Category: HIPAA

Cybersecurity Essentials for Medical

Protecting patient data and ensuring the security of your medical practice’s IT infrastructure is more critical than ever. With cyber threats constantly evolving, implementing strong cybersecurity measures is not just a good practice—it’s essential for maintaining patient trust, complying with regulations, and safeguarding your practice’s reputation.

The Growing Threat to Healthcare

Healthcare organizations are prime targets for cybercriminals due to the valuable nature of patient data. In recent years, the healthcare industry has experienced a surge in cyberattacks, with data breaches affecting millions of patients and costing healthcare providers billions of dollars.

Essential Cybersecurity Measures:

To protect your medical practice from these threats, consider implementing the following cybersecurity essentials:

Firewalls: A robust firewall acts as the first line of defense against unauthorized access to your network. It monitors incoming and outgoing traffic, blocking potential threats before they can infiltrate your systems.

Antivirus Software: Comprehensive antivirus solutions are crucial for detecting and preventing malware, ransomware, and other malicious software that could compromise patient data. Modern antivirus programs use advanced techniques like machine learning to identify and neutralize emerging threats in real-time.

Data Encryption: Encrypting sensitive patient information, both at rest and in transit, ensures that even if data is intercepted, it remains unreadable and unusable to unauthorized parties. This is particularly important for maintaining HIPAA compliance.

Regular Software Updates: Keeping all systems and software up-to-date with the latest security patches is vital for addressing known vulnerabilities and protecting against new threats.

Employee Training: Your staff is often the first line of defense against cyberattacks. Regular cybersecurity training can help employees recognize phishing attempts, practice good password hygiene, and follow proper data handling procedures.

The Role of Managed IT Services

While these measures are essential, implementing and maintaining a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy can be challenging for many medical practices. This is where managed IT services come into play. Managed IT service providers, like Farmhouse Networking, offer expertise and resources to ensure your practice’s cybersecurity measures are robust, up-to-date, and compliant with industry regulations. Here’s how managed IT can protect your patient data:

24/7 Monitoring and Threat Detection: Continuous surveillance of your network to identify and respond to potential threats before they cause damage.
Automated Updates and Patch Management: Ensuring all systems and software are current with the latest security updates.
Data Backup and Disaster Recovery: Implementing comprehensive backup solutions and disaster recovery plans to safeguard patient data in case of a breach or system failure.
Compliance Management: Helping your practice stay compliant with HIPAA and other relevant regulations through regular audits and updates to security protocols.
Advanced Security Solutions: Implementing enterprise-grade security measures that might be out of reach for smaller practices managing IT in-house.

In an era where cyber threats are constantly evolving, partnering with a managed IT service provider is one of the most effective ways to ensure your medical practice’s cybersecurity stays ahead of the curve. Farmhouse Networking offers comprehensive IT solutions tailored specifically for healthcare providers, combining local expertise with cutting-edge technology to keep your patient data safe and your practice secure. Don’t wait for a breach to occur before taking action. Call us at (541) 761-9549 or visit our website at www.farmhousenetworking.com to schedule a consultation.

How to Prepare for Windows 10 End of Life

As the end of support for Windows 10 approaches in about a year on October 14, 2025, it’s crucial for businesses to start preparing for the transition. This article will guide you through the essential steps to ensure a smooth and secure move to the next phase of your computing experience.

Understanding Windows 10 End of Life

Windows 10 End of Life (EOL) marks the point when Microsoft will cease providing updates, security patches, and technical support for the operating system. This event is significant because it leaves users vulnerable to security risks, compatibility issues with newer software and hardware, and non-compliant with standards like HIPAA, PCI, and CMMC.

Key Steps to Prepare

Assess Your Current Setup: Before making any changes, take stock of your current system:

Identify all devices running Windows 10
Check hardware specifications to make sure old computers are compatible
List essential software and applications

Evaluate Upgrade Options: Consider these alternatives:

Upgrading to Windows 11 for free (if your hardware supports it)
Purchasing new devices with the latest operating system to replace older ones

Plan for Software Compatibility: Ensure your critical applications will work post-transition:

Check compatibility with newer operating systems
Contact software vendors for upgrade options
Consider alternative software solutions if needed

Train Your Team: If you’re managing a business environment:

Educate employees about the upcoming changes
Provide training on new systems or procedures
Establish a support system for the transition period

Set a Timeline: Create a realistic schedule for your transition:

Set milestones for each phase of the preparation
Allow ample time for testing and troubleshooting
Plan for potential downtime during the switch

Financial Considerations: Budgeting for the transition is crucial:

Allocate funds for new hardware if needed
Account for potential software upgrade costs
Consider the long-term cost benefits of modernizing your IT infrastructure

Security Implications: Understand the risks of running an unsupported OS:

Increased vulnerability to malware and cyber attacks
Potential compliance issues for regulated industries
Lack of technical support for critical issues

Remember, a well-planned transition not only safeguards your system but also opens up opportunities for improved performance and productivity. Take the first step now: conduct an inventory of your Windows 10 devices and begin researching upgrade paths. Your future self will thank you for your foresight and preparation.

Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare for Windows 10 End of Life. Start your transition plan today to ensure a secure and efficient computing environment for the future. Let Farmhouse Networking do the heavy lifting by assessing your needs, exploring your options, and taking proactive steps to protect your digital assets.

HIPAA Compliance and Managed IT for Healthcare

Ensuring the privacy and security of patient information is paramount. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets stringent standards for protecting sensitive patient data. For medical practices, staying compliant with HIPAA regulations can be a daunting task, especially with the increasing complexity of IT systems. This is where a Managed IT Service Provider (MSP) can play a crucial role. In this blog, we’ll explore how partnering with an MSP can help your medical practice remain compliant with HIPAA regulations for data privacy and security.

Understanding HIPAA Compliance

HIPAA compliance involves adhering to a set of rules and regulations designed to safeguard Protected Health Information (PHI). These rules are divided into several key areas:

Privacy Rule: Governs the use and disclosure of PHI.
Security Rule: Establishes standards for protecting electronic PHI (ePHI) through administrative, physical, and technical safeguards.
Breach Notification Rule: Requires covered entities to notify affected individuals, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and, in some cases, the media, of a breach of unsecured PHI.
Enforcement Rule: Outlines the penalties for non-compliance and the procedures for investigations and hearings.

The Role of Managed IT in HIPAA Compliance

A Managed IT Service Provider can offer a range of services that help ensure your medical practice remains compliant with HIPAA regulations. Here are some key ways an MSP can assist:

Risk Assessment and Management: HIPAA requires regular risk assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities in your IT systems. An MSP can conduct comprehensive risk assessments to:

Identify and evaluate risks to ePHI.
Implement measures to mitigate identified risks.
Continuously monitor and update risk management strategies.

Data Encryption and Secure Communication: Encrypting ePHI is a critical component of HIPAA compliance. An MSP can implement robust encryption protocols to ensure that data is protected both at rest and in transit. Additionally, they can set up secure communication channels, such as encrypted email, secure messaging platforms, and encrypted file sharing, to protect sensitive information.

Access Control and Authentication: HIPAA mandates strict access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel can access ePHI. An MSP can help by:

Implementing role-based access controls (RBAC).- all users in a group and only specific groups get access to specific things
Setting up multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security.
Regularly reviewing and updating access permissions.

Backup and Disaster Recovery: Data loss can have severe consequences for HIPAA compliance. An MSP can design and implement a robust backup and disaster recovery plan to ensure that ePHI is regularly backed up and can be quickly restored in the event of data loss or a cyberattack.

Security Awareness Training: Human error is a significant factor in many data breaches. An MSP can provide ongoing security awareness training for your staff to:

Educate them about HIPAA regulations and the importance of data privacy.
Teach best practices for identifying and responding to potential security threats.
Conduct regular phishing simulations to test and improve staff vigilance.

Continuous Monitoring and Incident Response: HIPAA requires continuous monitoring of IT systems to detect and respond to security incidents promptly. An MSP can offer:

24/7 monitoring of your IT infrastructure.
Advanced threat detection and response solutions.
Incident response planning and execution to minimize the impact of security breaches.

Benefits of Partnering with a Managed IT Provider

Partnering with an MSP for HIPAA compliance offers several benefits:

Expertise: MSPs have specialized knowledge and experience in healthcare IT and HIPAA regulations.
Cost-Effectiveness: Outsourcing IT management can be more cost-effective than maintaining an in-house IT team.
Focus on Core Activities: With IT management in the hands of experts, your medical practice can focus on providing quality patient care.
Scalability: MSPs can scale their services to meet the growing needs of your practice.

Ensuring HIPAA compliance is a complex but essential task for any medical practice. By partnering with a Managed IT Service Provider, you can leverage their expertise and resources to safeguard patient data, mitigate risks, and maintain compliance with HIPAA regulations. This not only protects your practice from potential penalties but also builds trust with your patients, knowing their sensitive information is in safe hands. For medical practices looking to navigate the intricacies of HIPAA compliance, a Managed IT Service Provider like Farmhouse Networking can be an invaluable ally in maintaining the highest standards of data privacy and security.

Website Filtering for Business: Strengthening Your Cybersecurity Defenses

Businesses are faced with an ever-growing number of cybersecurity threats. One effective method to protect your organization’s sensitive data and network is implementing website filtering. Website filtering solutions offer businesses an essential tool to manage and safeguard their networks, ensuring employees are protected from accessing malicious or inappropriate websites. We will explore the importance of website filtering for business cybersecurity and provide practical insights for implementation.

Understanding Website Filtering:

Website filtering is an advanced security measure that enables organizations to control the websites that can be accessed by their employees. This essential cybersecurity practice helps mitigate risks associated with malware, phishing attacks, and overall data breaches. Through the implementation of website filtering, businesses can proactively manage internet usage, reduce network congestion, and improve productivity.

Benefits of Website Filtering:

Enhanced Network Security:
By filtering out potentially harmful websites, businesses can significantly reduce the risk of malware infiltration, phishing attempts, and other cyber threats. Website filtering acts as a vital line of defense, preventing employees from inadvertently accessing websites hosting malicious content and safeguarding sensitive corporate data.
Regulatory Compliance:
As the healthcare industry is subject to strict compliance regulations, implementing website filtering can help organizations maintain adherence to industry-specific regulations such as HIPAA. By blocking access to unauthorized websites or content, businesses ensure they are aligning with compliance requirements, reducing the potential for fines or legal repercussions.
Increased Employee Productivity:
Unrestricted internet access often leads to time-wasting activities, reducing overall productivity within the organization. With website filtering, businesses can minimize distractions by blocking access to social media platforms, gaming websites, or other non-work-related sites, fostering a more focused work environment.
Bandwidth Optimization:
Streaming services and large media files can significantly impact network bandwidth, leading to slower connections and decreased productivity. Website filtering helps alleviate this strain by allowing organizations to control access to bandwidth-intensive websites or file-sharing platforms, optimizing network performance.

Choosing the Right Website Filtering Solution:

When selecting a website filtering solution, organizations should consider the following:

Granular Control:
Look for a solution that offers granular control, allowing you to tailor website filtering policies to specific departments or individual users. This flexibility ensures that employees only have access to relevant websites and content necessary for their job roles.
Real-Time Updates:
The cybersecurity landscape evolves rapidly, with new threats emerging constantly. Ensure your chosen website filtering solution offers AI powered real-time updates and threat intelligence to protect against the latest risks effectively.
User-Friendly Interface:
Implementing a user-friendly website filtering solution simplifies management. Look for a solution with an intuitive interface that enables easy configuration and monitoring of website filtering policies.

Potential Challenges and Mitigation Strategies:

While website filtering can provide numerous benefits, there are potential challenges to consider:

False Positives:
Overzealous website filtering policies can sometimes lead to legitimate websites being inaccurately blocked, causing frustration for employees. Regularly review and fine-tune filtering policies to minimize the risk of false positives, striking a balance between security and productivity.
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Environments:
There is an increasing reliance on personal devices to access corporate networks. Ensure that your website filtering solution extends to cover such devices and effectively enforces security policies, mitigating the risk of potential threats from unsecured devices.
Ongoing Maintenance and Monitoring:
Website filtering requires ongoing maintenance and monitoring to ensure optimal performance and adaptability to emerging threats. Assign dedicated IT staff or consider a managed service provider (MSP) like Farmhouse Networking to oversee the implementation, management, and updates of your website filtering solution.

Website filtering is a critical component of any business’s cybersecurity strategy, providing robust protection against web-based threats and enhancing network security. Farmhouse Networking provides website filtering service to all our monthly managed clients at no additional cost. Sign-up today to become cyber secure.

Our Pricing Explained

We have received numerous inquiries from potential customers regarding our pricing structure. Specifically, they want to know if we offer monthly contracts or if we charge an hourly rate. The answer is Yes.

Hourly Rate

For customers who require a one-time fix or need a project completed, we offer a service based on an hourly rate. Our rate for remote or on-site work that is not covered under a contract is $150 per hour. We bill in 15-minute increments and take pride in our efficiency. For clients with more than 2 service requests per month, we highly recommend signing up for a contract to save money and benefit from our expert oversight.

Monthly Contracts

There are three types of monthly contracts:

Remote Maintenance Contract

This is the package that most of our clients choose. It includes automated maintenance, cyber security protections, and unlimited remote support. Since most problems and questions can be handled remotely, this package offers real value.

Full Service Maintenance Contract

This package is for clients who want complete peace of mind. It includes all services, whether remote or at their offices. Additionally, it provides some additional benefits, such as top priority in our support queue.

Co-Managed IT Contract

This special package is designed for companies that already have a full-time IT employee or IT service companies in need of extra help. It provides them with the necessary automations and tools to make their jobs easier, allowing them to focus on what matters. This package also includes a discount on our remote and on-site services.

All contracts are based on a per-device model, taking into account the number of workstations, printers, servers, switches, etc. on the client’s network. We use this model because the other popular model, per user, is too vague and can easily hide excessive profit margins. Contracts can be month-to-month or a yearly commitment. The difference is that with a yearly commitment, you are protected from price increases for the entire year. We also offer many optional add-ons for our clients, such as Office 365, Employee Security Training, Penetration/Vulnerability Scanning, Mobile Device Management, Compliance, Secure Remote Access, and Security Operations Center.

Are you looking for reliable IT support that suits your business’s unique requirements? Look no further! Our flexible pricing options cater to businesses of all sizes. Whether you require one-time assistance or ongoing support, we have the right plan for you. Ready to take your business IT support to the next level? Contact us today to discuss your needs and find the perfect plan for your business.

Compliance Requires Penetration Testing

Compliance is and always has been a complicated matter. Here are the quotes from the three types of compliance – CMMC, HIPAA, and PCI:

“CMMC – Risk Assessment L2-3.11.2 – VULNERABILITY SCAN: Scan for vulnerabilities in organizational systems and applications periodically and when new vulnerabilities affecting those systems and applications are identified.”

“HIPAA – § 164.308 Administrative safeguards. (a)(1)(ii)(A) – Risk analysis (Required). Conduct an accurate and thorough assessment of the potential risks and vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information held by the covered entity or business associate.”

“PCI – 11.3: External and internal vulnerabilities are regularly identified, prioritized, and addressed”

To summarize what this all mean – compliance requires penetration testing and vulnerability scanning. Networks have to be tested regularly to make sure that there has been nothing missed which would allow a hacker to breach the network and steal the treasure of information. Our recommendation is to scan at least quarterly, if not monthly, to find these vulnerabilities and address them before the hackers find them.

If your company has compliance requirements that you need consulting for, then contact us for assistance.

A Medical Office’s Journey to the Cloud

Today we tell the story of a medical office’s journey to the cloud. This particular client was facing their server operating system reaching end of support (a HIPAA violation) in the near future. They had begun by looking at their electronic medical records software company’s online offering, which didn’t have all the functionality of their on-premises software and was very expensive (this is typical).

They next decided to look into moving their current on-premises software into the cloud and we were asked to help with the testing. We determined that it would be best to move the file portion of the server to SharePoint / OneDrive to increase their mobility and flexibility. We also determined that it would be best to move them away from on premises Active Directory into Azure Active Directory / Intune to allow authentication and security policies. Finally we began testing the on-premises software hosted on a server in Azure with a VPN connection to their office.

The SharePoint / OneDrive and Azure Active Directory portions went through with little issues. The server, however, was not as we had hoped. The Azure VPN connection was expensive due to it always being on and no way of turning it off outside of business hours. The performance of the SQL database that the on-premises software used was basically unusable. The other option would be to create virtual desktops on Azure for this purpose but the cost and functionality was not what the customer was hoping for.

This has lead them back to searching for an online EMR software that will meet all their requirements. This will be tough because most companies are good at some things, but not all things and compromises usually have to be made. Our hope is that this story is a lesson to other companies. The cloud may sound like the newest and best way to work, but the costs and functionality are often worse than expected.

If your company is going to use full disk encryption or has compliance requirements that you need consulting for, then contact us for assistance.

Zero Trust – Cyber Security Audit

This is the tenth and finale in a series about the concept of Zero Trust, which means in the IT sense that you trust nothing and always verify everything surrounding and connected to your network. Today’s discussion will be on Cyber Security Audit.

Cyber Security Audit

Cyber Security Audit is a process where both internal and external systems are tested for their ability and susceptibility to being successfully attacked by hackers. This usually involves an inventory of current systems, research into known vulnerabilities, and testing of those found to see what information can be accessed. Once this process is complete a report is generated to detail both what is found and how those vulnerabilities can be addressed to protect the business’ most valuable commodity – information (intellectual property and client data). Here are some questions to ask:

Do you have an inventory of all assets in your organization? Is it up to date?
Have you tested your internal network for vulnerabilities?
Have you had a penetration test performed on your external network?
Do you know what compliance standards apply?
How do you document policies and procedures? Who oversees that?

If your company is wanting to have a free cyber security audit, then contact us for assistance.

Zero Trust – Software Patching

This is the seventh in a series about the concept of Zero Trust, which means in the IT sense that you trust nothing and always verify everything surrounding and connected to your network. Today’s discussion will be on software patching.

Software Patching

Software patching is a neccesity because no person who writes code is perfect and hackers are actively looking for these mistakes. The hackers find the mistakes and then develop ways of using these to exploit the software, computer, or whatever else they can gain access to. The only way to combat both the mistakes and the exploits is to discover them before the hackers do and patch the hole in the software. This patch can however lead to unforseen consequences to the software, so a plan for testing and deployment of patches is needed to avoid unexpected downtime to businesses.Here are some questions to ask:

Do you know all of the hardware and software on your network?
Do you check for hardware, operating system, and other software regularly?
How do you check for updates, patches, or upgrades to software?
How do you install these patches? Is it automated?
Are these patches tested before installation?
What happens if a patch causes problems?
Do you have a log of all installed updates?
Are any systems or software on your network no longer supported for updates?

If your company is going to use full disk encryption or has compliance requirements that you need consulting for, then contact us for assistance.

Never Negotiate with Terrorists

There has been a recent trend for companies to “negotiate” with the criminal terrorists behind wave of ransomware attacks across the world by paying the ransom. In a recent study some alarming statistics have been released:

Current Ransomware Stats

If Ransom is Paid: The global findings also show that only 8% of organizations manage to get back all of their data after paying a ransom, with 29% getting back no more than half of their data.

Cost of Ransom: The average ransom paid was $170,404. While $3.2 million was the highest payment out of those surveyed, the most common payment was $10,000. Ten organizations paid ransoms of $1 million or more.

Who is Paying the Ransom: The number of organizations that paid the ransom increased from 26% in 2020 to 32% in 2021.

The Brighter Side: While the number of organizations that experienced a ransomware attack fell from 51% of respondents surveyed in 2020 to 37% in 2021, and fewer organizations suffered data encryption as the result of a significant attack (54% in 2021 compared to 73% in 2020).

What is Being Done

There are now organizations trying to create a common framework to address this threat. The Institute for Security and Technology has created a Ransomware Task Force. This task force has been working to develop this framework and has published some guidance. Even though this is just the foundation work, it is good to see that efforts are being made.

If your company is worried about the threat of ransomware, then contact us for assistance setting up a multiple layer approach to security.