Network Security Challenges in Healthcare

Healthcare environments present unique security and management challenges for IT organizations in order to secure access to network resources, to protect confidential patient information, and to ensure the network is available to all who need it. Added to this is the challenge of achieving compliance with regulatory standards such as HIPAA, PCI, and others.

Disparate security systems – or silos of security – in today’s networks do not provide healthcare IT staff with an effective solution for taking on these challenges. An adaptive network security approach is needed in order to integrate and leverage various security technologies, correlate information from multiple sources, and automate network control and security policy enforcement.

This whitepaper discusses a platform that allows healthcare IT organizations to effectively secure and manage network access to address critical security and operational challenges.

Computer Network Security Problems and Solutions - External and Internal Threats

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  Computer network security problems should be given thought during the planning phase of any network, be it a huge organizational LAN or a small home network. All kinds of computer networks face different types of security problems. Solutions are available for each kind of threat. You just need to understand the threat and act accordingly to reduce, if not eliminate, the impact of that threat.

  If you already have a network which you built without a thought on computer network security, you need not worry. It is still possible to reduce the computer network security problems using some solutions after you have created and implemented the network.

  Threats to any computer network arise from both external and internal entities. External threats include unauthorized access by outsiders such as hackers, virus attacks etc. Among internal threats is exploitation of the network by its users - knowingly or unknowingly. Internal threats arise due to malicious intentions and/or ignorance of the users of your computer network. For example, a person can leave the computer unattended exposing it to others who are not authorized to access the information. Another example of internal threat can be a person downloading something from the Internet that results in a malware attack.

• Solutions to Computer Network Security Problems

  This section talks about solutions to computer network security problems when you have an existing network. It also applies to people who are considering building small networks.

  First of all, you need to develop a plan to assess the vulnerabilities of your network. A vulnerability assessment plan should cover the key areas that, if affected, can bring down the network or create huge data loss. These items include

  1 - Server protection (the main computer in case of peer to peer networks),

  2 - Firewalls and antivirus on the server,

  3 - The method your server employs to communicate with other computers, and

  4 - How other peripherals on the network (computers, printers, etc) can pose a danger to the network.

  Please note that this list is not comprehensive. There can be several other points to consider - based on your network type and configuration.

Network Security

Network Security Challenges

• Business operations increasingly require open, interconnected networks with those of partners, service providers and other third parties, increasing security risks.
• IT Departments, challenged with reducing expenses and increasing productivity, struggle to keep up with daily security challenges.
• Financially targeted malware attacks are becoming more advanced and successful at defeating existing security.
• Businesses are under pressure to improve data security in response to the growing number of internal and external attacks that target sensitive data.

Network Security Solutions

Flexures understands you want to do more than just identify security weaknesses within your network.  You want to eliminate them.  Our Network Security Solutions open your eyes to existing security weaknesses and give meaningful, prioritized remediation recommendations to help you improve security, protect valuable business information assets, and satisfy compliance and audit requirements simultaneously.

• Network Vulnerability Assessment
• Quarterly Network Vulnerability Scanning
• Network Penetration Testing
• Network Threat Modeling/Architecture Review
• Social Engineering Security Reviews
• Wireless Network Security Assessment

There are three types of people who you meet each day ~ those who build you up; those who tear you down; and those who do not care anything about you. Which one of those people are you? Become aware of how others experience you today. Think about your interactions yesterday ~ your conversations, attitudes, behaviors and mindset expressed with those closest to you, as well as with others you encounter. Which of these people would they say you were?
You have the power to influence someone's life for the better today. Cause them to be grateful for life, just because they encountered you. Decide you will use your life to encourage, inspire, uplift and brighten those you encounter. You can bring a smile to someone's face. Provide a surprise. Share a hug. Express love, hope, joy. Bring laughter and playfulness into another's life. Do an unexpected favor. Become their favorite memory of the day. Start with those closest to you and make it your business.

DO SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF TODAY!!!

Do something for yourself today. You can not get back a minute of your life. Become aware of the ways in which you gladly take on and accept the problems and challenges in others' lives, instead of dealing with your own life or your future. Your life does not exist to trade your time to pay for what others want. You do not exist to rescue others from how they have decided to live their lives.

How are others using your time, talents, skills, experiences and knowledge for their bottom line, or to make their lives easier? If you were not around, others would figure it out! Live in your own life and stop rescuing others from the paths they have chosen for themselves. Ask yourself...is their commitment to act boldly and change their life as strong as their willingness to expect you to help or pay for them? Master the art of saying "yes" to you and your life. You Deserve!