Ever

Windows 10 Enterprise

Is Windows 10 Enterprise Right For Your Business?

With the threats of cyber-attack at an all-time high, there’s no better time to reexamine your company’s operating system to see whether or not it offers the level of protection you, your company, and your clients deserve.

Windows 10 Enterprise

Windows 10 Enterprise ranks high among today’s most popular operating systems for large companies and it’s worth the expense. This operating system is beneficial to large businesses for a variety of reasons.

It features intelligent security, simplified updates, flexible management, and enhanced productivity. There are a number of other solid benefits to using Windows 10 Enterprise.

One of the main things that users notice about this operating system is that it makes up for what was lacking in Windows 8. The developers added many of the same familiar features that made Windows 7 so popular.

But Windows 10 Enterprise has much better security and an optimized interface for greater mobility within the workplace. All of this combined makes a strong case for why large organizations ought to consider Windows 10. It can breathe new life into your workflow and enable stronger productivity.

Enhanced Security

In terms of security, Windows 10 Enterprise is a viable option for businesses of all sizes, but particularly useful for large businesses. Windows 10 Enterprise’s Advanced Threat Protection, or ATP, has proven well worth its weight for peace of mind. In fact, the operating system was virtually unaffected during WannaCry, the largest global ransomware attack to date.

Its solid performance under this type of intrusion is a testament to its capabilities to keep businesses protected.  For this reason, large businesses with much at stake would do well to examine Windows 10 as an option, especially if they’ve been impacted by large-scale global attacks like WannaCry in the past.

Device Guard, Windows Hello, and Microsoft Passport are just a few added security features to help users maintain privacy.

Device Guard

Device Guard isn’t just one feature, rather a set of three features that work cohesively to protect your system and eliminate any untrusted code from infiltrating a Windows 10 system.

These features include Configurable Code Integrity (CCI), VSM Protected Code Integrity, and Platform and UEFI Secure Boot.

CCI is responsible for ensuring that only trusted code runs from the bootloader onward, while VSM moves KMCI and HVCI into VSM to protect them from attack. Finally, the last feature, Platform, and UEFI Secure Boot work to ensure that boot binaries and UEFI firmware are accounted for and haven’t been compromised.

Windows Hello For Business

Strong two-factor authentication is vital for robust IT security. Windows Hello for Business ensures a tough line of defense on PCs and mobile devices by going one step further. This new type of authentication boasts a unique type of user credentials associated with a device. It utilizes a biometric or PIN feature for better security, and even allows users to authenticate to an Active Directory or Azure Active Directory account.

Flexible Management

An improved interface is another big benefit of Windows 10. The ability to switch back and forth between different virtual desktops has been something Mac users have enjoyed for years now, and with Windows 10, the feature is now a reality for Microsoft users too. What’s more, the feature is simple to use, requiring just a tap of the task-switching icon.

In addition to enhanced security, Windows 10 Enterprise brings improved compatibility by way of the Microsoft Edge browser. From improved battery usage to new capabilities like reading mood and webpage markup, Edge is intended to make browsing easier and more efficient than before.

Windows 10 Enterprise also offers simplified updates with unique tools that help streamline deployment. IT employees wear many hats, and there isn’t always enough time in the workday to dedicate to repetitive tasks. Windows Autopilot allows for easy, seamless setup and deployment, meaning you can take a new device out of the box and have it fully configured and managed from the cloud, all with minimal effort from the IT department.

Insight into your organization’s IT health and overall efficiency is imperative for sustained growth. With Windows 10, IT managers can ensure employee compliance, a more effective user experience, and smooth upgrades.

Elevated Productivity

Windows 10 offers a world of opportunity for software for tasks both large and small. There is a whole selection of apps that can be full-screen or windowed. The new range of apps includes more powerful media and productivity apps, new photos, music, videos, mail, maps, and calendars.

If your business thrives on creativity, you’ll find a good range of new tools to take advantage of, including Windows Ink, 3D in Windows 10, and OneNote. OneNote offers a single place for notes and ideas, while 3D in Windows 10 allows users to add a new dimension and elevate their design work.

And in a further effort for simplicity and familiarity, Windows 10 apps are designed to sync across a variety of iOS and Android devices for easy navigating between phone and PC. Furthermore, Nearby Sharing in Microsoft Edge, OneNote, File Explorer and other apps enable users to quickly and easily transmit files and web pages to nearby PC users with the click of a button.

Wrap Up

Overall, it has become clear that Windows 10 and Windows 10 Enterprise carry a wide range of benefits for large businesses. If you feel that your organization could use some improvement in the areas of productivity, IT security, and a better user experience, then a switch to Microsoft 10 may be long overdue.

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EHR System for Australia’s Northern Territory Nears The Halfway Mark

Australia’s Northern Territory – 1.35 million square kilometers with a population of an estimated 250,000, is not one of the first places you think of when one thinks of installing a state-of-the-art Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. Nonetheless, the Northern Territory is at the halfway mark to having innovative inpatient and outpatient functions for its six hospitals, 54 health centers, and numerous other health facilities. The system goal is “one patient, one record” with data shared by all providers.

Australia EHR Systems

As always, one of the goals of the EHR implementation is improved quality of care and improved outcomes. The Northern Territory has four times the rate of avoidable hospitalization, compared to the rest of Australia. The average age at death is 67.6, which is 14.4 years short of the national average of 82 years old. The territory has the highest rate of renal failure in the world, making dialysis services a necessity. Diabetes is widespread. 60% of males and 50% of females are smokers. 25.5% of the population is aboriginal, the highest population proportion of any Australian state or territory.

The aboriginal population has a higher incidence of several serious diseases, including diabetes, mental health problems, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. It also has diseases that are virtually unknown outside its members: trachoma (an eye infection) and bacterial heart disease, to name a few.

The Pros and Cons of a New EHR System

The current system is described as “…held together with sticky tape” and has a history of failed efforts at replacement, as do many large health IT projects. This time, however, things appear to be on track for a successful conclusion. The project, which has five years to go to completion is on budget. This in itself is a miracle.

Any medical personnel who have been involved in an EHR implementation will tell you that growing pains are inevitable. Training, no matter how thorough, will not communicate every nuance of the system. There will be periods where a doctor tries three times to save the record of a patient visit, only to have to call a nurse to come in and show him how to do it – again. There will be downtimes that are an utter mystery to the support staff. The supposedly impossible will happen and the mainframe component will require yet another initial program load. The physicians will curse their interface as “the worst video game ever invented.”

The real benefits will become apparent only after the shakedown cruise. The system will feed data into Australia’s universal “My Health Record,” which allows patients to see much of what their providers see. Research has indicated that giving patients access to lab values and test reports can increase health awareness and prompt more meaningful conversations with providers.

Why Australia Is Creating a Better Healthcare System

Australia was among the first nations to recognize the power of a fully national electronic health record. The Health Connect program, which ran from 2005-2009, set the parameters for the successful My Health Record program and, as was expected, revealed a number of pitfalls in trying to link disparate systems.

Australia has mastered lessons the US is still struggling to learn in the areas of consistency of nomenclature and interoperability. One of the most significant lessons learned is that such a national health system does not work unless the vast majority of the population agrees to have their records made available and included in the database. For that reason, Australia is switching from an opt-in system to an opt-out system in 2018. Everyone’s data will be included unless they explicitly forbid it.

Huge Financial Savings

In 2009, it was estimated that the full implementation of My Health Record could save at least $300 million per year in reduced errors. Having one consistent record alone –“one version of the truth,” as it has been called – accounts for the bulk of that. Few are the providers who have not faced two different versions of a diagnosis, a prescription, or a lab result from the same patient and wondered which one represents reality. Having a single record prevents that. When errors do slip past the data consolidation phase, at least they are usually more obvious than they are in paper records.

Wrap Up

Australia’s national health record program, in the Health Connect period, was aimed at providing a critical subset of data. As it evolved into the My Health Record phase, it has moved towards the inclusion of virtually all data. Because of the emphasis on a national system from the beginning, it has encountered fewer road blocks than have similar efforts in the United States. Australia was also able to learn from the British experience with its National Health Service. Having a single national health plan, of course, removed many of the roadblocks that the United States has encountered.

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What Can Companies Do To Prevent Privacy Violations?

Privacy Violations

Whether it’s physical, virtual, or in the cloud, discovering and blocking sophisticated threats in the network is at the forefront of every company’s mind. However, businesses are finding that more and more data violations are taking place when network security centers on the edge of the network are not giving equal protection to the network itself.

Privacy Violations

Security at the perimeter of the network has received most of the attention from data protection companies. What many internet service providers and businesses have neglected is protecting what lies within the network. Once attackers get into the network, they normally have free reign to steal valuable data and go undetected. What can your company do to solidify your network and protect you from hackers on the inside?

5 Ways to Prevent Privacy Violations

Prevent Data Theft with Patches

If a company’s IT department is inattentive when it comes to the application of patches, security vulnerabilities and other bugs can easily creep into a network. A patch is simply a set of changes to a computer program and its data that are created to update or fix a liability or get rid of a virus threat. Rapidly growing networks today are comprised of a wide range of networks, including the IoT and the cloud. Keeping track of the equipment inventory and the maintenance of this vast network can be a daily trial. For a company to protect its technology, applying patches is no longer an option but a necessity.

Protecting a Network with NIDS

With cloud computing as a way of life, cloud computing security is a mandatory requirement.

Network-based Intrusion Detection System (NIDS) is one of the solutions for enhancing the security aspect of cloud computing services. NIDS discovers and monitors attacks within the network. NIDS is a signature-based technique with an identification data packet throughout the network.

For the majority of companies, privacy violations are caused by attacks that have been detected for a while. Because these vulnerabilities are well-known and have already been patched, attacks can be identified through security holes in the signature. Incorporating signature-based discovery tools, businesses can seek out a breach and put a stop to it quickly.

Using Behavior-Based Analysis

Zero-day attacks to a network occur within a time frame, known as the vulnerability window. They are vulnerabilities that have not yet patched the software containing the weakness. Hackers can engineer malware that exploits compromised systems and steals valuable data. New high-level attacks are operating various techniques to evade protective measures and attack the network connections without even being noticed.

Behavior-based computer security tools can be designed to discover false or unanticipated traffic. They can destroy zero-day malware variants with what is called detonation chambers or sandboxing and link the data to defend against smart attacks. Behavior-based computer security tools allow data and applications to be scanned for malware across the network and thoroughly inspected. They look for patterns and then constantly monitor the traffic to determine the intent, preempting an attack before it starts.

Installing Web Application Firewalls 

Although many attacks are caused by phishing emails or known, unpatched vulnerabilities, web-based attacks are becoming more the norm.  Software that probes and calculates information directly in the data center is commonly targeted.

A web application firewall (WAF) is a filter that is designed to go before you and sift through incoming traffic detecting potential threats and malicious activity. It is one of the most common means of protecting against attacks at the application layer.

In a June 2017 survey of the top 1 million websites, Mozilla reported that an unbelievable 93.45% earned an F score at implementing basic measures to protect them from common attack methods. Companies that fail to accept and adopt application security methods are opening themselves up for constant threats and attacks.

Incorporating Network Segmentation

The modern network needs to be able to handle access through varying devices and an assortment of application and data flows. Businesses can markedly improve their network safety by installing Internal Segmentation Firewalls (ISFW). Network segmentation works by splitting a computer network into subnetworks. If the defense perimeter is breached, an access point penetrated, or if there is an attack from inside the network, ISFW prevents the spread of such threats. ISFWs can be used to protect specific servers that hold a company’s most valuable information and can also protect devices from users and web apps in the cloud.

Conclusion

Managing cyber-risk is a multi-faceted company-wide endeavor that requires implementation from the top level down. The quicker you are able to respond to a threat, the greater the chance you have of being able to stop the potential damage. However, with the implementation of these new tools and strategies, you can protect your company records from hackers. It does take a proactive approach and a watchful eye.

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How Do I Find the Right IT Managed Services Provider?

IT Services Provider

Identifying the Right IT Services Provider for Your Business

IT Services Provider

IT service providers, also called managed services providers (MSPs), are in the business of managing a company’s IT needs.  IT service providers can offer their services both remotely and on-site. They normally render their services by one of two ways:

  • On an output-basis model
  • On a fixed-price subscription model

Pricing Model Breakdown

IT service providers often offer pricing models that are broken down per-device, per-service, per-user, and an all-inclusive subscription model. Since managed service providers charge for their services using several pricing models, it’s wise to evaluate what the essential needs of your business are in order to get the best bang for your buck.

The Balancing Act of Business Growth and IT Support

As your business starts to take off, your IT support will need to increase as well. Navigating both where your business is headed and how to manage that growth with proper IT support can be a delicate balancing act. So often, business owners tend to focus on growing their business rather than on their IT support, leaving their company open for easy attacks from online predators.

What exactly do businesses need to look for in a managed IT services provider?

Ability

The first thing to look for is an IT support provider that has a proven track record of hiring and employing properly trained employees that are well versed in both IT and the company’s vision.  Look for company reviews with remarks stating that their staff is furnished with the right skills and experience to successfully execute all the expected IT tasks.

Another important item to look for is their certifications from top IT trade organizations, such as the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) or Microsoft Certified. These credentials are proof that the IT company takes training their team seriously.

Quality Customer Service

Another important factor to look for when finding the right IT provider is how quickly and effectively they respond to your company’s needs. Normally you can find this out by asking about their help desk software and ticketing system. A capable ticketing system that has a history of correctly prioritizing IT glitches is necessary for a fluid IT support team. The better the provider’s help desk and ticketing system, the more efficient the managed services provider will be. They should demonstrate a good system of keeping track of all their tasks and assignments. That way, your IT issues won’t get lost in a heap of paperwork lying on someone’s desk.

Budget Planning Value for Your Company

Too often the majority of a businesses’ IT budget goes to unexpected expenses. This puts a strain on making crucial planned improvements. You can’t purchase new computers or software when you need it. Your employees aren’t productive and there’s a higher rate of frustration in the workplace. Fortunately, a good managed IT service provider will offer managed services at a fixed rate to ensure your business runs efficiently and affordably.

By customizing the services that you get, you can focus on specific services that fit your company’s needs, such as:

  • Cybersecurity
  • Daily backups
  • Disaster Recovery Planning

On-Call IT Support

A necessary service for most companies is fast IT support. You never know when servers or computers might break down. Who can you call for any problem? Will they get there right away?

When combing through a company’s review section, look for their quick response rates and their on-site support. A good IT provider will be adept at hiring experts in their respective fields that they can turn to when you have a problem.

Much of the time, managed service companies can remotely diagnose and repair common errors. However, some issues cannot be resolved remotely and need to be handled on-site. Look for a company that has a reputation for being there when you need help. They should work to establish and nurture a good business relationship with you by responding quickly to your IT needs.

Cloud Integration Services

With the emergence of cloud technology, protecting your company’s data is essential. Just about every business now relies on data acquired through different means. Today, almost every IT provider offers data backups as part of their service.  They normally offer different pricing options based upon the frequency of backups and the incorporation of other cloud-based services.

Just like disaster recovery planning, routine backups provide insurance against all types of disasters. It simply makes sense to back up your data frequently to avoid any type of threat to your company’s files.

Monitoring Cybersecurity

Cyberattacks are becoming more prevalent and causing major disruption and damage to even the strongest of companies. Hackers can easily breach outdated software after determining the unpatched software’s security flaws. Look for an IT services provider that has a proven track record of not only monitoring a company’s cybersecurity, but regularly testing it as well.  A good IT services company will keep all software updated and secure.

IT consulting companies manage large data centers and put multiple layers of protection in place, but companies can still be breached by hackers. All it takes is one careless employee who clicks on the wrong email attachment. Employee training is a must these days. And it usually works better if you can provide quarterly training for employees. They do get busy and forget and this can result in disaster.

Summary

Keeping up with the ever-changing world of information technology means exploring new solutions as they become available to your business. When searching for the right IT services provider for your business, look at their years of experience. Check the type of industries they have worked with. Read over their client’s testimonials and reviews. When setting up a meeting with the IT company, make sure to have a summary of your business needs on hand. Come armed with a thorough list of questions for the IT consultants. With in-depth research, you will be able to determine the right IT managed services provider for your business.

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7 Things to Look for in an IT Company for Your Dental Practice

Dental IT Services

More and more dental practices are outsourcing their IT needs, and are reaping the benefits of such a choice. By using a vendor, you are able to maintain better control of your IT budget, you can leave the headaches and complexity of IT technology to the experts, and you can save on office space (which is often at a premium), as well as hardware costs. However, it can be tricky to find the right provider for your dental practice, so here are seven things to look for when outsourcing your IT services.

Dental IT Services

They Take Security and Privacy Very Seriously

Dental offices are not immune to hacking and data theft. In fact, personal health information is a very desirable target for hackers. A solid IT provider will make sure that your system has up-to-date security software and tools to protect that data. This can include firewalls, encryption, anti-virus, web filters, and anti-malware software. It also entails keeping security software and tools up-to-date and patched.

No dental practice can afford to have a hacker prowling around in their patient’s data. In fact, ransomware crimes are escalating in the healthcare sector. Imagine logging into your network only to find that hackers have seized all your patient records and are holding them for ransom. Either you pay or you could lose everything. Consumers are not very forgiving when they hear that a favorite store or medical practice has been hacked.

An often-neglected aspect of security is not only making sure your data is backed up, but can be quickly recovered if an issue should arise. A good IT provider should offer a system that allows you to seamlessly continue normal operations while repairs are being performed. You can’t afford to lose access to patient files, billing information, and scheduling. Any good IT services provider should rank your network security as a number one priority.

Support HIPAA Compliance

The importance of HIPAA compliance cannot be overestimated, and you need an IT provider that is not only well-versed in the rules and regulations involved, but is as dedicated as you are to preserving the privacy of your patient’s information. A good dental IT vendor will be committed to securing your patient’s sensitive information and will offer tools and features to help support HIPAA compliance.

They Understand the Practice Management Software You Use

Dental practices have IT needs that are far different from other types of healthcare practices. It’s important to find an IT provider that is experienced not just with dental practices but with the particular type of practice management software you use. It is vital that they efficiently integrate the IT services they provide with things like patient clinical charting, radiographs, and digital x-rays. To do this well, they must be familiar with the type of software you use.

They Focus on Your Needs

A good dental IT provider will be focused on the specific needs of your practice. Before anything is implemented, you should expect your IT provider to perform a thorough review of your technology requirements. And when outsourcing your IT, make sure they understand not just the ins and outs of IT, but the special challenges involved with a dental practice. This way they can integrate the most important components of your dental practice with an effective, reliable IT system. This will ensure better productivity for your staff.

They Support Cloud Services

Another key feature to be considered when shopping for an IT provider is cloud services. Cloud services can save on the cost of (and space required for) server hardware. The cloud makes backup and disaster recovery easier and more robust. If you choose to go with a paperless office, then cloud services are your best answer. In fact, cloud services can make HIPAA compliance easier as well. There are a lot more great reasons to choose the cloud and your IT services consultant should be able to spell these out for you.

They Can Help You Scale

As your practice grows, your IT needs are going to expand. Make sure that any IT services company you are considering can help you easily scale up your IT resources both in terms of hardware and software. Whether it’s setting up additional storage for your practice’s file system or installing an upgrade of your practice management system, they should be able to fully support your needs not just now, but in the future.

They Are Strong on Support

Having the most state-of-the-art, robust IT system does your employees little good if there is poor customer support. Check into what types of remote support any potential IT providers offer. Let’s face it: when the IT network goes down, it limits access to critical files and you need that access restored ASAP. Imagine the chaos that can quickly result when your staff can no longer pull up a patient’s chart or schedule appointments.

Another aspect of support is onboarding, where the IT vendor provides you and your employees with training. Good training for your employees is vital. They may need extra help in dealing with the bugs that seem to go along with new software installations.

Conclusion

If you are planning to outsource the IT needs of your dental practice, keep in mind key factors like security, HIPAA compliance, scalability, and support. Also, don’t forget to make sure they are familiar with the practice management software you use, as well as dental office needs in general. Finding a suitable IT services provider can be challenging, but you’ll be glad you made the switch to outsourcing if you take the time to find the right IT provider for your dental practice.