Supply Chain Compliance Regulations: How HIPAA And GDPR Affect Your Supply Chain

Do you know if your supply chain is compliant with current data protection regulations?

 

With tech-related threats evolving faster than ever before, supply chain risks have taken on a new meaning in today’s digital world.

 

While traditional supply chain risk management revolved around strategy, market reality and performance risks, today it must also focus on cybersecurity controls and data breach risk mitigation.

 

As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to ensure your supply chain is compliant with data protection regulations.

 

If your supply chain is non-compliant with regulatory standards, you’ll face legal repercussions. What’s more, you could lose the trust of your customer base.

 

Remember: it takes years to build your business’ reputation but just one unfortunate moment to ruin it all.

 

So, what can you do to ensure your supply chain is compliant?

 

Keep reading to find out now.

 

HIPAA & GDPR: How Supply Chain Regulations Affect You

 

There are two major global regulations that oversee supply chain compliance.

 

While one is specific to the healthcare industry, the other pertains to any business that collects customer data.

 

Healthcare Portability and Availability Act (HIPAA)

 

HIPAA protects patient data from getting into the wrong hands.

 

If you fail to enter into a business associate agreement that covers the way third parties (your vendors or partners) manage personal health information (PHI) or electronic PHI (ePHI), you will be fined for failure to protect both entities.

 

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

 

GDPR outlines how a business can store and manage personal information.

 

This regulation’s 72-hour breach notification requirement applies to both data controllers (your business) and data processors (your supply chain). Simply put, you are responsible for notifying your customers even if it is your vendor that has suffered a data breach. Failing to do so will make your business liable to pay penalties.

 

As you can see, failing to adhere to these global compliance regulations will cost you.

 

Isn’t it time to make sure your supply chain is storing data safely and securely?

 

Set Up Your Supply Chain Cybersecurity Risk Management Strategy Now

 

When it comes to supply chain compliance, your inaction could endanger the security of protected data and irreversibly damage your organization’s reputation.

 

In order to avoid violations, penalties and more, you must ensure your supply chain’s commitment to compliance.

 

The good news is that identifying and mitigating supply chain compliance and cybersecurity risks doesn’t have to be chaotic, and you don’t need to do it alone. All you need is the right partner by your side.

 

Reach out to the experts at Third Power IT, Miami’s leading cybersecurity consultants, and let us help you strengthen your commitment to compliance now.

 

Get started at www.ThirdPowerIT.com.

The post Supply Chain Compliance Regulations: How HIPAA And GDPR Affect Your Supply Chain appeared first on Third Power IT – Managed IT Services.

Courtesy of Miami IHIPAA Compliance IT Company - ThirdPowerIT.com

Top Warning Signs & How to Prevent an Internal Data Breach

Is your business one misstep away from a cyber-attack due to an insider threat?

 

If you’ve been following our blog, then you already know what insider threats are and how they affect your business.

 

As a reminder, insider threats are security risks that originate from within an organization. Essentially, an insider threat involves someone who is a part of your business network or has access to it.

 

An insider threat can present itself in two different ways:

  1. A malicious insider — someone who intentionally steals or compromises your data
  2. A negligent insider — someone who unknowingly puts your network at risk

 

So, how can you identify insider threats before they become a bigger problem?

 

Although accurately identifying insider threats can be tricky, there are some early warning signs you can watch out for to prevent a cyber-attack.

 

Keep a keen eye out for these signs so you can recognize unusual patterns early on.

 

First let’s look at the main types of warning signs and what you should look out for.

 

There are two main types of warning signs:

  1. Behavioral
  2. Digital

 

First, we’ll look at behavioral warning signs of an insider threat.

 

Behavioral Warning Signs of An Insider Threat

 

An employee or a stakeholder could be a potential insider threat if he/she exhibits any of the following behavioral patterns.

 

  • Attempting to bypass security controls and safeguards
  • Frequently and unnecessarily spending time in the office during off-hours
  • Displaying disgruntled behavior against co-workers and the company
  • Violating corporate policies deliberately
  • Discussing new opportunities and/or the possibility of resigning

 

Now let’s take a closer look at the digital warning signs of an insider threat.

 

Digital Warning Signs of An Insider Threat

 

Some of the digital actions mentioned below are telltale signs of an insider threat.

 

  • Accessing or downloading substantial amounts of data
  • Attempting to access data and/or resources unrelated to his/her job function
  • Using unauthorized devices to access, manage or store data
  • Browsing for sensitive data unnecessarily
  • Copying data from sensitive folders
  • Sharing sensitive data outside the business
  • Behaving differently from their usual behavior profile

 

If you notice any behavioral or digital warning signs, don’t ignore them. You might be at risk of an internal data breach.

 

How to Prevent an Internal Data Breach

 

While some cyber attacks are inevitable, the government expects you to do everything in your power to prevent them. If not, you will face regulatory action.

 

In the event of a data breach, you will be audited for compliance. At this time, you will need to present documented evidence of the preventive and corrective measures you took to protect your business’s sensitive data from insider threats.

 

Here’s what you can do to protect your data now and steer clear of potential penalties in the future:

 

  • Identify, document, and o troll access to your sensitive data
  • Define data privileges for employees and stakeholders based on their needs
  • Build suitable infrastructure that monitors abnormal behavior and raises timely alerts
  • Add insider threat parameters to your regular risk assessment
  • Introduce a robust security awareness training program for all stakeholders
  • Devise a strategy to investigate a breach caused due to insider threats

 

If you take these steps, they will go a long way towards significantly securing your business from insider threats. Plus, they will show regulators that you are committed to ensuring data protection.

 

Make Data Protection a Priority Now

 

Cyber threats are at an all-time high, and you simply cannot ignore the risks.

 

Make data protection a priority and rest knowing your network is secure. Every minute you wait is another minute you risk a cyber attack. Don’t wait to set up your cybersecurity strategy.

 

Connect with the cybersecurity consultants at Third Power IT to safeguard your network now. Visit www.ThirdPowerIT.com to get started.

 

The post Top Warning Signs & How to Prevent an Internal Data Breach appeared first on Third Power IT – Managed IT Services.

Courtesy of Miami IHIPAA Compliance IT Company - ThirdPowerIT.com

Miami HIPAA IT Services Company Discusses HIPAA Cyber Attacks & Your Practice

HIPAA Cyber Attacks: Risk Assessments, Compliance as a Service, and the Consequences of Violating HIPAA

Did you know 95% of healthcare facilities have fallen victim to a cyber attack?

Since your new patient intake form contains all of the pertinent information to steal an identity, including social security numbers, this information is extremely valuable on the dark web. In fact, the dark web sells health records 8-10x more than credit card information. 

So, what does this mean for you?

A cyber attack violates the Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act of 1996 (HIPAA). We’re sure you’ve heard of it, but do you know the consequences of a data breach?  When you violate HIPAA, you put your patient’s sensitive information at risk, and you also put your practice at risk of hefty fines, litigation, and even permanent closure.

 

A HIPAA violation will cost you:

  • You’ll face penalties and fees.
  • Your reputation will be damaged. 
  • Your patients will lose trust and leave.
  • Your facility will get shut down during an investigation.*

*On average, a medical facility loses $30,000 each day it is shut down due to a HIPAA violation.

So, how can you protect your patients’ data and your practice?

 

Conduct Regular HIPAA Risk Assessments

In order to remain HIPAA compliant and avoid a six figure fine, your healthcare facility needs an ongoing strategy to protect patient data.  Cyber threats are dynamic, and they can present themselves at any time. For this reason, you need to have 24/7 surveillance over your cybersecurity. Once you have routine risk assessments in place, you will feel more confident about where you stand in regards to HIPAA compliance.

But where do you start?

 

Find a Trusted Partner That Offers Compliance as a Service (CaaS)

Simplify your HIPAA compliance strategy by finding a provider who knows how to protect your patient data at all times. When you invest in Compliance as a Service (CaaS), you will gain peace of mind while saving time so you can focus on your patients and your practice. Plus, you will avoid huge fines that could literally break your business.

Are you ready to secure your HIPAA compliance so you can keep doing what you do best?

 

Team Up With the Consultants at Third Power IT Now!

Don’t fall victim to a cyber attack that can cost you everything you’ve worked so hard to achieve.  Every minute you wait, you are more susceptible to a HIPAA violation. Act now to set up regular risk assessments and protect your healthcare facility now.

Our Miami HIPAA Compliance IT Consultants, use a 3-prong approach to protect your data:

  1. Strategy
  2. Security
  3. Stability

We will help you uncover weaknesses in your data protection strategy and secure your sensitive information before the dark web gets ahold of it.

To start designing your custom cybersecurity plan, contact us at 844-677-3687 or visit www.ThirdPowerIT.com right now.

The post Miami HIPAA IT Services Company Discusses HIPAA Cyber Attacks & Your Practice appeared first on Third Power IT – Managed IT Services.

Courtesy of Miami IHIPAA Compliance IT Company - ThirdPowerIT.com