Network management encompasses many different areas, including performance management, fault identification, network provisioning and maintaining the quality of service. As the size and complexity of networks grow through new technologies, network managers are facing new challenges. Today, networks must handle more traffic moving in more directions from more devices. While each new connection provides more capabilities, they also create added potential vulnerabilities for network professionals to manage. The size and complexity of network management have led many companies to outsource their management to experienced third parties.

Here are some of the top challenges of IT managers in network management today across the following four categories — network security, configuration management, cost and network performance.

1. Network Security

Maintaining network security requires constant vigilance and the ability to respond to always-evolving threats. Today, network boundaries exceed traditional on-site perimeters, making it harder to protect against threats. Blocking unauthorized outside traffic is not enough to protect data, as threats can enter the network through phishing emails and insider attacks.

Service attacks don’t even have to connect to succeed, and while encryption helps to protect data, it also makes it more difficult to monitor activity on the IT network. Many firms use numerous data protection tools and must ensure they work together for maximum effectiveness. Using multiple tools in this way requires increased management and monitoring.

Data Breaches on the Rise

Data breaches are a significant threat to today’s businesses, and their associated costs are rising. According to IBM’s 2023 Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average global cost of a breach reached $4.45 million in 2023. The numbers are even more startling when narrowed specifically to the healthcare industry, with the average cost of a breach exceeding $10 million. The mean size of a breach has also increased steadily over the past seven years, with over 133 million records exposed in 2023.

More Users, Devices and IP-Based Systems

The growing number of users and devices on each network is making managing security more challenging. In addition to employees, security teams have to contend with unmanaged users such as business partners. Employees are also using more mobile devices, both managed and unmanaged. As virtualized software becomes more common, more employees are using their personal devices for work — a trend called bring your own device (BYOD). Protecting unmanaged devices creates new challenges, as the company does not control every aspect of these devices. 

Additionally, many users access personal emails on their devices, and less tech-savvy ones could easily introduce malware to their phone or tablet’s operating system. Once compromised, it’s easier for bad actors to gain system entry through piggybacking on legitimate user sessions.

The growth of internet protocol (IP)-based applications and systems — such as voice over internet protocol (VoIP), virtual desktop infrastructure and IP-based storage — also means that security teams have more endpoints and access points to monitor. As the network expands and becomes more complex, it becomes increasingly difficult to monitor traffic.

Constantly Evolving Threats

Cybercriminals are constantly coming up with new ways to infiltrate and disrupt networks, meaning businesses also need to continually improve how they protect their networks and data from cyber attacks. Because of this ever-changing threat landscape, cybersecurity requires constant attention and resources. Network managers need to stay current with the latest cybersecurity incidents, technologies and trends to keep their networks safe.

To reduce their risks, organizations should conduct penetration testing to determine where their security weaknesses are. Modern businesses also need to embrace advanced security tools that incorporate artificial intelligence, automation and other technologies and keep those tools updated.

Regulations

The changing regulatory landscape also presents challenges. Companies must keep up with regulation changes and ensure compliance with state and national laws, industry standards and international regulations. Healthcare companies must follow HIPAA and many other regulations. Recently, many companies have had to adjust to the introduction of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and some states are introducing similar laws. Complying with the various applicable regulations can be complex and expensive, but it’s necessary for successful network management and security. Proper network management can help support regulatory compliance by strengthening a business’s security posture.

2. Configuration Management

Another challenging area of IT network management is configuration management, which involves gathering and maintaining information about all the components within a computer network. This information includes the network address or IP address of every hardware device, information about default settings and which programs are installed on network devices.

Whenever the network requires repair, expansion, upgrading or modification, the configuration management database will help you determine how to approach changes. Activities involved in network configuration management include:

• Troubleshooting.
• Device discovery
• IT network inventory management
• Configuration database backup
• Change monitoring
• Compliance support
• User activity tracking 

Expanding Networks and More Devices

As with security, the increasing size of the typical network is another substantial challenge with configuration management. As the number of devices on each network grows, keeping all information and settings up to date can be an issue, and devices can sometimes conflict with one another.

One reason for the growing number of devices is the Internet of Things (IoT), which refers to the numerous connected devices, from smart thermostats to industrial machines to wearables. 

In 2023, there were 15.8 billion connected devices worldwide, and that figure is expected to soar to 39.6 billion by 2033. Beyond the challenge of the sheer volume of devices, the advent of IoT technology means network configuration managers now need to track a much wider variety of device types and keep them up to date, functional and secure.

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is another rapidly growing segment. As of 2024, the market has a value of $114.09 billion, and experts predict it will almost double to $238.49 billion by 2029. 

Network configuration managers have to figure out how to keep track of BYOD devices and integrate them into their management system. Employees may bring a wide range of devices into work, and the company can’t manage every aspect of these devices. Accounting for each device is still crucial, however, for network configuration management and security.

Despite these challenges, it’s essential that firms prioritize configuration management. Issues with network configuration negatively impact network performance, result in noncompliance with regulatory standards and compromise network security.

3. Cost and Available Budget

As more business functions move onto the network, companies need to upgrade their networks to add capacity and new capabilities. In addition to traditional IT applications, networks now need to handle other business services, like telephony and video conferencing, which require improved network bandwidth. Multimedia applications also require the addition of multicasting protocols, new endpoint devices require autoconfiguration protocols and adding new services to shared network infrastructure requires the introduction of IP virtualization features.

Adding these capabilities to the network, however, is expensive and often time-consuming. You may need to:

• Introduce new hardware to increase bandwidth
• Deploy new software releases onto existing hardware
• Update configuration on existing infrastructure to enable new protocols
• Upgrade cabling to higher-spec cable types
• Hire experts to help with setting up and managing network features

Even as more demand is placed on IT, there is a push to reduce the cost of ownership of network infrastructure. This means IT staff need to figure out how to improve the network and add capabilities without significantly increasing costs — or sometimes even while cutting costs.

Companies can’t afford to sacrifice proper network management to reduce costs, as it’s crucial to business success. The cost of downtime, data leaks and other issues can easily result in much higher costs than those of upgrading and maintaining the network. Limited budgets can make it difficult to maintain network security, yet many organizations are trimming their IT security budgets. A recent survey of over 2,500 IT professionals worldwide revealed that only 9% of the average business’s IT budget is earmarked for security, and 60% of participants had plans to reduce their current investments.

To help reduce costs, many businesses are turning to third-party network management providers. The complexity of today’s networks means many businesses are spending a significant amount of time and resources on network management, leaving less for their core business activities. Working with an experienced third party that provides network management services can help businesses save money and time and put more focus on their core activities. It’s also important to highlight that investments in IT can drive revenue and improve performance for the company, which helps offset and justify the costs involved.

4. Network Performance

Maintaining network performance is a crucial part of network management. Today, businesses rely on their networks more than ever before, and an outage can mean significant losses. Recent studies have pinpointed the average cost of downtime at $9,000 per minute. In higher-risk industries like manufacturing and healthcare, these costs can easily exceed $5 million hourly. These numbers don’t include fines, civil or criminal penalties, or the costs of any litigation that could result from lawsuits or noncompliance issues caused by the downtime.

Clearly, ensuring reliable network performance is vital for business success. However, as networks expand and become more complex, doing so is increasingly challenging.

More Traffic and More Complexity

Modern businesses rely on their networks for a huge range of activities, many of which are mission-critical. They’re essential for everything from internal communications to e-commerce sites to marketing campaigns. There’s more activity, and much of this activity — such as video conferencing — demands significant bandwidth from the network. Many businesses, especially online-based ones, also need their network to be available and reliable 24/7.

Today, networks need to handle more traffic from more directions. With more traffic and longer distances between users and services, there is a higher risk of poor network performance. Businesses need to have the right equipment and the right network management processes in place to ensure consistently high levels of reliability.

Ensuring adequate network performance requires careful bandwidth, latency and packet loss management because problems can occur if they drop even slightly below tolerance thresholds. Those managing the network need to constantly monitor network performance in real time and have the visibility to determine the bandwidth used by each application and the associated IP addresses. They must also efficiently troubleshoot and assess whether the network is ready for new services before deployment.

Time Spent Troubleshooting

Networks play a crucial role in strategic business initiatives, but network professionals often struggle to find the time to work on them because they need to spend so much time troubleshooting issues across the network. As networks become larger and more complex, troubleshooting becomes more time-consuming, especially with limited visibility and control.

To ensure network professionals have time to work on business initiatives in addition to troubleshooting, businesses can:

• Work with a third-party expert: There are many benefits to outsourcing network management tasks to a trusted and experienced provider, including access to expertise and cost-effective, customized strategies.
• Improve their IT network management tools: Introducing sophisticated solutions like artificial intelligence can help automate some routine and time-consuming troubleshooting tasks.
• Increase IT resources and personnel: Organizations can consider these options if their budget allows for new technology or team expansion.

Healthcare Network Management Solutions From Prelude Services

Today’s businesses face various network management challenges related to security, configuration management, costs and performance. As you navigate the quickly shifting business and tech environments, remember that Prelude Services is here to help. We provide network management, security IT strategic planning and around-the-clock support to healthcare companies across the U.S. Some of the IT network management services and solutions we provide include:

• Management tools that track usage trends across your network and alert our team when it needs an upgrade to maintain peak performance and security
• Design tools that help in planning upgrades and expansions to enable your network to grow with your company and introduce new capabilities
• Internet monitoring tools that prevent malicious software from entering your network from online sources, preventing potential damage to your business and saving your network managers time and resources
• Security tools that detect any malicious software on your network and alert our managers, so we can quickly address the issue and prevent damage
• Network backup and failover capabilities to ensure you don’t lose data in the event of a disaster, protecting your business and your data subjects

Partner With Prelude Services for IT Network Management Services

We help hundreds of senior living, long-term care, skilled nursing, community service, affordable housing and other healthcare organizations countrywide, set up their IT networks, protect their electronic health records and ensure HIPAA compliance. We take pride in supporting our clients so that they can better serve their communities. To learn more about how our services resolve the top challenges facing network management, contact us today.

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Network scope and shape have been quickly evolving for the past several years, and changes continue to accelerate as new technologies emerge. With the modern reliance on mobile devices and the Internet of Things (IoT), network organization and security are leagues different from what they were even a decade ago. To help businesses prepare for the future of network security and identify the potential direction network technology is taking, Prelude has identified trends in network management, security and organization so enterprises can start taking steps to prepare for the future these technologies will bring.

What’s Changing With Network Management?

Five shifts and advancements impacting the direction of network management include:

1. Businesses Are Moving on From Wireless Network Controllers

Wireless network controllers evolved as a way to consolidate the functions of wireless network management into a single tool. However, they are quickly becoming obsolete due to their relatively high parts costs and their largely unnecessary function. As networks increasingly focus on simplicity and streamlining, such accessories will no longer be needed. In fact, many controllers at the forefront of cutting-edge technology less than a decade ago have now reached end-of-life and end-of-support status. The obsolescence of such items means organizations need to prepare and make changes to pertinent technologies as soon as possible.

2. Ethernet Switch Speed Keeps Expanding

Switches will remain within network organizations, as they provide power and connection at access points, but they will expand in per-port speed. Currently, switch speeds can vary widely depending on the type and the cables they leverage. Fast Ethernet (FE) switches typically provide speeds up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps), while Gigabit Ethernet (GE) switches can deliver speeds from 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) to 800 Gbps when supported by fiber-optic cable. Though the path to accomplishing this will be expensive, functionality and speed will improve significantly with such changes, making them valuable for businesses to implement.

3. The Cloud Migration Continues

The cloud has revolutionized information technology across numerous industries, and organizations of every size are leveraging cloud-based technology to transform operations. Virtualization and software-defined networking are now the golden standards of modern IT network management, and this push will continue well into the future. Cloud-based network management software allows companies to manage their networks reliably from anywhere and also makes it possible for network management to be adeptly handled by third-party providers rather than network users. With this technology, network management service providers will become more common, allowing businesses to cut costs significantly while still ensuring high performance.

More businesses, especially healthcare organizations, are also adopting hybrid cloud solutions. This mix of private and public clouds delivers the agility and budget-friendliness necessary to meet their operational needs while supporting compliance. IT experts can carefully configure the network to ensure which applications deploy in which environment to manage data flow and user access according to regulations.

4. Uptime and Transfer Rates Take Priority

As companies and their customers become increasingly dependent on data and connectivity, the threat of downtime will increase. Minutes of downtime and slow transfer rates will quickly turn customers off, so ensuring 100% uptime will continue to be an essential consideration in network monitoring in the future. Wi-Fi 6 and 5G technologies are instrumental in meeting reliability and data transfer needs, and proper management and network security methods will be essential for ensuring satisfaction and connectivity.

5. Sophisticated Network Management Support Technology Becomes Vital

Artificial intelligence (AI) can do much more than quickly analyze data and generate answers. This technology is advancing us toward self-healing and self-optimizing networks through infrastructure automation. This transformation will substantially boost reliability, security and speed. Expect those improvements to create better user experiences and an increased competitive edge while slashing network management costs.

Similarly, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) bring IT professionals new ways to analyze network data visually and in real-time. These immersive technologies enable more strategic decision-making, practical troubleshooting and improved optimization.

Along with these groundbreaking developments comes an increased focus on tools for advanced observability, the practice of understanding internal activity through examining outputs. With cloud-based and hybrid cloud networks becoming the new norm, sophisticated solutions for gaining transparency and actionable insights are necessary for effective and efficient network management.

The Bottom Line for Businesses

In the future, businesses can expect IT network management and organization to become more advanced yet simpler. The technology will expand and become more complex, but network management for the user will be easy, with self-configuring networks and network management as a service. These benefits will be particularly helpful for the long-term care and senior living markets, which need to ensure excellent speed of service for their customers while keeping healthcare costs down. To experience these benefits, however, businesses need to recognize and make the changes necessary to remain up to date. While it may mean increased costs in the short term, it will mean extensive savings and simplicity in the long term.

Prelude Is More Than Just a Healthcare IT Service Provider

Prelude Services is a trusted healthcare IT network partner that provides innovative information technology services and resources for senior living and long-term care organizations. Established in response to the healthcare industry’s increasing demand for IT services, Prelude aims to provide accessible and secure IT network management solutions that meet the needs of healthcare facilities. With over 700 facilities under our care, we work to provide solutions for our clients and can do the same for you. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you prepare for the future of network management.

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Many senior care communities find adopting and integrating new technology challenging, often with limited resources for doing so as their staff focuses on resident care and comfort. Yet, taking advantage of new and emerging technology can unlock higher efficiency and support your staff and residents’ well-being in multiple ways. Here are some trends in long-term care technology to be aware of today:

Integration Between Technologies

Historically, delivering care meant dealing with gaps in information due to disparate systems and on-premises software. Modern solutions are changing that, as integration between these tools tops 2024 trends in long-term care technology.

Today’s programs and HIPAA-compliant cloud-based computing provide increased visibility across communities and providers, eliminating access issues and information gaps. The result is better resident care and higher organizational efficiency.

Resident Monitoring

Resident monitoring solutions have made great strides over the past few years. The Internet of Things (IoT) allows for fully connected medical devices that deliver real-time patient information to providers. Healthcare professionals can leverage these insights for preventive action and know when a resident needs extra care or support sooner.

Static, in-room solutions like fall sensors are also helping improve staff resource allocation while promoting resident well-being. These sensors learn movement patterns and can proactively detect risks like wandering or falls. Your team can quickly respond and deliver the necessary care without devoting 24/7 one-on-one safety monitoring.

Tech-Supported Personalized Resident Care

With increased data capture, long-term care organizations have more insights into their residents’ overall well-being than ever. Built-in analytics and reporting simplify data collection and analysis for meaningful and actionable information. Long-term care communities can quickly and easily see which activity programs are resonating with their residents to help keep them engaged.

Predictive analytics harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are also revolutionizing healthcare for residents. AI and ML tools can analyze millions of data points in electronic health records and translate them into patterns to predict a resident’s potential risks. These insights help care teams support better patient outcomes through informed decision-making based on the resident’s unique needs.

AI is also driving value in helping residents independently keep up with their care. Technology ensures they remember to eat, drink and take medications in the right dosage at the right time. Automatic staff alerts of irregularities empower teams to spend more time on meaningful interactions and less on tracking meals and medications.

IT Outsourcing

Implementing new technology and supporting users through transitions is frequently challenging for long-term care communities. Working with a third-party expert like Prelude Services is a cost-effective and practical solution. Outsourced information technology services help organizations optimize spending and access industry expertise, among many other benefits.

Partner With Prelude Services for Your Long-Term Care Technology Needs

Prelude offers a comprehensive selection of outsourced IT solutions to meet your organizational needs, boost your community’s cybersecurity and support your users around the clock. We specialize in serving senior living and long-term care providers, partnering with over 700 organizations spanning 40 states. Let’s talk about how we can help your community leverage technology this year and beyond — contact us online to start a conversation today.

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While technology can be vital for nonprofits, organizational leaders must have software expertise and solutions. Many nonprofit employees wear several hats and may lack the IT expertise to handle troubleshooting and other technical aspects. 

With today’s ever-changing technology solutions, nonprofits must have a knowledgeable team to help the organization thrive. Managed service providers allow you to work with a team of experienced IT professionals without the charges and resources an in-house IT team might demand. Whether your nonprofit is an assisted living community, nursing home or healthcare company, this guide explores the benefits of MSPs for nonprofits and how managed IT services work. 

What Are Managed Service Providers? 

A managed service provider is a third-party company that provides an efficient and cost-effective way to help organizations thrive. It improves the user experience, manages cyber risks and supports nonprofit IT operations. MSPs offer a combination of qualified experts, technology and crucial processes to help their clients streamline the conversion funnel and identify areas for improvement. They then apply strategies that make processes faster and more cost-efficient. 

The goal is to increase IT operations, meet priorities and influence a desirable outcome. MSPs impact nonprofits in various areas: 

• Influencing expansion and growth 
• Improving the ROI for IT initiatives 
• Enhancing security and ensuring cyber compliance 
• Aligning technology investments and business priorities 
• Giving your organization more access to expertise and scalability 
• Optimizing business expenses 

Importance of MSPs for Nonprofits 

Nonprofits have unique IT challenges, including limited funding. These organizations sometimes rely on grants and donations to fund their operations, so they must strategically handle and allocate their budget and resources. They should be as productive and efficient as possible to make a widespread impact and fulfill their mission. Like for-profit businesses, they also require protection against cyber threats because they handle sensitive information about donors’ financial records. 

MSPs address all these needs by understanding your organization’s unique processes and creating a tailored solution that helps your establishment stand out. Some services include: 

• Using analytics to attract repeat supporters and participants 
• Securing information from donors or members 
• Optimizing IT costs and support 
• Improving technology investments 

The chief reason nonprofits use managed IT services is to free up time and resources to focus on supporting their community. An MSP can benefit your organization by handling complex IT matters and staying abreast of new technology trends for you. 

Advantages of MSPs for Nonprofits 

Nonprofit organizations can significantly upgrade their operations with new software applications and processes. Why not put your organization on a path that lets you reach and exceed your goals? 

Here are five benefits Prelude Services’ industry-leading expertise can offer your nonprofit organization. 

1. Improved Donor Management 

Your nonprofit should include donor management to keep people invested in your cause. Donor management shows your supporters where their money goes and persuades them to continue giving to your organization. An MSP can offer your nonprofit practical IT solutions to meet and exceed your targets. These can include data analytics to track, monitor and report on your results. Sharing this information with donors wins their trust, helping you bring in more revenue. 

2. Easier Fundraising 

Numerous causes and organizations compete for donors’ attention and support in today’s world. Your nonprofit may find it challenging to stand out in the crowd, especially when donor fatigue becomes an issue. Successful fundraising requires additional time and talent, further straining your limited resources. Keeping donors informed about the impact of their contributions, demonstrating transparency and cultivating personal connections can overcome these challenges.

The best MSPs help you implement technologies that boost your fundraising efforts. This technology can create metrics and goals to enhance your fundraising campaigns. With this information, your managed IT service provider can create a tailored recurrent giving program that lets frequent donors make automated payments. Your organization can bring in reliable monthly funds instead of running multiple fundraising drives, giving your staff and volunteers more time to develop creative campaigns that attract new donors. 

3. Enhanced Security 

According to Statista, 72.7% of organizations experienced ransomware attacks in 2023. These security breaches are only increasing, making it essential to protect your nonprofit against them. Nonprofits may stand out to hackers because of the sensitive information they keep, including donor data, employee information and credit card data. 

If these data breaches occur, donors may lose trust in your organization and choose to support a different cause. A cybercrime against your organization may even result in fines and regulatory action issues. You can avoid these issues by working with an MSP that offers advanced security solutions that go above and beyond your in-house capabilities.

4. Scalability 

Do your fundraising campaigns get more attention during specific times of the year? If so, you might forego IT services until your efforts ramp up. However, the lack of an in-house IT team may be impractical and leave your organization vulnerable to hackers. 

Some MSPs are flexible and allow you to pay only for the services you use. When the time comes, you can upgrade your package to protect your organization from cyber attacks and reduce it during calmer seasons. 

5. Increased Efficiency 

An internal team can often get overwhelmed with IT tasks as your nonprofit grows. They’ll need to handle cyber threats, security patches, system bugs, tech support questions and more. MSPs take a proactive approach to operations and automatically update and patch software to ensure all processes run efficiently, enhancing productivity by reducing downtime.  

Get Managed IT Services for Nonprofits With Prelude Services 

Nonprofits like retirement communities and healthcare centers deserve time to focus on their core tasks to support the community and their cause. Our professionals at Prelude Services offer managed IT services for strategic planning, network engineering, software development and more. Whether you need desktop support or data center computing, contact us for more information about how we can assist you today. 

The post How Nonprofits Benefit From Managed Service Providers  appeared first on Prelude Services.

With the increase of artificial intelligence alone, it’s clear that rapid technological advancement isn’t slowing down anytime soon. The information technology (IT) industry is no exception, particularly as the worldwide revenue for IT outsourcing is projected to reach over $770 billion by 2028. As a provider in the skilled nursing or senior living industry, you’ve likely realized the challenge of keeping up with competitors and business responsibilities while dealing with IT and data analytics.

Managing your IT department in-house can be costly and time-consuming, especially if you require certain technology or expertise that’s out of reach. By understanding how to outsource IT for your healthcare organization, you can focus on scaling your business while third-party providers handle everything from specific functions to all your IT needs.

The Rise of Healthcare IT Outsourcing

The ongoing shortage of healthcare workers continues to put a strain on providers and facilities. Due to the current lack of funding for training and education needed for healthcare professionals, the United States may see a shortage of over 120,000 providers by 2034. Implementing technology and automation is one of the most effective ways to alleviate the healthcare staffing crisis and create a better experience.

For healthcare facilities that may not have the technology or resources to streamline their IT workflows, outsourcing can eliminate much of the manual labor burden. As of 2022, healthcare IT outsourcing services have been in high demand due to the need to manage large amounts of patient data and the complexity of billing and reimbursement processes.

Now more than ever, healthcare providers recognize the benefits of increased operational efficiency, scalability and flexibility by delegating IT functions to third-party service providers. By 2030, the global healthcare outsourcing market size is expected to reach over $680 billion. Partnering with third-party IT vendors can mitigate the challenges of staffing, budget constraints and technology implementation.

What Healthcare IT Services Can You Outsource?

Outsourcing your healthcare IT services to a third-party provider means you’ll gain access to around-the-clock IT support for a variety of processes and tasks essential for your operations. External vendors provide a range of technologies, resources and expertise to streamline and standardize your IT processes, including:

• Medical billing
• Data entry
• Strategic planning
• Mobile device management 
• Enterprise reporting
• Cloud computing
• IT vendor management 
• Payroll Based Journal
• HIPAA IT risk assessment 
• Claims processing/analytics
• Coding 
• Quality assurance 
• Medical transcription
• Chart retrieval 
• Patient scheduling and follow-up
• Network maintenance 
• Compliance management
• Cybersecurity
• Data management 
• Finance and Accounting
• Human resources
• Sales
• Marketing
• Managing electronic health records
• Technology implementation
• Infrastructure management 

What Are the Benefits of Outsourcing IT in Healthcare?

In addition to enhancing the quality of your organization’s IT services, partnering with outsourcing providers can equip you with the tools you need to keep up with the evolving landscape of modern healthcare, resulting in various benefits.

1. Reduced Operational Costs

Outsourcing IT services can provide significant cost control. Maintaining in-house IT infrastructure and personnel can be costly, particularly if you fail to meet compliance or experience frequent data breaches. Because outsourced companies complete many of your routine tasks and maintenance with specialized partners, you can save money you currently spend on your IT department’s salaries, benefits, equipment and training.

With the time and money you save, you can prioritize internal operations and projects that grow your healthcare business. Outsourcing IT services can be an effective cost-reduction strategy because it also means you won’t need to acquire, maintain and upgrade technology as advancements roll out in the industry.

2. Access to Specialized Teams and Resources

Relying on external experts means your organizations won’t be limited to internal resources. When you outsource your IT healthcare services, you’ll gain access to a wealth of specialized knowledge, expertise and superior talent. This means your skilled nursing, senior housing or independent living communities can tap into the latest technological advancements that optimize efficiency and reduce redundancies across your organization.

The right outsourcing provider will give you peace of mind by effectively managing and streamlining your IT operations so you can focus on patient-centric activities.

3. Enhanced Compliance and Cybersecurity Measures

Non-compliance and data breaches can be extremely costly to resolve. Failing to adequately address data privacy risks can create a culture of non-compliance with regulations and laws, such as HIPAA. Maintaining compliance with this patient privacy law is a critical business requirement for all healthcare organizations.

If you currently lack the data security protocols, tools or experience to effectively handle these security risks, it can result in hefty fines and the risk of unauthorized access. Healthcare data breaches cost more than any other sector, with an average of nearly $11 million per incident.

When you outsource your IT services, you can put the responsibility in the hands of expert partners who are well-versed in HIPAA and other regulatory standards. Expert IT partners can mitigate risks, maintain a secure and ethical IT environment, meet compliance standards, and ensure your organization adheres to regulations.

4. Reliable Monitoring and Support

Healthcare data breaches have increased by nearly 60% since the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, there has been a 337% increase in data breaches since 2018, with 2022 being ranked as the second-worst year for HIPAA compliance breaches.

Keeping your systems safe from hackers is essential for preventing downtime and improving business resilience. With an in-house IT team, it might not always be possible to have overnight or 24/7 availability. Outsourcing your healthcare IT services means you can rely on 24/7 monitoring that keeps your vital systems running efficiently at all times.

If you do face a disruption, your outsourced company can help keep your operations running, implement data recovery strategies and reduce the risk of lost data. Having access to reliable IT support around the clock can protect the integrity of your data and mitigate security threats — even when you’re not there.

5. Access to the Latest Technology and Innovations

Another benefit of outsourcing IT in healthcare is gaining access to the latest technology. With in-house IT departments, you may prolong the use of outdated storage options and solutions until it becomes more cost-effective to replace them. Outsourcing services give you access to the most up-to-date resources and proven solutions in the industry. As a result, your organization becomes less vulnerable to security risks associated with ineffective legacy systems.

Additionally, working with an external team means you partner with experts who can view IT challenges from a different angle, helping to implement innovative solutions you may not have considered. Having access to cutting-edge technologies drives your business to provide the highest quality service and experience for your patients.

6. Improved Flexibility and Scalability

As with any fast-paced industry, healthcare demands are constantly evolving. An in-house IT team may not always have the capability to stay agile in the face of evolving needs, such as scaling with your business. Outsourcing IT can offer the flexibility and scalability your business needs to expand your IT functions quickly and efficiently. Unlike long-term investments with specific IT professionals or solutions, partnering with a third-party provider means you can adjust your services as your needs change.

For example, if your healthcare business is growing, you need a provider that can meet your new IT requirements so you can dynamically scale in response to fluctuations. Relying on your own processes can make it challenging to pivot quickly and align with new patient care requirements.

As an added benefit, you won’t need to spend the time and money on installing and modifying infrastructure, including hardware, software and network management. Your internal teams won’t be overburdened because you can allocate resources where they’re needed.

7. Improved Focus on Patient Care

The number one priority of any healthcare business is providing quality patient care, delivering better patient outcomes and fostering improved patient satisfaction. However, putting too much time and effort into running your IT department can take away your focus on these primary operations.

Outsourcing healthcare IT enables you and your teams to prioritize the core functions of patient care. By liberating your staff from the complexities of IT management, they can focus on productivity and efficiency. Increased productivity often leads to higher-quality work, which directly impacts your patients and business reputation.

Less repetitive and time-consuming administrative tasks can also help reduce stress, fatigue and burnout in your health professionals and boost morale. When your teams have more time to devote to what matters most, your entire organization can collaborate to create a more impactful healthcare environment. Delegating tasks to outsourced teams enables you to address patient needs first.

8. Reduced Medical Billing Errors

Overburdened administrative healthcare teams are more likely to make data entry mistakes and coding errors, which can create complicated and costly challenges. Medical coding and billing can be a highly intricate process, especially if your teams lack the expertise and training needed to avoid these mistakes. Managing and automating your healthcare billing processes with outsourced IT services can help improve collections, reduce errors and support a better patient experience.

Outsourcing also means you can depend on a dedicated team of trained professionals to efficiently and effectively manage your patient records and accurately maintain your medical billing data. Fewer medical billing mistakes can also improve your revenue streams. Payroll Based Journal support helps ensure accuracy and can contribute to reduced employee turnover.

9. IT Integration and Implementation

With the increasing demand for automation and electronic solutions in the healthcare industry, it’s no secret that your business will need to shift to new systems. However, electronic billing and payments systems, cloud computing and electronic health records can be challenging to manage. If you’re short on staff and resources, this process can be extremely daunting.

Seeking the assistance of external healthcare IT experts to manage these complex systems can reduce the burden on your IT administration. Instead of dealing with the hassle of integrating new technologies and learning new software, you can devote your time to delivering the best possible care to your patients.

10. Provide a Competitive Edge

Healthcare system modernization can be time-consuming, but it’s necessary for accomplishing many business goals and initiatives. As a healthcare provider, you know the importance of gaining a competitive edge in the healthcare space. Without the tools and resources to keep up with other businesses and facilities, growing your business can be challenging. As many health systems are exploring new models of care, outsourcing can help you level the playing field — particularly if your healthcare organization is smaller.

Equipped with a wider talent pool, increased capabilities and valuable scalability, your business can employ critical agility in the face of unforeseen changes and fluctuating needs. Healthcare IT outsourcing can help you jumpstart your most important initiatives and facilitate planned growth with emerging technology. These strategies are vital to staying competitive in an increasingly competitive environment.

11. Tailored Solutions to Your Needs

A significant benefit of outsourcing IT infrastructure is that it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. The right IT provider will tailor solutions to meet your needs and budget. Your outsourced IT strategic planning provider will carefully evaluate your healthcare business’s unique needs to ensure you have the highest degree of security and reliability.

With the right vendor, you can decide how much you want to outsource. Whether you want some extra support or a fully managed IT service, you can determine which functions you’d like to delegate to your provider. 

When it comes to IT outsourcing in healthcare, identifying your needs may not always be easy. Working with experienced professionals can provide you with a unique perspective on the gaps you need to address in your processes. From integrating your systems to strengthening your cybersecurity measures, the right provider will give you a comprehensive view of your needs.

Gain the Full Benefits of Healthcare IT Outsourcing With Prelude Services

Your healthcare organization can take advantage of these strategic IT outsourcing benefits to improve your services and stay competitive. Working with a trusted outsourcing provider is essential if you want to meet your desired outcomes, including cost savings and enhanced patient care. The right company on your side can make all the difference in helping you deliver the best services possible while expanding your organization.

At Prelude Services, it’s our goal to address your IT needs and create tailored solutions for important technology management processes. Our experts are here to help you optimize your healthcare company’s time, money and resources. Leveraging our outsourced IT support, security and management services can help your senior living facility or healthcare organization focus on providing quality care.

We invite you to contact us today if you want to learn more about how our services can transform your organization’s efficiency.

The post The Benefits of Outsourcing IT Services in Healthcare appeared first on Prelude Services.

Our digital world offers many benefits that help organizations of all sizes grow. Yet, with that comes challenges. Cybersecurity remains a top concern for various industries — including nonprofits. 

According to a November 2022 survey, the majority of successful cyberattacks have been a stark reality. Over 45% of organizations reported between one to five successful breaches within the past year, underlying the growing need for robust cybersecurity strategies. 

To develop these strategies, one must first understand which techniques cyber attackers use. Through this, nonprofits can mitigate cyber threats and protect their data and finances. 

Why Are Nonprofits Vulnerable to Cyberattacks?

There are common reasons why nonprofit organizations may be more vulnerable to cyberattacks. They can include the following: 

• Limited cybersecurity expertise: Nonprofits often operate with constrained resources and may lack dedicated cybersecurity experts. This gap in expertise may leave them more susceptible to sophisticated cyber threats. Nonprofits can find it challenging to implement defense mechanisms or respond to threats.
• Lack of awareness and prioritization: Cybersecurity might not always receive the attention it deserves. A lack of awareness among staff and leadership may lead to inadequate investment in preventive measures. 
• Third-party service providers: Collaborating with external vendors or partners introduces additional vulnerabilities. Nonprofits might not rigorously assess the cybersecurity measures of these entities. This can increase the risk of breaches stemming from weaknesses in their third-party networks.

6 Cybersecurity Challenges for Nonprofit Organizations

Understanding common cyber risks for nonprofits can help them identify their vulnerabilities. As such, they can tailor solutions to their needs and address these challenges. Here are the top cybersecurity challenges for nonprofits.

1. Ransomware

The first cyber risk for nonprofits is ransomware. It’s a form of malicious software that infiltrates one’s computer with the goal of encrypting files or locking users out until a ransom is paid. Hence the name. 

Cyber attackers usually exploit vulnerabilities in systems or use phishing emails to deploy the ransomware. Unfortunately, nonprofits typically lack cybersecurity measures and become prime targets for cyberattacks. 

These attackers can then block access to critical data and demand cryptocurrency payment. This transaction is challenging to trace. Also, even if the nonprofit pays the ransom, there’s no guarantee that their files will be decrypted. 

2. Email Phishing Schemes

Fraudulent emails that mimic legitimate entities to deceive recipients are another common cybersecurity risk for nonprofit organizations. Phishing schemes aim to gain sensitive information. Cyber attackers use malicious links or have recipients download harmful attachments. 

These attackers leverage social engineering tactics by crafting convincing messages that appear genuine. Through this, they aim to exploit human vulnerabilities rather than technological weaknesses.

Nonprofits, which often rely on email communication and potentially lack email security measures, can be especially susceptible to these schemes. This jeopardizes the confidentiality of the nonprofit’s donor information, financial data and operational details. 

3. Social Engineering

Social engineering exploits human psychology and preys on the culture of trust and collaboration within nonprofits. Cyber attackers deceive individuals into divulging sensitive information or performing actions compromising security. 

Cyber attackers use impersonation, pretexting or create a sense of urgency to gain access to confidential data or systems. For nonprofits, these attackers can impersonate trusted entities such as donors, volunteers or even internal personnel. Nonprofit staff who are unfamiliar with these techniques may accidentally share login credentials or financial details. 

4. Data Breaches From Employees

Unfortunately, there are scenarios where staff members deliberately compromise security protocols or misuse access privileges. These employees may have different motivations for such actions, be it financial gain, revenge or even coercion by external parties. 

These breaches can be challenging to prevent through technical means. They often need a combination of access controls, continuous monitoring and employee training.

5. Data Breaches From Third-Party Vendors

External entities compromising security measures may lead to leaked or stolen sensitive data. Such breaches might stem from internal negligence, inadequate security protocols or even malicious intent within the vendor’s organization. 

Nonprofits who are reliant on these vendors for various services may be more susceptible as their data can be interconnected.

6. Malicious Software

Malicious software, or malware for short, includes a range of harmful programs. These programs are designed to infiltrate and damage computer systems or networks. Cyber attackers can use phishing emails or compromised websites to gain unauthorized access and disrupt operations. 

Once infiltrated, it can then execute a multitude of damaging actions. Malware can steal sensitive information or even render an organization’s systems inoperable. Cyber attackers may also deploy ransomware, which can further lead to potential financial losses. 

As you’ve noticed, many of these cybersecurity risks interconnect with each other. All result in either data, financial or reputation damage, but there are ways to combat these threats. 

Cybersecurity Best Practices for Nonprofits

There are several best practices that nonprofit organizations can put in place: 

• Regular employee training: Educate your employees about common cyberattacks and techniques. Training should cover various points, such as spotting suspicious emails, avoiding clicking on unknown links and handling sensitive information securely.
• Strong password policies: Mandate complex passwords, regular updates and multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible. This adds an extra layer of security even if passwords are compromised.
• Updated software and systems: Ensure you keep your organization’s software, applications and operating systems updated. Updated software comes with the latest security patches and updates, addressing known vulnerabilities that attackers might exploit.
• Data encryption: Nonprofit organizations must encrypt their sensitive data — both in transit and at rest — to prevent unauthorized access. This ensures that even if data is intercepted, it remains unreadable without the proper decryption keys.
• Regular backups: Always back up critical organizational data. Also, ensure that you store these backups offline or in a separate, secure environment to mitigate the impact of ransomware attacks or data loss.
• Vendor risk management: Establish clear security requirements in vendor contracts and conduct regular assessments. Ensure that you vet and check third-party vendors’ cybersecurity measures.
• Access control: You can install access controls to limit employees’ access to data and systems based on their roles. Follow the principle of least privilege — restrict access only to what’s necessary for each individual’s job responsibilities.
• Incident response plan: Having an incident response plan with the necessary steps can help tremendously. The plan should be regularly updated. Outline clear roles, communication procedures and strategies for containment and recovery.

Prelude Services Can Help Protect Your Nonprofit

Nonprofits often face daunting cybersecurity challenges. They navigate through a maze of threats without a clear roadmap. The good news is that they don’t have to face this battle alone. Outsourcing your IT and cybersecurity to experienced providers tailored to nonprofits can significantly help. 

Explore professional and customizable IT solutions for your nonprofit with Prelude Services — from cybersecurity to network management. Our expertise in cybersecurity for nonprofits ensures that your organization can focus on its core objectives while having digital defense strategies in place. 

Get in touch with us if you have any other questions and to learn more about how Prelude Services can help your organization.

The post Cybersecurity Risks for Nonprofits appeared first on Prelude Services.

Technology has transformed healthcare, giving professionals access to updated patient records to raise the standard of care. Electronic health records (EHRs) are a big part of this transformation, with 75% of healthcare providers believing they help provide better patient care. Many healthcare organizations rely on these records in their daily activities. 

While EHRs and other digitized healthcare operations have significant benefits, they also open patient data to potential cyber threats. Over 100 million healthcare records have been breached as of November 2023, causing considerable damage to organizations, staff and patients. The first step to combat cybercrime is understanding the biggest cybersecurity threats so you can take the necessary steps to protect yourself. 

Why Are Cybersecurity Threats in Healthcare So Prevalent? 

The healthcare industry is especially vulnerable to cyberattacks. Malicious actors have many reasons to target healthcare institutions, from the masses of patient data to the potential reward of holding their information hostage. Healthcare data is attractive to cybercriminals as they can use it to perform identity theft and fraud, such as obtaining false insurance claims, prescription drugs or even receiving treatment with someone else’s identity. 

As healthcare data is valuable, many institutions take every possible cybersecurity measure. Yet, it’s still vulnerable to cybercrime for several reasons, including lack of endpoint device management, limited budgets and human factors like overworked staff and lack of security awareness. Healthcare systems also involve complex supply chains, and cybercriminals can identify and target weaknesses to access sensitive data. 

5 Biggest Cyber Threats in Healthcare

The cyber threat landscape is evolving. New threats appear often, forcing healthcare organizations to take a proactive stance on maintaining HIPAA data security requirements. They consistently innovate, refining their methods to maximize their chances of success. The top 5 cybersecurity threats in healthcare include: 

1. Phishing

Phishing is the most widespread cybersecurity threat in healthcare. This social engineering attack involves attackers using email or text messages — also known as smishing — to gain personal information. A staggering 93% of cyberattacks start with a phishing email. 

Phishing attempts often appear to come from a legitimate medical organization and encourage the recipient to click on a link. Recipients are directed to a decoy web page and asked to submit their credentials. Once they have, cybercriminals can use them to access healthcare systems. 

2. Ransomware Attacks

Ransomware attacks have hit 60% of healthcare companies in the past year. In this attack, cybercriminals inject malware into your system, often delivered by a phishing attack. The malware encrypts or infects your sensitive data, rendering it unusable until you pay a ransom. 

Hackers understand that healthcare organizations must remain operational. They leverage the understandable panic when you can’t access patient data to increase the chance of payment to resume treating patients. 

3. Data Breaches

A data breach is a cybersecurity incident in which unauthorized parties access sensitive data like bank account numbers or healthcare information. Although many assume a data breach is another term for a cyberattack, many cyberattacks don’t breach data confidentiality to achieve the hackers’ goals. 

The healthcare industry experiences more data breaches than any other sector. Personal health information (PHI) is precious on the black market, even more than credit card credentials. Many incidents can result in a breach, from lost devices to insider threats and malware. Failing to keep patient data secure can result in considerable financial and reputational loss for your organization, and preventing a breach is a primary goal for many. 

4. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks

A DDoS attack involves flooding your server with face connection requests and forcing your organization offline. While these attacks don’t put your data at risk like ransomware, they have the same effect on your ability to operate. Some cybercriminals prefer this method because they can create the same disruption without compromising a network, so they can deploy them on a broader scale. 

As these attacks are fast and effective, some hackers pair them with ransom requests, forcing healthcare organizations offline until they pay the ransom. They represent a significant risk to healthcare organizations that need access to patient information. 

5. Insider Threats

Over half of healthcare breaches come from inside the organization. Insiders pose a significant threat because they have legitimate access to your data, which they can intentionally or unintentionally pass on to malicious actors. This type of threat is challenging to detect, and many unintentional breaches are preventable with the proper training and cybersecurity measures. 

How to Combat Cyber Threats in the Healthcare Industry

Lack of cybersecurity poses a significant threat. A single successful phishing attempt can cause considerable damage to every aspect of your organization. Protecting yourself from cyber threats requires a proactive approach, following cybersecurity best practices and consulting industry-specific experts. Some steps you can take to protect your patients and operations include: 

1. Conduct a Thorough Risk Assessment

You can only protect yourself when you understand your vulnerabilities. Outsourcing cybersecurity assessments are the best way to leverage your strengths and address your weaknesses. An industry-specific managed services provider (MSP) reviews and prioritizes your level of risk based on several factors and provides guidance on how to handle your current cybersecurity posture. 

As healthcare is a high-risk industry, conduct a minimum of one assessment a year to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. 

2. Leverage the Latest Cybersecurity Controls

Legacy systems pose another level of cybersecurity risk as they lack the scope to combat modern threats. Beyond basic security controls, invest in advanced systems purpose-built to protect your data and systems. Your MSP can help you select suitable security systems based on your needs and budget. 

3. Educate Your Team

One of the most potent ways to fight cybercrime is to create a security culture within your organization. Provide your team with comprehensive cybersecurity training and raise awareness about common threats they may encounter. Protecting your organization is a team effort. Empower your personnel with the knowledge to proactively protect themselves, patients and the organization. 

4. Establish Robust Cybersecurity Policies and Procedures

A strong security policy can help your organization manage cybersecurity by setting baseline expectations for everyone. Some standard policies for healthcare organizations include controlling who can access information within your system and devising an incident response plan so that everyone on your team knows what to do if a breach occurs. 

5. Consult the Experts

Cybersecurity is a vast and complex field. Consulting an MSP with industry-specific cybersecurity expertise is the best way to safeguard your networks and data. They can take care of the cybersecurity logistics so that you can focus on what you do best — providing the highest quality patient care. 

Protect Your Patients With Prelude Services

Increasing your cybersecurity is non-negotiable in today’s threat landscape, and when you’re investing, you need a team you can trust on board. As an MSP specializing in healthcare, Prelude Services is uniquely positioned to help you protect sensitive patient data. Our advanced IT security systems are ideal for protecting your patients and organization. 

Our experienced technicians will configure and monitor your entire IT network, keeping your critical information safe from cyber threats with various innovative strategies, including hardware and software support, information security and vulnerability identification. Contact us to protect your organization from cyberattacks today. 

The post The Biggest Cybersecurity Threats in the Healthcare Industry appeared first on Prelude Services.

Telehealth and telemedicine may be used interchangeably, but they’re not the same. Telehealth is a general term that covers a range of clinical and non-clinical services. Telemedicine, on the other hand, specifically refers to medical diagnosis and treatment. Both describe healthcare services delivered virtually.

In a broad sense, telehealth allows patients to receive care, manage their health and communicate with providers without leaving their homes. This comes with many benefits, such as:

• Reduced exposure to germs.
• Greater convenience.
• More access to medical and mental health care.

For the above reasons and more, telemedicine and telehealth have become vital in general healthcare settings and senior living communities.

Let’s explore the differences between telehealth and telemedicine and how to offer virtual care to your patients.

Do you need assistance implementing telehealth technology in your organization? Contact us — we can help.

What Is Telehealth?

Telehealth describes using technology, like computers and smartphones, to provide healthcare services remotely. It’s also called telehealth when a doctor communicates medical information online. Many activities describe telehealth, including:

• Delivering clinical care via video or audio calls.
• Educating patients about health with a video.
• Monitoring patients remotely.
• Sharing test results and images in email.
• Providing mental health counseling through chat messaging.
• Offering online patient intake forms.

Telehealth also includes non-patient functions, like virtual staff training and meetings. For instance, holding a live video meeting with nursing staff is a way to use telehealth technology.

Unlike in-person interactions, telehealth is typically delivered through:

• Phone
• Videoconferencing
• Email
• Chat
• Remote monitoring devices
• Patient portals

Imagine a patient meets with their doctor over Zoom from their personal computer. They’re participating in telehealth, or more specifically, telemedicine — more on that below.

Another example is if a patient emails X-rays to a dentist or completes their medical history online. Telehealth lets them convey this information without stepping foot in an office.

Telehealth also encompasses the data physicians exchange electronically. For instance, a physician may meet with a specialist virtually to get input about a patient’s condition or test results. Sharing patient information at lightning speed allows doctors to coordinate care quickly.

Telehealth is convenient for anyone wanting to receive healthcare without being in a particular location. Healthcare providers also benefit from the convenience of telehealth, enjoying time and cost savings.

How Is Telemedicine Different?

Telemedicine is a type of telehealth service. Unlike telehealth, which is used broadly, telemedicine refers only to clinical services such as:

• Diagnosing
• Testing
• Treating

Telemedicine does not refer to non-clinical services or those that do not involve any form of medical treatment. A patient exploring payment options with a social worker online would not be considered telemedicine, for example. By contrast, a doctor evaluating a patient over a video call would be an example of telemedicine that belongs under the telehealth umbrella.

Why Do These Differences Matter?

Whether you’re a physician or a patient, it helps to know the difference between telemedicine and telehealth for reimbursement purposes. Since telehealth is a broad term that covers everything from remote patient monitoring to online training, some telehealth services may not be covered by a patient’s insurance plan.

Patients need to know what their policy covers before engaging in telehealth services to avoid unexpected costs. Likewise, physicians and healthcare administrators need to understand what telehealth services they can bill insurance companies for and which ones they’ll need to ask for out-of-pocket payment.

It also helps administrators to explore telehealth as a whole and consider expanding services beyond telemedicine. For example, organizations might consider training their staff virtually versus conducting in-person courses or using telehealth to improve workflow and administrative tasks. They’ll have to think about what hardware and software they need to integrate various telehealth tools.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Telehealth and Telemedicine? 

According to the American Medical Association (AMA), roughly 85% of physicians use technology to care for patients, and nearly 70% are enthusiastic about continuing to use it to save time and improve overall patient care. 

As with all good things, telehealth does come with some limitations. Let’s review the pros and cons.

Advantages to Consider

Telehealth and telemedicine offer many benefits for physicians and patients. Healthcare administrators can also reap the rewards of virtual communications. Benefits include:

• Improved management of chronic illnesses: Patients who live with chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease no longer need to make in-person visits for checkups. Instead, telehealth lets doctors monitor patients through remote monitoring devices. They can also provide advice, change medications and help patients manage their conditions remotely.
• Increased access to care: Telemedicine lets doctors reach patients far and wide. No matter where a patient is located, whether in a rural community or across the country, they can meet with a physician online. Virtual appointments can be especially helpful to patients who can’t drive or have limited mobility. It removes the need to travel long distances for specialist visits, too.
• Fewer canceled appointments: Since patients don’t have to use transportation to make it to an appointment, physicians can expect fewer late arrivals and cancellations. It’s also easier to fit virtual appointments into a busy schedule without travel time — another reason to keep an appointment.
• Easy-to-use technology: The technology healthcare providers use to deliver telehealth services often involves simple interfaces. Patients and healthcare staff can learn how to use telehealth tools relatively quickly, regardless of age or background. For instance, according to a recent study, most older adults thought the technology implemented to complete a telehealth visit was very easy to use.
• Improved care continuity: Telehealth supports streamlined communication between healthcare providers. With telehealth technology like video conferencing, physicians can quickly hop into a virtual call with a specialist or consultant for guidance. This option helps doctors make quick and accurate diagnoses.
• Reduced exposure to illnesses: Since patients aren’t required to leave their rooms to see a doctor for a telemedicine appointment, they can expect reduced exposure to germs. Healthcare and administrative staff also experience less exposure to illnesses if they can provide services remotely.
• Lower costs: Telemedicine visits may cost less than in-person visits but can provide the same level of care. Physicians and administrators can expect cost savings, too, since telehealth aids with streamlined workflows and reduces the need for administrative support and physical space.
• Saved time: Patients can complete documentation tasks online with telehealth tools like patient portals. This means they’ll spend less time waiting in an office. Telehealth technology also provides easy scheduling, helping physicians and patients make appointments quickly and easily.
• Greater engagement: Patients with easy access to their medical records and data online may be more engaged with their treatment and health. The convenience of telehealth technology can also increase engagement and satisfaction among healthcare staff.
• Improved work-life balance: Physicians enjoy a better work-life balance with telehealth options. That’s because they have greater control over when and where they work and can optimize their schedules.

Disadvantages to Think About

Although telehealth technology has many advantages, it’s not appropriate for every situation and comes with some challenges. Patients, providers and administrators must weigh the pros with the following cons:

• Requires a reliable internet connection: Online activities, like joining a video conference, require a stable internet connection. Many patients do not have access to a dependable or affordable internet connection, especially if they live in a rural area. Internet connectivity is a major obstacle in delivering telehealth. More than a third of doctors say internet speed and access issues impact their ability to use telemedicine.
• Requires some technological know-how: Some patients do not own or know how to use computers, tablets or smartphones. However, there’s a workaround. Healthcare organizations can give patients the necessary devices and show them what to do.
• Not the best option for some patients: A patient may have a condition that makes it difficult to use telehealth. For example, vision or hearing impairments can make it challenging to communicate by phone or video. Caregivers might need to help with virtual appointments in these cases.
• Most patients prefer in-person services: Despite its convenience and other benefits, many patients still prefer in-person care. One study found that most patients over 65 like to see their doctor in person. Nevertheless, older patients are satisfied with telehealth services and appreciate the option.
• Not suitable for all situations: In some cases, for a patient with a complex health concern, it’s best for them to have an in-person visit. High-risk patients also need regular physical exams to avoid complications. Overall, it can be easier for providers to make a correct diagnosis with an in-person exam.
• May come with technological barriers: Factors like power outages or hardware malfunctioning can prevent or disrupt a telehealth session. Also, security breaches and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance could be an obstacle for some healthcare providers. IT service providers, like Prelude Services, can help healthcare organizations ensure they use compliant technology.
• May not be covered by insurance: Although coverage for telehealth services has expanded in recent years, some services may not be covered by a person’s insurance. State and federal laws are also constantly changing. While an insurance company may cover a telehealth service today, they may not cover it tomorrow.

What Does Implementation Entail?

Whether you manage a family medicine practice or are an administrator at a senior living community, telehealth is essential. Patients must know they can get care when they need it. Telehealth is a tool to bring them care around the clock, wherever they are.

Any healthcare provider can implement some form of telehealth. It all begins with a plan. The following provides an overview of the implementation steps: 

1. Identify Opportunities to Improve

The first step to implementing telehealth is identifying opportunities to improve patient care and satisfaction. For instance, consider if patients typically spend too much time waiting for appointments. Can telehealth options, like a secure patient portal, help patients complete forms faster and get seen by doctors in less time?

Also, consider workflow needs and look for inefficiencies. Think about how telehealth technology can speed up communication between employees and other physicians and improve workflow overall.

2. Consider How You’ll Deliver Telehealth Services

After identifying issues, think about the tools you’ll use to help solve these problems. There are different categories of telehealth to consider:

• Synchronous: Synchronous telehealth refers to real-time interactions between a patient and a provider. This form of telehealth requires hardware and software that lets you hold video and audio meetings.
• Asynchronous: Asynchronous telehealth is when patients and doctors exchange information at different times. An example of asynchronous telehealth is if a patient emails test results and their doctor reviews them later. To offer asynchronous telehealth, you’d need a tool like a HIPAA-compliant email service. Giving patients remote monitoring devices, like glucose meters or oximeters, is also a form of asynchronous telehealth.

3. Learn the Rules

Implementing telehealth requires compliance with various state and federal laws. For instance, healthcare providers must use technology that complies with HIPAA regulations, such as the Privacy Rule and Security Rule. At Prelude Services, our team of IT experts can ensure your telehealth software and hardware meet the highest security standards, including those set by HIPAA.

4. Build an Implementation Team

Successful telehealth implementation requires teamwork. Determine who will play a role in the implementation and their duties. Include individuals in financial, technological, administrative, leadership, legal and clinical roles.

If you choose to outsource part or all of your IT operations, let us know. We can help you reach your telehealth implementation goals, whether you need cybersecurity protection or assistance finding the right tools. Our team can also offer support if you experience any technology issues.

5. Gather Resources

There are many resources available to help you and your team implement telehealth. For instance, the Health Resources and Services Administration built Telehealth.HHS.gov to help healthcare providers offer or expand telehealth services. The AMA also created a Telehealth Implementation Playbook to help practices adopt telehealth and integrate digital tools into their workflows and patient care. 

How Prelude Services Can Help

Telehealth is here to stay and will continue to evolve. Whether you’re just starting with telehealth or need to enhance your current systems, we can help you get on board.

We are a managed service provider compliant with Service and Organization Controls. We’ll prioritize your patients’ data safety and offer secure solutions that your IT needs. Our services include:

• 24/7 support desk
• Security management
• HIPAA risk assessment
• Hardware and software support
• Cloud computing
• Enterprise reporting
• Network management

Contact us today to learn more about our IT services and how we can help you implement telehealth compliantly and efficiently.

The post The Differences Between Telehealth and Telemedicine appeared first on Prelude Services.

Protecting sensitive patient information is critical in today’s digitized healthcare landscape. The prevalence of phishing attacks in healthcare has reached alarming proportions, posing a substantial threat to data security. According to recent statistics, phishing is the leading cause of cyberattacks in the healthcare sector. 

But what is phishing? It’s not only deceptive emails — it also takes the form of voice-based and SMS-based attacks. Cybercriminals relentlessly pursue unsuspecting employees who inadvertently grant access to confidential data by clicking seemingly harmless links. 

The consequences of a healthcare data breach are severe, with an average financial loss reaching nearly $11 million in 2023. This financial burden, coupled with the potential for serious patient harm and disrupted emergency services, underscores the urgency of safeguarding healthcare data.

This blog explores effective strategies to protect healthcare data from phishing attacks, empowering professionals with the knowledge to defend against this pervasive threat.

Understanding Phishing in Healthcare

In healthcare, the term “phishing” takes on a particularly ominous meaning. Phishing attacks in healthcare involve cybercriminals deploying cunningly deceptive tactics to trick employees into divulging sensitive information — often through seemingly innocuous emails, messages or phone calls.

These attacks are severe threats with dire consequences. A phishing attack in healthcare can lead to compromised patient data, unauthorized access to medical records and financial losses. They are more than financial burdens — they can severely harm patients and disrupt essential services.

For instance, in 2021, 32% of cyberattacks in healthcare impacted patient safety. Even more concerning, 26% of these attacks disrupted devices and systems, affecting IT operations and putting lives at risk.

It’s impossible to overstate the criticality of proactive prevention. With phishing attacks representing a significant portion of cyberattacks in healthcare, organizations and professionals must equip themselves with the knowledge and tools to protect healthcare data from phishing. 

Common Phishing Tactics in Healthcare

In the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, healthcare professionals must be well-versed in common phishing tactics that threaten data integrity. Recognizing these tactics is the first line of defense in protecting sensitive patient information and maintaining the sanctity of healthcare operations. Here are a few common phishing attacks in healthcare.

Email-Based Attacks

Phishing in healthcare often comes in the form of deceptive emails. Cybercriminals meticulously craft legitimate messages using alarming subject lines or mimicking trusted sources. They may impersonate colleagues, administrators or governmental agencies to persuade recipients to click on malicious links or download infected attachments. Recognizing these suspicious emails is essential. Look for telltale signs like generic greetings, poor grammar and unfamiliar sender email addresses.

Social Engineering Tactics

Phishers prey on human psychology. They exploit emotions like fear or curiosity to manipulate healthcare employees into taking actions that compromise security. For instance, they might send emails with fake urgency, like purported patient emergencies, or employ psychological tricks to make recipients feel obligated to respond promptly. Awareness of these manipulative tactics is critical to thwarting their effectiveness.

Impersonation and Spoofing

In healthcare, attackers often impersonate trusted entities, whether it’s a superior within the organization, a co-worker or a legitimate business partner. They skillfully mimic email addresses or websites, making it challenging to discern the deceit. The goal is to gain trust and persuade targets to share sensitive information. Always verify requests’ legitimacy, especially when they involve sensitive data or financial transactions.

How to Prevent Phishing in Healthcare

Preventing phishing attacks in healthcare is crucial, given their severe repercussions on patient data and healthcare operations. Let’s explore comprehensive strategies to safeguard healthcare data from phishing attacks and equip you with the knowledge and tools to fortify your defenses.

Employee Training

Education and awareness are pivotal in preventing phishing attacks in healthcare. Consider implementing a comprehensive training programs that empower employees to effectively recognize and respond to phishing attempts.

Training programs should educate employees about the various forms of phishing attacks, emphasizing the critical need for vigilance when handling emails, messages and other forms of digital communication. By imparting knowledge about the tactics and indicators of phishing, employees can become the first line of defense against these threats.

Practical training through simulated phishing campaigns can be highly effective. By exposing employees to real-world scenarios, organizations can measure their susceptibility to phishing and tailor training accordingly. Tracking improvements in employees’ ability to identify phishing attempts, as demonstrated through lower click rates in subsequent simulations, is a critical success metric.

Successful employee training strengthens cybersecurity and instills a culture of responsibility and security awareness within healthcare organizations.

Technical Safeguards

Robust technical safeguards can bolster your defenses against phishing in healthcare. These measures are essential for preventing malicious emails from reaching their targets and mitigating the potential impact of phishing incidents. Let’s explore a few technical safeguards. 

• Email filtering and blacklists: Healthcare providers should implement advanced email filtering systems to identify and quarantine inbound phishing attempts. Phishing blacklists can enhance security by isolating messages from known spam sources, reducing the chances of an employee inadvertently clicking on a malicious link.
• URL filters for web browsers: URL filtering technology restricts access to malicious websites attackers use to collect user credentials or install malware. By preventing users from visiting these dangerous sites, medical organizations can minimize the risk of falling victim to phishing schemes that lead to data breaches.
• Multifactor authentication: MFA renders stolen credentials ineffective by requiring users to verify their identity through a registered device or additional authentication methods. Even if an attacker acquires login information through a phishing attempt, they would still need the secondary authentication factor — significantly reducing the chances of unauthorized access.

By adopting these technical safeguards, you can proactively fortify your cybersecurity posture and reduce your susceptibility to phishing attacks.

Minimizing Publicly Available Information

To strengthen defenses against phishing attacks, your organization must vigilantly minimize publicly available information. By reducing their digital footprint, medical providers can make it harder for cybercriminals to launch successful phishing campaigns.

Cybercriminals often search for email addresses and contact details on organizational websites to fuel their phishing attempts. By keeping this information confidential, you can thwart attackers seeking to exploit it maliciously.

Cybercriminals can also use publicly available data in spear-phishing attacks, meticulously crafting emails to target specific people within an organization. By limiting the amount of publicly accessible data, healthcare organizations can lower their risk of falling victim to these highly personalized and potentially devastating phishing tactics.

Taking these precautions can significantly diminish your organization’s public profile, making it less appealing to cybercriminals and enhancing overall security against phishing attacks.

Use a Cybersecurity Provider

Collaborating with cybersecurity professionals can be essential to fortifying your defenses against the relentless wave of phishing attacks in healthcare. Outsourcing IT services to a specialized cybersecurity firm offers several advantages. They bring expertise that extends beyond what an in-house team can provide.

Enlisting professional assistance can benefit your healthcare institution in various ways.

• Specialized knowledge: Cybersecurity providers are well-versed in the intricacies of healthcare-specific threats, making them uniquely equipped to combat phishing attacks tailored to the industry.
• Advanced technologies: These experts leverage state-of-the-art technologies and best practices to bolster defenses and swiftly respond to emerging threats.
• Constant vigilance: A dedicated cybersecurity partner offers round-the-clock monitoring and immediate incident response, reducing the impact of potential breaches.

In the ongoing battle against phishing attacks in healthcare, partnering with cybersecurity professionals can make all the difference. With their support, your business can safeguard sensitive patient data, maintain trust and ensure the integrity of their operations. 

Partner With Prelude Services, Your Trusted Cybersecurity Ally

In an age where healthcare data is a prized target for cybercriminals, fortifying your defenses against phishing attacks is not merely a choice — it’s a mandate. We’ve outlined comprehensive strategies to protect healthcare data from phishing attacks. But now, it’s crucial to act. Healthcare professionals, administrators and IT teams must unite in implementing these preventive measures.

The fight against phishing requires expertise and unwavering dedication. With our two decades of cybersecurity excellence, Prelude Services is your strategic partner. We offer a suite of cybersecurity services, including phishing testing, vulnerability scanning, multifactor authentication and more.

Let’s fortify your healthcare organization’s cybersecurity defenses together. Protect the invaluable healthcare data under your care. Contact us online today — your shield against phishing starts here.

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Did you know that over 90% of companies outsource IT services? Choosing an IT support business is one of the most crucial business decisions you can make. With the complexity today’s technology brings, it’s best to call in specialists when experiencing IT issues — rather than someone who’s simply familiar with computers. You need a go-to person, and that “person” is an outsourced IT support service.

So, what is an IT support business, and what specialized services do they provide that make them essential to your organization? In this guide, we discuss what IT support services do, how you can benefit from them and how to know when you should use one. 

IT Support Business: Defined

An IT support business includes a team of various IT support specialists and security experts who act as an extension of your team. Along with ensuring that your technology is functioning efficiently, they offer high-grade operational strategies and maintain the security of your work devices. Additionally, their services may include guiding employees through equipment installation, setup and configuration.

An IT support company can be one of the most important contributing factors to how well your business functions and its ability to maintain its revenue. Primarily, IT services are there to support you and step in when you face potential cyber threats and help prevent incidents like these from occurring in the first place.

What Does an IT Support Business Do? 

More specifically, IT support services offer support to businesses with computers, mobile devices, cloud services, email, cybersecurity, servers, telecommunications and software. IT services can be a great asset to you, whether you need them for the sales team managing calls or computers required for day-to-day business operations.

If you have or plan to incorporate more technology into your company, an IT support business can usually help you by offering the following services: 

• Hardware and software support: IT services can support organizations in helping them maintain their technology. IT businesses know exactly which hardware and software will suit your business, which ones will handle your needs well and whether certain options suit your budget.
• Cybersecurity: An excellent IT company will offer organizations various security measures, such as phishing and cybersecurity assessments, vulnerability scanning, disaster recovery and business continuity, HIPAA compliance audits, and so much more to ensure the protection of your network.
• Technology implementation and management: An IT support business will handle updating and monitoring your network technology to ensure the infrastructure stays reliable for users. 
• Cloud services: Many IT services set up cloud computing so businesses can store and access their business data in one place and on any device to improve work efficiency.
• 24/7 remote support: Alongside being able to call IT support at any time when you experience tech issues ensures you address problems immediately, helping you avoid costly downtime and other effects. This is ideal for businesses that operate around the clock, such as those in the healthcare industry.
• Software development: If you plan to create software down the line, some IT support businesses have teams qualified to help you develop unique software to meet your business needs. 

Importance of IT Support Services 

As the use of technology grows, so does the chance of cyber threats. Statistics show that close to 40% of small businesses in the United States have experienced a cyber attack, and only 14% of small businesses are ready to handle these breaches. Some services IT support businesses offer include increased protection from phishing, adware and password hacking.

On top of this, many companies use various software and hardware to improve their business operations and deliver the best service possible. Companies need IT professionals to manage these systems and maintain their ability to keep up with the workload.

Aside from cybersecurity assistance and software and hardware management, some benefits of leveraging help from an IT support business include:

• Reduced costs: One of the many reasons organizations outsource IT services is the reduced costs. Businesses can access a fully trained IT team from an IT support business without the cost of onboarding and training these professionals.
• Higher skill levels: IT support companies also employ teams with high skill levels and various training, so clients can rely on them for their various IT needs.
• Higher-level equipment: IT businesses already provide their IT professionals with all the equipment and software they need to perform their jobs effectively.
• Monitoring and analytics: IT support services can help companies see how effective their operations are so they can implement helpful solutions.
• Increased productivity: IT professionals can help companies streamline their system processes and even improve the quality and speed of software to enhance productivity.

Should You Use IT Support Services? 

All organizations are different and have specific needs they’d like IT support businesses to fulfill. Below are a few considerations you can take into account to understand whether a third-party solution will be valuable to you. If any of the situations below apply to your company, contacting an IT support business might be an ideal choice.

• You often experience malware attacks, intrusions and network disruptions. 
• You want remote and mobile devices to connect with the company network. 
• You want the resources and expertise to help you streamline processes so your employees can complete projects. 
• You want data protection and recovery in case malware intrusions occur.
• You want your customer support models to work more efficiently on high-volume days.
• You need easier processes for executing tasks within the business.
• You need new, high-quality hardware and software to meet the needs of an evolving industry.

Boost Your Business With Reliable IT Support Services 

Leveraging an IT support business is a great way to renew your organization’s efficiency, maintain data safety and help improve the quality of your services. At Prelude Service, we understand the importance of this. That’s why we offer reliable IT support, security and management services to keep healthcare companies in the U.S. secure. 

Our experienced IT professionals support over 700 senior living facilities, nonprofit organizations and healthcare services that need protection assistance in more than 40 states. We invite you to contact us at Prelude Services today if you need the personnel and software to improve business operations. 

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