Of course all data is important, but healthcare data storage? {See our solutions showcase here
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Well,
It’s supreme.
Do you agree?
Your health status plus additional potent data about you?
Sounds supreme to me.
Here are eight (8) reminders why healthcare data storage reigns supreme:
Medical records contain:
- Social Security numbers
- Birth dates
- Addresses
- Phone numbers
- Passport numbers
- Employment status
- Financial account information
- Health status
So how did you handle the news reported by the Associated Press on September 24, 2015 that, MIDAS, the central electronic storehouse for information collected under President Obama’s health care law was ‘flawed?,
‘Flawed?’
‘Flawed‘, is a weak word to describe a healthcare data storage system that is sanctioned by the government to protect your most valuable asset.
—your data.
This electronic storehouse does not handle medical records, the writer clarified.
But, it does include all the other Personal Identifiable Information (PII) that are listed above.
So, the hacker would score 7 out of 8 chances to get all the information he would need to wreck your life.
How is that for a little consolation? {contact us for your Data Storage consultation today}
Healthcare Data Storage cannot afford the negligence that was discovered by an independent audit of the Multidimensional Insurance Data Analytics System (MIDAS):
■ Using a shared read-only account for access to the database that contained individuals’ personal information. Shared account creates serious vulnerability because if data is stolen, it’s much more difficult to tell who was looking at what information, and when.
■ Failure to disable ‘‘generic accounts’’ used for maintenance or other special access during testing, an oversight that can foster complacency about security practices when a system becomes operational.
■ Failure to conduct certain automated vulnerability scans that mimic known cyberattacks and could reveal weaknesses in MIDAS and the systems supporting it.
■ Database weaknesses. A total of 135 such vulnerabilities — oftentimes software bugs— were discovered by the inspector general’s vulnerability scans. Of these, 22 were classified as high risk, meaning they could have potentially severe or catastrophic fallout, and 62 as medium risk.
By the way, did you know that the MIDAS system cost $110 million and stores up 10 million customer records?
It is likely that your information is stored in this system.
But enough of the scare tactics.
Five (5) areas to consider for your healthcare data storage strategy
- How are you currently protecting your data? Files/Apps/Email/VMs
- How much data are you protecting
- What are you backing your data up to? Disk/Tape/Cloud/Combination
- What is your current Disaster Recovery strategy? Replicating Onsite/Offsite/Appliances
- What is your archiving strategy? How much data do you need to archive?
- Are there any data governance policies in place for your date? Retention/E-discovery/Compliance
Are you ready to have a comprehensive discussion about your data storage needs? Contact us here?
