In light of recent ransomware attacks on global organizations, specifically the WannaCry malware that affected the National Health Service in the UK, we know that you may have concerns about how we are managing your data and what systems we have in place to protect it. Information security continues to be of utmost importance to us and we would like to explain more about the recent attacks, ongoing threats, and how we’re protecting you.
Ransomware, like the recent WannaCry virus and prior cyberattacks, is malicious software that hijacks a device and makes it impossible to retrieve any stored data unless the user pays a fee to the cybercriminals responsible. These threats usually come in the form of an innocent-looking email or attachment that can spread quickly through shared networks.
Is data hosted with Medical Web Experts well protected?
Yes.
The WannaCry virus affects networks running outdated versions of the Windows operating system, but your data is stored on servers that run on optimized GNU/Linux operating systems. We keep all protected health information on these dedicated servers with several additional layers of security, including firewalls and data encryption.
In addition to these precautions, we regularly back up our servers to ensure that your files are never lost, even in the event of a breach. Even though our employees use Windows PCs, all of our computers are protected by auxiliary firewalls that prevent undesired third-party access. We also have a policy in place to automatically apply all security updates as soon as they become available. Data security is always our highest priority.
Additional steps your office can take to prevent malicious attacks
Although our systems are designed to protect your data, you and your colleagues also play a key role in protecting your organization from these kinds of threats. In order to ensure that your information remains safe, you can:
- Only open attachments/links from reliable sources
- Enable and install automatic updates on all network devices
- Confirm that your network has a firewall with strict security rules
- Backup any files saved on local devices daily
- Make sure all PHI is stored on encrypted servers and not on any local devices
- Protect all devices on your network with up-to-date anti-virus software
- Maintain separate networks for internal office use and guest access
- Task system administrators with staying current on security bulletins
At Medical Web Experts, we place the highest value on your organization’s data security. If you have any additional concerns or questions about the safety of your information, please contact your account manager – we are happy to address them.
