Disaster recovery is an essential service that all healthcare companies need as they can lose valuable data in a multitude of ways, whether it is through human error, malware, viruses, or even a natural disaster. Remaining HIPAA-compliant (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) while being able to restore lost data is one of the top priorities for healthcare providers. Fortunately, the use of data retrieval software can enable you to restore valuable information while also remaining HIPAA-compliant. The use of backup solutions will give you the latest protection from the wide variety of threats. Here are a few ways to remain HIPAA-compliant while you retrieve data:
Prepare a Plan
Do you have a plan in place in case disaster strikes? Are your employees fully trained in the event of mass data loss? Understanding how to react to a crisis is the first step in developing a solid plan. As you know, healthcare providers that fail to follow HIPAA regulations are subject to costly fines and can ultimately be shut down. It is important to develop a contingency plan that takes into account the importance of HIPAA compliance in the retrieval of data. This plan typically includes a data backup plan, emergency operations, testing procedures, analysis of data, and a recovery plan. Fully understanding these processes will enable your employees to be fully prepared in the event of a disaster or a mass data failure. Inability to have a well thought out of plan can result in mass confusion and loss of critical data.
Enforce Infrastructure
Are you looking for new ways to improve infrastructure and avoid costly downtime? In order to remain HIPAA-compliant, it is important to protect the availability, confidentiality, and the integrity of each patient’s files. Regularly updating your infrastructure will enable you to have the latest software that can retrieve lost data without violating any HIPAA laws. Providing routine maintenance can save you much needed time and money while also avoiding costly HIPAA violations. As you know, hospitals operate around the clock and using the latest software updates can help prevent most data breaches while also being able to retrieve any information that was lost.
Fail Over Testing
One of the primary keys to disaster recovery is failover testing. Fail over testing allows you to test critical data backup procedures while being able to analyze how data is retrieved. These tests can enable you to find any weaknesses in the recovery process that can be improved upon. Regular testing will ensure that you are properly prepared in the event of real data loss and allow you to modify procedures while remaining HIPAA-compliant. Ultimately, this will create a much smoother retrieval process if an emergency ever occurs.
As you can see, remaining HIPAA-compliant through disaster recovery is an essential element for all healthcare providers. Idealstor is a company that specializes in retrieving valuable data that has been destroyed or accidentally deleted. Whether you are a large or small healthcare provider, we believe that we can help you restore valuable data while still remaining in compliance with HIPAA. Contact us today and our specially trained staff will be glad to answer any questions or concerns. Let us help keep your information safe and secure with the latest technology.