Products to Deter Technology Threats on Healthcare

By law in the United States, health records and other patient information that are stored on computer databases must be protected. As the health care industry increases its reliance on electronic innovations to manage patients and their information, the issue of security will only become more important. Luckily, there are many products that hospitals use to deter technological threats.

Secured Internal Servers

• When health records are electronic, many interested parties, both legitimate (insurers, patients) and illegitimate (criminals) want to access that information. To keep the illegitimate parties away from these records, hospitals have highly secure, internal servers that can only be accessed by those with proper authorization. These servers use SSL (secure socket layer) and sophisticated firewalls to block unauthorized intrusion.

Virus and Malware Protection

• Hospital computers need to have the best virus and malware protection to prevent patient files from being corrupted. Administrators invest in systems that cost thousands of dollars and can detect even the most sophisticated computer virus. These virus programs must be integrated into the hospital's entire network of computers because one unprotected computer can infect the whole system.

Secured Internet Access

• Hospitals must also have extensive Internet protection. Secure access is provided to hospitals by large corporations that set up private wireless local area connections as well as wired systems. Also, the hospital website must utilize encryption technology for all private information.

Surveillance and Alarms

• Hospitals have used surveillance systems for many to deter threats, but these systems have become more advanced with time. Remote video systems that cannot be disabled at the hospital location are widely used. Programs that prevent individuals from inserting foreign USBs and memory cards into computers are also used. In addition, alarms that can detect a breach of the hospital's computers or electrical systems are vital to the health care industry.