IP Pathways Offers Tips for Meeting HIPAA and PCI Regulations

Urbandale, IA, January 3, 2017 (Newswire.com) - ​​IP Pathways, an IT services provider specializing in helping organizations make technology more efficient, secure and affordable, is offering advice to small and medium-sized businesses regarding Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance as well as a free compliance assessment through the end of January 2017. The goal of both is to educate businesses on the mistakes companies often make regarding compliance, as well as recommend simple IT improvements and security updates that can remedy them.

According to Joe Shields, President at IP Pathways, “Headlines are filled with reports of data breaches. Organizations in virtually every industry are dealing with increasing threats from hackers, viruses and ransomware, making compliance with standards like HIPAA and PCI more important than ever. Our goal is to help companies overcome industry-related challenges and deploy successful compliance measures that keep their information safe.”

Top Three HIPAA and PCI Mistakes that Companies Make

1.     Not Fully Understanding Compliance

One of the first mistakes happens because companies don’t fully understand the guidelines, or that there are differences between HIPAA, PCI, FERPA and other compliance standards. Just because your IT systems pass PCI compliance, doesn’t mean they’ll pass HIPAA.

2.     Paying Too Little Attention to Physical Security

When data breaches are reported on the news, they often talk about card processing software or data servers being hacked. But, more often than not, companies find themselves in violation of HIPAA or PCI compliance due to violations of common sense physical security. Employees writing down information like passwords, social security numbers and credit card data—even with good intentions—can be the “in” that a hacker or identity thief needs.

3.     Failing to Identify Weak Points

Sometimes, companies get so worried about the fines and repercussions of a failed HIPAA or PCI audit that they end up placing compliance over real security. Often, this results in unintentionally creating weak spots that can be exploited. It’s vital that both software and hardware are secure, and that the same level of security exists across all systems. Additionally, organizations should evaluate the security of their Internet service provider and the computers/servers used to manage and store sensitive data.

The cost and burden of maintaining HIPAA and PCI compliance can be substantial and companies need to consider the financial and PR damage that a violation can cause. For this reason, IP Pathways recommends getting assistance from a third-party expert that can examine the company’s systems and policies to ensure they meet all relevant standards.

“A managed IT company that specializes in HIPAA and PCI compliance is usually your best bet,” said Joe Shields. “A managed services provider can alleviate this burden by handling across-the-board digital security on your behalf, plus evaluate policies and educate employees about their security responsibilities. Overall, when you look at managed services as an investment against potential violations or PR disasters, the price is really minimal.”

Organizations that are interested in IP Pathways performing a free compliance assessment to identify potential vulnerabilities and recommend options for getting and staying compliant can sign up online or call 515-422-9300.

About IP Pathways

IP Pathways provides IT hardware and software, data center, cloud, professional and managed services, and hybrid IT solutions to small, medium-sized and enterprise customers throughout the Midwest. Our award-winning engineering team designs, implements, monitors, supports and manages private and hybrid cloud solutions for your data center, our data center or any data center. Named by CRN Magazine in 2015 as one of the 250 most-certified, 500 largest and 100 fastest-growing IT service providers in North America, IP Pathways helps IT move at the speed of business. For more information about IP Pathways and its IT support solutions, visit them online or call 515-422-9300.

MEDIA CONTACT

Joe Shields
​President, IP Pathways
515-422-9300

Source: IP Pathways