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SaaS 的 HIPAA 合規性：醫療保健提供者指南

As healthcare providers increasingly rely on Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications to manage patient data, it is crucial for them to understand the importance of HIPAA compliance.

This article will discuss what healthcare organizations need to know about HIPAA compliance for SaaS and how to ensure that their SaaS applications follow industry-specific regulations.

What does HIPAA compliance mean for SaaS?

When it comes to HIPAA compliance, SaaS providers fall into two broad categories: developers and app providers and SaaS hosting services. The two groups have different compliance needs, so it’s helpful to discuss them separately.


SaaS developers and providers

SaaS developers and providers that serve the healthcare sector must ensure their products are HIPAA compliant.

HIPAA compliance means that SaaS developers and service providers adhere to HIPAA’s Security, Privacy, and Breach Notification rules. The most important section here is the HIPAA Security Rule, which has three sub-sections: technical, administrative, and physical.

Under the HIPAA Security Rule, Covered Entities (CEs) and Business Associates (BAs) must put in place protective measures to secure Protected Health Information (PHI). SaaS companies tend to fall under the Business Associate header.

SaaS providers must sign Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) with clients. These agreements set out areas of responsibility and liability. Both healthcare companies and cloud providers should be clear about sharing compliance duties and protecting patient data.

SaaS hosting services

The situation is less clear about SaaS hosting services. HIPAA security rule does not set clear guidelines for cloud computing companies hosting healthcare services. Yet, it has become increasingly important to brand cloud infrastructure as HIPAA-eligible.

HIPAA-eligible hosts offer products that clients can adapt to meet HIPAA standards. This reassures clients that shared cloud computing architecture is properly secured. The major cloud platforms offer HIPAA-eligible services, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.

Important HIPAA compliance areas for companies and SaaS providers

Not all SaaS companies working in the healthcare sector need to worry about HIPAA compliance. For example, many health app developers won’t handle patient records if their involvement ends when the app is delivered to clients.

But this changes if DevOps teams maintain and update cloud apps for health companies. If you handle Protected Health Information or could access PHI during development tasks, you must be HIPAA compliant.

Generally speaking, HIPAA compliance is critical for providers of SaaS-based healthcare services such as monitoring apps, payment portals, or insurance management tools. And compliance is also a concern for services that host PHI on cloud infrastructure.

Specifically, healthcare organizations need to protect patient data:

  • When creating patient records

  • When information is received

  • When PHI is at rest on cloud resources

  • During transmission (if this involves SaaS infrastructure or apps).

HIPAA requirements for SaaS providers

What does the process of becoming HIPAA-compliant look like? Under the HIPAA Privacy rule, there are three main areas of focus.

Firstly, achieving SaaS data security involves creating robust technical controls. This could include encryption of data in transit and at rest. It also includes access controls to prevent unauthorized access to confidential data. Multi-factor authentication, firewall protection, and password management systems all contribute.

On the administrative side, SaaS companies must train workers to use SaaS tools safely. They must also have robust data handling policies and device usage rules to prevent the unsafe movement of patient data.

Finally, physical security measures include securing data centers via locks, authorization systems, and cameras. There should be measures to protect physical devices on and off-site and plans to guard data against natural disasters and sabotage.

Business Associate Agreements cover all three of these areas. The Covered Entity and Business Associate sign BAAs before commencing their business partnership.

The BAA describes the areas of responsibility of clients and SaaS providers. It includes details on how to achieve compliance. And it explains how partners will be liable when security breaches occur.

Sharing compliance responsibilities

Under the Privacy Rule. SaaS partners and Covered Entities have shared responsibility for protecting patient data.

Cloud Service Providers guard infrastructure and data at rest on their servers. Service users manage access control, data in transit, and how users interact with their apps. This situation applies in healthcare as well. But controls on data access are much tighter.

HIPAA-compliant SaaS hosts and providers must apply the strongest possible encryption to all confidential data. They are responsible for ensuring data is available when requested. Servers must also remain online when healthcare organizations need them.

SaaS hosts manage the physical safety of hosting infrastructure. SaaS providers handle the integrity of application code. They must guard against emerging threats like Zero Day Exploits and ensure healthcare apps are as secure as possible.

Healthcare organizations (Covered Entities) have different responsibilities. Healthcare organizations must train staff to use SaaS services safely. Every covered entity needs to educate users about safe remote access, using encryption, managing passwords, and avoiding phishing attacks.

Healthcare organizations also deal with access controls. They must ensure PHI is only available to authorized professionals or patients themselves.

Most cloud-based cyber attacks have their roots in unsafe user behavior or loose access controls. Provider-side security is critical. Yet, it’s also important for SaaS providers and hosts to tighten their HIPAA compliance.

Healthcare organizations and SaaS partners should know exactly how to share responsibility and take appropriate action to ensure watertight compliance.

Implementing HIPAA compliance measures

A robust HIPAA compliance plan ensures that SaaS companies follow HIPAA’s Security, Privacy, and Breach Notification rules. Dividing your compliance plan between the three HIPAA regulations is good practice.

Compliance plans cover many areas, and the exact make-up varies between organizations. But common elements include:

Risk management

Create risk management plans for all critical data protection risks. Risk assessment processes should include risk severity and actions required to mitigate each risk.

Project ownership

Appoint individuals with responsibility for HIPAA privacy and security management.

Security controls

This includes physical safeguards such as cameras and locks. Data protection controls are also crucial. Use encryption, access management, endpoint protection, and monitoring tools to track user activity,

Administrative safeguards

This could include training plans to educate workers and communicate HIPAA responsibilities.

Auditing

Regular compliance audits ensure controls function properly and that staff training achieves the desired results.

Systems to receive and act on HIPAA complaints

Create a secure email or phone line to report PHI violations. Organizations must make data available to patients and have streamlined processes to report data breaches to regulators.

Documentation

Create and store clear documentation outlining HIPAA compliance policies. Make documents available to staff members and regulators if needed.

Handling third parties and associates

HIPAA-compliant organizations must have solid procedures to onboard business associates. SaaS partners should be able to provide clear evidence of compliance and HIPAA eligibility (if needed).

Clients should immediately know that the SaaS provider is a dependable and secure partner. If you have not done so, plan to achieve recognized security standards such as NIST 800-53, ISO 27001, or ISO 20000-1.

How can NordLayer help?

Becoming HIPAA compliant can be challenging for SaaS developers and service providers. But if you want to thrive in the healthcare sector, a strong compliance plan is essential. Nordlayer’s HIPAA-compliant solution can help you make the changes needed when building a reputation in SaaS health provision.

Our network security solutions include the following:

  • Streamlined network access controls to ensure only authorized users can access PHI.

  • Secure Remote Access from all endpoints ensures equally secure and protected network access for remote and hybrid work environments without putting health data at risk.

  • 256-bit AES encrypts data that is being sent between networks and reduces data breach risks.

  • Compatibility with major cloud platforms such as Azure and AWS. Integrate Secure Remote Access with cloud-native controls to create a solid HIPAA security setup.

All SaaS companies operating in the health sector need rock-solid data protection that complies with HIPAA regulations. Explore your options and ensure safe access to PHI with Nordlayer’s assistance.

 

About NordLayer
NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses – from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security.

The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.

About Nord Security
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

為什麼中小型公司的安全心態對業務成功至關重要：與 Cutec 交談

A discussion with Mark Rowland, Co-Founder & Managing Director at Cutec, about how they solved client problems using NordLayer and what to expect for next cybersecurity’s major challenges and possibilities.

Cutec is a Managed Service Provider (MSP) and IT support company from England. Operating in the industry for 25 years, a 20-employee expert team supports a range of small and medium clients across the UK. Whether an organization has a staff of just a few or hundreds of people, Cutec’s role is to consult companies with technical focus and accuracy to fill in the vacancy of an internal IT person for the client.


The consultancy firm fills in the IT management and knowledge gap, which is a recurring issue for many businesses, especially smaller organizations Cutec gets to consult. However, conversing with different clients revealed another concern — there’s no cybersecurity mindset. Mark Rowland, a Co-founder and Managing Director at Cutec, shares his insight on how crucial security awareness is for business continuity. 

Business case: decentralizing single-site infrastructure

The client has been with Cutec for about 6 years — during this time, the company of 30 people expanded to an almost 300-employee organization. And as this financial services provider grew into a country-wide company, it started facing security challenges.

“As for a managed IT service provider, it is important to be there for your client when they need you. It’s our responsibility to support branches dotted around different parts of the UK — online presence becomes a necessity over physical.”

Click to tweet

Being contained in one place and managing 20 people is relatively easy. However, the client business model involved advisors spread all over the country. Combine it with rapid growth during a short time and data sensitivity due to the nature of financial services — the need to protect databases, CRM, and phone systems was critical.

The foundational elements for security were there: the client had two-factor authentication, password management, and fixed IP in place. It’s secure enough for 20 people sitting in one office, but not if numbers jump to hundred users in dozen cities — circumstances urged for an extra layer of security.

An increasing number of VPN connections to internal applications started causing connectivity issues and quickly bogged the network. This was the turning point for Cutec to find a better solution for a VPN route that would ensure security.

Close-up on the solution

One of the available options for the client was to get much more powerful broadband for the HQ office, install hardware firewalls, and achieve the wanted level of security for an outrageous expense bill.

Moreover, the solution would bind everything to one location. From a disaster management perspective, it’s not sustainable for business continuity — if the power is cut off, the internet goes down, and all employees get disconnected despite their location.

The alternative was getting a NordLayer subscription. Although it meant paying per user license, it offered what the company needed — a fixed IP address that provided much-needed flexibility and stability.

Choosing NordLayer allowed upgrading and downgrading the number of member accounts as the staff comes and leaves and, most importantly, eliminating the dependence on the HQ office — if the power got cut off, server design allowed carry-on working.

Sorting out the inconvenience of in-house security


Deployment and maintenance of the on-premise solution meant a lot of man-hours. It included a remote connection to a client’s PC and setting up their VPN connection. 

NordLayer, on the other hand, provided a simple solution. The MSP had to connect to the Partner Portal and add the user, so they could complete the setup themselves — click the welcome link to install the VPN.

“The solution setup was fantastic as we looked at a massive project and a big headache. Rolling out NordLayer VPN connection to 300 people was achieved in four days. And out of 300 members, we had only five people calling for help, but that’s because they were cautious, not because they didn’t know what to do.”

Click to tweet

It’s worth mentioning that the client has no one in-house with the knowledge and expertise on cybersecurity. In this case, Cutec is an advisor and a guide for organizations’ cybersecurity strategy, closely collaborating with a single point of contact on-premise, the Technology Director, to help steer the business away from cyber threats.

Expert insights: take on SMBs security

The client scope Cutec works with is usually small-medium sized businesses without internally dedicated IT staff. Better to say SMBs have little understanding of cybersecurity. There’s a persistent tendency for a slow but inevitable change in the business mindset:

  • A now-outdated perspective of ‘antivirus solves all our security problems’ was effective 10–20 years ago — today you have to think outside the box.

  • Small-medium enterprises tend to give on-premise servers and migrate to the cloud more often. Core IT support is going to change. It will be more about picking the right cloud solution for people driving the migration to the cloud. Over the next three years, people will drop on-premise stuff and go to the cloud completely, and we’ll be there to help them with that.

  • Cloud-edge solutions like NordLayer are going to get more popular over time. Teams work from coffee shops and McDonald’s — they connect to public Wi-Fi and hot spots and must protect their traffic with tools that work well.

A future notion on SMBs from sensitive industries


The cybersecurity landscape changed— now it’s about protecting yourself online. At our company, we notice clients are transitioning to online cloud services. The number of adopted vendors and service providers can be three, five, or a dozen online solutions and tools.

Previously, having a server in the office under lock and key with a firewall allowed us to assume that that was enough to keep the company secure. However, small businesses struggle to comprehend the gravity of cybersecurity.

“Using Office365, therefore, thinking my data is secure is a mistaken approach. Company data might be secure in the Microsoft Data Center, but is it safe where you are accessing it from?”

Click to tweet

After Covid, once people started connecting from their home PCs and smartphones, companies without proper security measures risked having their business data on employees’ personal devices.

Larger enterprises and governmental institutions already have an awareness – sometimes forced by insurance companies and bank regulations – of owning some security accreditations to filter down the risks. Meanwhile, small-medium enterprises don’t have this perception, and MSPs like Cutec help them drive in the right direction.

Our biggest challenge is overcoming the big issue of clients thinking that security is finite. Threats are layered and complex — getting an antivirus or a firewall might solve only a small part of the potential risks and gaps for threat actors to exploit. Instead, business owners and their teams must keep up-to-date with a cybersecurity mindset to guarantee business continuity.

Pro cybersecurity tips

Education on cybersecurity is increasing, and it is becoming a common topic of conversation. More and more employees and decision-makers now acknowledge a serious lack of digital security knowledge. To make the learning process easier, it’s better to ask questions and have some starting points. Here’re some pro tips you can begin with:


Explore cybersecurity to broaden your knowledge about threats and solutions for managing them. NordLayer offers layered-by-design network access solutions for all kinds of businesses and their team setups to rise to the challenges of a modern company. And at NordLayer, we care about guidance. Thus, explore our Cybersecurity Learning Center and Decision Maker’s Kit for in-depth support for building your own cybersecurity strategy.

Want to join forces to build a more resilient and aware cybersecurity landscape for businesses and organizations? NordLayer invites Managed Service Providers to seize the opportunity to join our Partner Program — reach out to learn more about it.

 

About NordLayer
NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses – from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security.

The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.

About Nord Security
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

醫療保健網絡安全：如何保護患者數據

Cybersecurity for healthcare organizations involves protecting sensitive patient data from unauthorized access, use, and disclosure. It’s a strategic imperative for every healthcare business, but with the digitization of medical records, sharing sensitive information has become simple and, at the same time, much more exposed to cyber threats.

Cyberattacks often cause serious disruptions to patient care and lead to misdiagnosis and medical errors. Many studies have shown that ransomware attacks affected hospital mortality rates due to the lack of access to patient information. Also, as HIPAA Breach Notification Rule states, sensitive information violations can have serious financial consequences.

What other cybersecurity risks are healthcare organizations facing? And how can you mitigate them? Read on to discover the best practices for healthcare cybersecurity.

Over 93% of covered entities and business associates faced a breach in the last two years. According to IBM Data Breach Report, in 2022, the healthcare sector suffered the highest costs of data breaches. And although the number of breached records fell from 54.09 million in 2021 to 51 million in 2022, healthcare still remains one of the industries most affected by hackers. The commercial and public health sector is clearly under fire.

A new trend is a growing number of attacks through third-party vendors. Nearly 26 million records were exposed from business associates, and almost 25 million were on healthcare organizations.

Cyber attacks will continue to plague the US health sector, the Healthcare Cybersecurity Report for 2022 states. The criminal ecosystem keeps evolving and adjusting to new security measures. Threat actors will increasingly look for and exploit vulnerabilities in the systems. Also, third-party vendors are more at risk now.

Other long-term trends are seemingly unrelated geopolitical events directly impacting the healthcare industry. Since the beginning of the war, the Russian government has regularly leveraged wipers and DDoS attacks. And the same applies to Russia’s allies, such as China, North Korea, and Iran. 

Cybersecurity challenges for healthcare organizations

Let us examine why the healthcare industry is an attractive target for threat actors. There are 3 main reasons for that trend: 

  • Poor risk management

Healthcare organizations deal with connected medical devices (Internet of Medical Things), employees’ devices that don’t have adequate security measures, and several third parties that access Protected Health Information (PHI) and other critical assets. Ensuring adequate cybersecurity solutions that mitigate risk and address vulnerabilities in a legacy system is critical.

  • A huge value of PHI on the Dark Web

Stolen patient data can be used for malicious activities like identity theft or healthcare insurance fraud. A single medical record is valued at up to $250 on the black market, and this information is worth about 50 times more than credit card details on the Dark Web.  All this means that patient privacy is at risk of being violated.

  • Financial reasons 

It’s a major security risk for the industry. Suffering a ransomware attack, for example, means paying a large amount to the attackers. 

Top 6 cyber threats for healthcare organizations

Threats for the healthcare industry come in many forms, from ransomware to theft of personal information. In 2022, the biggest security breaches in healthcare came from phishing and malware attacks.

  • Phishing

Phishing targets individuals by tricking them into disclosing sensitive information, clicking a malicious link, or opening a malicious attachment. The most common telltale sign of a phishing email is that it conveys a sense of urgency or preys on fear or greed. Scammers can also use social media, text messages, and voice calls for phishing. 

  • Malware

It’s malicious software installed on a computer without a user’s consent. It can steal passwords or money or perform other malicious actions. Examples of malware include a Trojan horse, spyware, adware, or a virus.

  • Ransomware

Ransomware is a form of malware that encrypts files on a user’s device and locks them out until they pay the hacker money to release them. 

  • Theft of patient data

Stolen patient medical records may be sold on the dark web and used for insurance fraud or identity theft. Often, data recovery is not possible.

  • Insi
    der threats

These risks can come from current or former staff members or contractors and happen intentionally or by negligence. For example, an employee may accidentally click a malicious link in a phishing email or skip security protocols to make their job easier. 

  • Hacked IoT devices

Hackers take advantage of vulnerabilities in devices connected by IoT, such as handheld devices, camera sensors, or CT scanners.

Top 6 cyber risks in healthcare

All the facts and statistics mentioned earlier mean one thing: cybersecurity in healthcare is a burning issue. Criminals can disrupt health businesses with malware, ransomware, or phishing. And damage the organization’s reputation and endanger patients’ lives. But apart from that, healthcare organizations are exposed to various cyber risks, such as unprotected access to PHI, human error, vulnerabilities of legacy systems, third-party vendors, and a lack of regular cyber risk audits. 

Risk 1: Unsecured access to PHI

According to new HIPAA encryption requirements, ensuring all sensitive patient data is unreadable, undecipherable, and unusable to any person or software program without access rights is mandatory. For your organization, it means implementing robust security controls that help store Protected Health Information (PHI) safely and protect it from unauthorized access.

Risk 2: Human error

82% of data breaches involved a human element, including social attacks, errors, and misuse.  according to Verizon’s 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report. Understanding how human error affects your organization can help you mitigate risks for the future. Almost one-third of such incidents involved a person abusing their use of internal resources. For example, a doctor shares access to their work-issued device with children, who click on a malicious link and download malware. 

Risk 3: Vulnerabilities of legacy systems 

Outdated technology opens doors for cybercriminals. Legacy devices and operating systems are vulnerable because they can’t update properly. This means inadequate security control and weaknesses in the system can’t be patched. 

However, some healthcare organizations delay transitioning to up-to-date security solutions because of tight budgets or complacency. They choose to fix a problem only after a system failure or a cyber attack. Deploying technology that encrypts data, monitors authorized users, and blocks unauthorized user access can help minimize cyber risks. 

Risk 4: Third-party vendors

The number of business associates that handle sensitive data has grown with the volume of electronic medical records. According to an analysis by Fortified Health Security, third-party vendors accounted for 16% of data breaches in the first half of 2022. 

In 2022, the largest third-party vendor data breach, which affected almost 4 million individuals, happened through a ransomware attack at Eye Care Leaders. The breach impacted at least 39 covered entities, as well. 

Risk 5: Compliance 

Healthcare organizations also face regulatory challenges. Protecting patient privacy according to the latest HIPAA and GDPR rules can be complex. Besides following compliance guidelines, your organization should implement the best cyber security practices. Failure to keep patient records private may result in substantial penalties and harm your reputation. 

Risk 6: The absence of risk assessments

Every healthcare organization should conduct a regular risk assessment to identify vulnerabilities and risks to the confidentiality and integrity of PHI.  The evaluation should determine your organization’s capabilities for detecting, preventing, and responding to cyberattacks. It’s also crucial to know where your sensitive information is, what threats your organization faces, and your system’s vulnerabilities and security holes. And what your action plan in case of an attack is. 

Best practices for healthcare cybersecurity challenges 

This year’s IBM Data Breach Report demonstrates no system is impenetrable. But healthcare cybersecurity is all about basic security measures that stop criminals and make them look for an easier target. What are the best practices for minimizing cyber risks? Here is a list of the strategies worth adopting: 

  • Deploy verified cybersecurity software

Install cybersecurity software on every connected device and secure your network. 

  • Update your software regularly

Prompt, regular updates will address patches and vulnerabilities.

  • Train your staff on cybersecurity

Your employees should be aware of cyber threats and how to detect them. 

  • Strengthen your system access controls 

Restrict access to your most sensitive data and monitor who accesses it.

  • Conduct regular risk assessments 

Identify weaknesses in your system and mitigate risks. Determine where your sensitive information is and protect access to it.

  • Ensure your business associates have strict security policies 

Some business associates have lax policies that can create problems for the healthcare organization they cooperate with. Don’t let stolen vendor credentials or data will compromise your organization. 

Cybersecurity solutions for healthcare organizations

Securing your organization from cyber threats can be overwhelming. Protecting your valuable data and critical equipment is complicated but doesn’t have to be complex. That’s why we have prepared a guide on security solutions tailored to the health industry.  

  • Network security

The key to combating any external threats is network visibility and responsive protection. A solution that quickly isolates risks will prevent your network from being exposed. Setting permissions and policies for secure users and apps across multiple devices is also good. This way, you will ensure that only authorized staff will access your confidential data. 

  • Application security 

The best way to secure access to your applications is to verify and authenticate every user, device, and connection. This Zero-trust approach enforces mandatory checks at every step and minimizes security gaps. It also enables your staff to work remotely and on multiple devices. 

  • Endpoint security

If your devices are left unsecured, they can be a gateway for breaches, and an infected endpoint will affect your organization’s functioning ability. A comprehensive solution for endpoint protection uses data encryption and enforces unified security policies on all servers, networks, and endpoints. It also monitors 24/7 access to your resources, alerting you if there is suspicious activity. 

  • Data security

Encrypting sensitive healthcare data can help conceal it from outsiders. MFA will add strength to authentication processes. Permission sets enable managing data access, meaning only authorized users can access it.  Everyone else will be blocked by default until granted the necessary privileges. Before you apply access controls, you need to classify your data accordion to its value and vulnerability. 

  • Cloud data security

As healthcare organizations move their as
sets and data to the cloud, cloud services need robust protection. Cloud providers and businesses should share responsibilities to ensure data security, but this doesn’t mean you will always have a full view of your infrastructure. The provider may move data without you even knowing it. That’s why having a clear division of responsibilities is crucial. Also, you should encrypt everything in the cloud and set strict access permissions. You add IP allowlists to only connect specific IP ranges to your network. 

How NordLayer can help 

You can protect access to your sensitive data and transition your organization towards the SSE framework by implementing our solutions for Zero Trust Network Access.

NordLayer also provides an adaptive network security solution that easily integrates with your existing infrastructure and provides secure access to sensitive resources.

Contact our sales team and discover how to protect your patient data from cyber threats.

Disclaimer: This article has been prepared for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. We hope that you will find the information informative and helpful. However, you should use the information in this article at your own risk and consider seeking advice from a professional counsel licensed in your state or country. The materials presented on this site may not reflect the most current legal developments or the law of the jurisdiction in which you reside. This article may be changed, improved, or updated without notice.

 

About NordLayer
NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses – from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security.

The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.

About Nord Security
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

HIPAA 違規後果：法律、財務和聲譽風險

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the most important data protection regulation for healthcare providers in the USA. It covers health insurers, clinics, hospitals, private practices, and developers of health apps, care settings, and pharmacies.

If you handle patient records, you need to be HIPAA-compliant. For your convenience, we have created a handy HIPAA compliance checklist for covered organizations. However, this blog looks at another critical HIPAA-related issue: the different types of violations and the penalties for breaching HIPAA rules.

Violations matter. Poor compliance causes customers to lose trust in your data protection policies. It’s only a matter of time before patients move their business elsewhere. Regulators can also issue significant financial penalties or even jail offenders in the most extreme cases.

This makes protecting sensitive data a critical task for health companies and their partners. So let’s explore the issue in-depth and explain everything you need to know about HIPAA violations.

What qualifies as a HIPAA Violation?

Before talking about HIPAA penalties, we need a clear understanding of what exactly constitutes a HIPAA violation. Fortunately, the legal definition of a violation is extremely clear.

HIPAA violations take place when either a covered entity (CE) or a business associate (BA) of a covered entity breach HIPAA Security, Private, or Breach Notification Rules.

HIPAA has three main rules. Here is a quick summary of what you need to know about them:

  • The HIPAA Privacy Rule sets out protections for private health data. CEs must keep data confidential and prevent unauthorized disclosure. They must also make health records available if patients desire.

  • The HIPAA Security Rule states that healthcare organizations must keep patient records secure. This includes physical, administrative, and electronic safeguards. You could see this rule as putting the privacy rule into practice.

  • The HIPAA Breach Notification Rule requires CEs to inform patients about any actual or potential data breaches. Notification must occur within 60 days of the breach.

Covered entities must become familiar with these rules when creating a compliance strategy. If you suffer a penalty, ignorance of HIPAA guidelines is not a valid defense. Covered entities must be aware of their responsibilities under the law.

Business associates, third parties your company uses also need to be part of compliance strategies. If partners can access your network assets, they could potentially cause a data breach.

Deliberate versus accidental violations

The first thing to note is that violating HIPAA can be deliberate or accidental. Covered entities need policies to cover both types of violations.

Deliberate breaches could include nurses passing the health records of a celebrity to media contacts or selling records on the Dark Web. But they also extend to simply sharing patient data without the consent of the individual concerned. In these cases, penalties tend to be severe.

Deliberate breaches also include offenses where organizations fail to act when they should do so. For instance, companies may refuse to issue breach notifications to customers within the required 60-day limit.

Company policies that clash with HIPAA rules are often deemed deliberate breaches if regulators decide that the covered entity knew about the issue and was able to remove the conflict.

Accidental breaches of HIPAA rules carry less severe penalties. They could include the absence of encryption on mobile devices or failure to train staff in cybersecurity practices.

For example, physicians could click on phishing links disguised as communications from pharmaceutical partners. There is probably no deliberate or malicious breach here. But the covered entity would be liable due to poor security training and policies.

Broadly speaking, if companies fail to take action to conform to HIPAA rules, this will qualify as a breach. That’s why having a comprehensive HIPAA compliance strategy is essential.

Criminal versus civil violations

It’s also important to understand the difference between criminal and civil HIPAA breaches.

Criminal cases are mounted by the Department of Justice and are much less common than civil penalties. They deal with deliberate violations and can lead to prison sentences for individuals at the organizations involved. Offenses leading to criminal charges include:

  • Wrongful disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI)

  • Wrongful disclosure of PHI under false pretenses (e.g. seeking access to medical records of patients not under the care of a physician)

  • Wrongful disclosure of PHI under false pretenses with malicious intent (to sell or otherwise benefit from stealing PHI)

Most of the time, you or your staff won’t risk criminal charges. Instead, the challenge is to minimize the risk of civil cases.

Civil cases may involve behavior that is deliberate, but not malicious. Instead, civil offenses tend to involve poor risk assessment processes or simply ignorance of what HIPAA requires.

In these cases, the OCR or Attorneys General will seek a financial penalty under the HIPAA enforcement rule. Civil violations are covered by four tiers, which we will look at in more detail below.

4 types of HIPAA violations

In most instances, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) receives complaints and decides whether organizations have violated HIPAA regulations. When the OCR deliberates, its regulators use a four-tier system to categorize potential violations.

The four tiers differ in terms of severity, with rising financial penalties. They also differ in terms of culpability. In some cases, organizations are not aware of HIPAA violations. In others, breaches are wilful and systematic.

The size of the financial penalty is related to various factors. Regulators consider:

  • How long the violation has existed

  • How many individuals are affected

  • The value and amount of the data at risk

  • Whether the organization willingly collaborates with OCR

  • Whether the organization has a clean regulatory history

Tier 1 – Accidental violation

At this tier, organizations are not aware of HIPAA breaches. The organization also had no way to avoid the violation, even with complete adherence to HIPAA regulations. At this level, covered entities must show evidence of compliance. This proves that the breach could not be avoided.

Highest penalty: $100 per incident, with a limit of $50,000

Tier 2 – Aware of violation, but no remediation possible

At tier 2, organizations know about HIPAA violations before OCR is informed. In this category, staff should have been aware of the fault. But the organization could not avoid violating HIPAA rules, even while administering adequate levels of care. This level falls short of the definition of “wilful neglect.”

Highest penalty: $1,000 per incident, with a limit of $100,000</ p>

Tier 3 – Wilful neglect with remediation

At tier 3, organizations commit “wilful neglect”. This means they were aware of the violation. the covered entity could have taken action to remedy the breach but failed to do so. However, there is a caveat here. Tier 3 penalties are lower because the organization involved has taken action to remediate the issue.

Highest penalty: $10,000 per incident, with a limit of $250,000

Tier 4 – Wilful neglect without remediation

At tier 4, organizations are also guilty of “wilful neglect”. The violation was known and the organization failed to take remedial action. Breaches in this category could continue for months or years, with serious consequences for patient welfare and data protection. For these reasons, Tier 4 penalties are far higher than other categories.

Highest penalty: $50,000 per incident, with a limit of $1.5 million

The consequences of a HIPAA violation

According to US law, if a covered entity breaks the HIPAA regulations, it may face a penalty of up to $50,000 and up to one-year imprisonment. The actual consequences depend on the type and severity of the HIPAA violation, and whether they were committed by a healthcare employee or an employer, i.e., covered entities.

There are two types of violations: civil and criminal. Each category has tiers to determine penalties for a specific breach.

Civil HIPAA penalties

HIPAA violations committed without malicious intent fall into the category of civil penalties. What’s the most common reason for these violations? Most of the time, it’s because healthcare employees or covered entities don’t know the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Yet, unawareness or negligence of HIPAA standards is not an excuse for escaping a penalty.

Criminal HIPAA penalties

Intentional HIPAA violations, such as disclosing or selling personal health information, are a crime. The criminal penalties for these violations can be severe and restitution may be also paid to the victims. A covered entity that committed a HIPAA violation must settle it with OCR and state attorneys general.

The height of the criminal penalties depends on the following factors:

  • the seriousness of HIPAA violations

  • the length of time that the violation has been taking place

  • the number of violations identified.

Who issues penalties?

HIPAA is a Federal regulation. So you might assume that penalties are issued exclusively by the Federal Government. However, the actual situation is more complex. Covered entities should be familiar with all regulatory bodies in their specific business sector.

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR)

To start with, the Office for Civil Rights processes most HIPAA violations and issues penalties. OCR is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and it has a general bias towards negotiation instead of penalizing organizations.

As a rule, before mandating penalties, OCR will issue technical assistance and monitor voluntary compliance agreements with covered entities. However, if breaches persist, OCR will launch civil cases to demand HIPAA violation penalties. This is particularly likely if covered entities have a previous history of repeat violations.

OCR has the power to launch civil proceedings. But it can also pass HIPAA cases to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to handle criminal violations. So a violation at the federal level can lead to jail time alongside large financial penalties.

State-level Attorneys General

HIPAA penalties may also be issued at a state level by Attorneys General. Attorneys General can use powers granted by the 2009 HITECH Act to launch lawsuits against organizations breaching HIPAA rules. These suits are civil cases, so they do not lead to prison sentences. But they can result in large financial penalties.

Additionally, HIPAA violations can stretch across state boundaries. In these situations, covered entities may face lawsuits from numerous Attorneys General. This multiplies the financial cost of non-compliance.

Internal penalties

Proactive organizations may also create policies to penalize staff members when they violate HIPAA regulations. This could be developed autonomously, or in collaboration with the Office for Civil Rights as part of compliance strategies.

Internal penalties tend to range in severity and seek to deter unsafe behavior when handling patient data. They are an important data security measure, especially when deployed with mandatory security training.

How can NordLayer solutions mitigate HIPAA risks?

Violating HIPAA suggests that your data protection measures are below the standard needed in today’s digital marketplace. That’s why organizations need modern security solutions that easily adapt to the complexities of today’s hybrid working environments and HIPAA rules. All locations, users, devices, apps, and data must have the same advanced level of protection. 

With Nordlayer’s solutions, you can secure access to sensitive information, prevents reputational, legal, and financial damage, and helps achieve HIPAA compliance.  Whatever area of healthcare you work in, Nordlayer is ready to help you succeed. Get in touch and discuss your options today.

 

About NordLayer
NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses – from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security.

The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.

About Nord Security
The web has become a chaotic space where safety and trust have been compromised by cybercrime and data protection issues. Therefore, our team has a global mission to shape a more trusted and peaceful online future for people everywhere.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

駭客藉著含有惡意模組的WhatsApp 和 Telegram 應用程式，來竊取加密貨幣

國際資安大廠ESET發現假藉提供即時通訊軟體Telegram、WhatsApp的名義，透過YouTube頻道及冒牌網站來散布竊資軟體的攻擊行動，其主要目標是中國的Windows、安卓使用者，竊取他們的加密貨幣，部分甚至能將加密貨幣錢包洗劫一空。 

攻擊者先是在Google搜尋引擎服務當中，投放詐騙廣告，引導使用者瀏覽YouTube頻道，接著讓他們存取冒牌網站，並下載駭客提供的Telegram、WhatsApp安裝程式，導致電腦或手機被植入含有惡意模組的即時通訊軟體。

這些即時通訊軟體會攔截剪貼簿內容，竄改用戶複製的加密貨幣網址，或是通關密語（Seed Words）。比較特別的是，其中一種安卓惡意程式具備光學文字辨識（OCR）的能力，可從使用者設備留存的圖檔相簿解析通關密語。

#若有任何資安需求，歡迎洽詢台灣二版資安專業團隊，服務電話：(02)7722-6899，或上官網查詢：https://version-2.com.tw/

原文出處：https://www.welivesecurity.com/2023/03/16/not-so-private-messaging-trojanized-whatsapp-telegram-cryptocurrency-wallets/

關於ESET
ESET成立於1992年，是一家面向企業與個人用戶的全球性的電腦安全軟體提供商，其 獲獎產品——NOD32防病毒軟體系統，能夠針對各種已知或未知病毒、間諜軟體 （spyware）、rootkits和其他惡意軟體為電腦系統提供實時保護。ESET NOD32佔用 系統資源最少，偵測速度最快，可以提供最有效的保護，並且比其他任何防病毒產品獲 得了更多的Virus Bulletin 100%獎項。ESET連續五年被評為“德勤高科技快速成長500 強”（Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500）公司，擁有廣泛的合作夥伴網絡，包括佳 能、戴爾、微軟等國際知名公司，在布拉迪斯拉發（斯洛伐克）、布里斯托爾（英國 ）、布宜諾斯艾利斯（阿根廷）、布拉格（捷克）、聖地亞哥（美國）等地均設有辦事 處，代理機構覆蓋全球超過100個國家。

關於 Version 2 Digital

資安解決方案 專業代理商與領導者 台灣二版 ( Version 2 ) 是亞洲其中一間最有活力的 IT 公司，多年來深耕資訊科技領域，致力於提供與時俱進的資安解決方案 ( 如EDR、NDR、漏洞管理 )，工具型產品 ( 如遠端控制、網頁過濾 ) 及資安威脅偵測應 變服務服務 ( MDR ) 等，透過龐大銷售點、經銷商及合作伙伴，提供廣被市場讚賞的產品及客製化、在地化的專業服務。

台灣二版 ( Version 2 ) 的銷售範圍包括台灣、香港、中國內地、新加坡、澳門等地區，客戶涵 蓋各產業，包括全球 1000 大跨國企業、上市公司、公用機構、政府部門、無數成功的中小企業及來自亞 洲各城市的消費市場客戶。

社交網絡如何讓您的生物識別數據面臨風險

Social networks have become integral to our lives, enabling us to share photos, videos, and audio to connect with others, build our social presence, and even generate income. However, by sharing this content, we may unintentionally expose our faces, irises, fingerprints, voices, and other biometric patterns to hackers, who can exploit them for malicious purposes.

In this blog post, together with Andrius Januta, Cybersecurity Technical Manager at Nord Security, we’ll explore how content shared online can be used to steal our biometrics and discuss ways to protect ourselves from this threat. Let’s dive in.

Biometric data: What is it?

Biometric data, or biometrics for short, are body measurements and calculations related to an individual’s biological, physical, and behavioral characteristics. This can range from DNA, blood type, signature, and walking gait to the more commonly known fingerprints, face, iris, and voice patterns.

Each person’s biometrics are unique, so they offer a superior alternative to passwords for ease of use and enhanced privacy and security. As a result, biometric identification has become increasingly widespread, not only in high-security facilities but also in people’s everyday lives.

Today, over 80% of smartphones offer biometric capabilities for their users, enabling device unlocking, user authentication for purchases, and confirmation of sensitive actions within various applications.

Social networks: An endless source of biometrics

Our digital lives are dominated by biometric features that can be exposed on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and others. So by posting seemingly innocent-looking eye makeup, unboxing or live-painting videos, profile photos, stories featuring our daily life, and voicemails, we’re also sharing our unique identifiers with the world.

Rapidly advancing technology and media platforms supporting high-resolution image and video can inadvertently expose our face, iris, fingerprints, and voice patterns that can be cloned and used by threat actors.

How can biometric recognition systems be fooled?

Face, iris, fingerprints, and voice patterns are the four most common biometrics that can easily be harvested from social networks.

Andrius Januta, Cybersecurity Technical Manager at Nord Security, says that while, in general, biometric data offers greater security than passwords, several cases also demonstrate its inherent vulnerabilities.

  • Facial recognition systems can be fooled by gathering high-quality images or videos of an individual, which can then be utilized to craft makeup that mimics another person’s facial features, produce hyper-realistic masks, generate 3D renderings, fabricate full-size head replicas, and even employ deepfake technology.

  • Fingerprint recognition systems, designed to permit authorized users to unlock or access applications, can be compromised by silicone fingerprint replicas or even crafted duplicates made from wood glue.

  • Iris recognition systems are generally more challenging to falsify compared to facial and fingerprint equivalents. Nevertheless, A. Januta highlights that a few years ago, a high-resolution photograph of the iris, in combination with a contact lens, was sufficient to mimic an eye for unlocking personal devices.

  • Voice recognition systems are widely used in smart home devices, banking, and finance. However, voice cloning AI software can replicate the voice captured from video or audio messages. Important to highlight is that today, even a short three-second recording is enough to create a high-quality replica of someone’s voice.

Malicious use cases

While it’s possible that biometric data can be extracted from social networks, the majority of it doesn’t leak directly from these platforms. Rather, the greater risk for biometric data leaks is from poorly secured databases. In both cases, exposed biometric data can be exploited in various malicious cases.

Accessing devices and accounts

With access to your personal devices and a convincing replica of your facial features, fingerprint, or iris, a cybercriminal can bypass authentication requirements to unlock your device. As a result, they can gain full access to your private information, including contact lists, personal photos and videos, work files, financial data, login credentials, and other sensitive documents.

They can access online shopping portals and financial accounts and make unauthorized withdrawals, transactions, or purchases. They could install malicious software on your device to extract data or monitor your activities. A compromised device may even be used to distribute spam or malware to others.

Accessing services or committing fraud

Exposed biometric data can also enable fraudsters to impersonate you when accessing various services and facilities. This may include unauthorized entry to restricted areas and accessing financial, educational, governmental, or medical services. A.Januta adds that in some countries, biometric data already enables people to withdraw money from ATMs, enter sports events, and even pay for goods in supermarkets.

Equipped with your biometric data, threat actors can impersonate you while committing crimes. Examples of this include wearing hyper-realistic masks to take loans, accessing bank accounts using AI-synthesized voice clones, or scamming contacts with deepfakes, which according to A. Januta is one of the most common cases today.

He mentions that in one of the cases, threat actors impersonated a Binance executive, copying his image during video meetings and compromising multiple crypto projects. In another case, fraudsters created a deepfake video of one American in which he encouraged his friend to invest in Bitcoin mining.

Compromising your reputation

Deepfake videos or AI-generated images can falsely portray you participating in inappropriate activities or experiencing emergencies. Additionally, this data could be employed to fabricate your fingerprints at crime scenes or impersonate your voice in vishing schemes aimed at your family members.

How to protect biometric data?

“Biometric system spoofing is like a cat-and-mouse game. Once cybersecurity specialists or threat actors find a vulnerability in biometric recognition systems that can be exploited, biometric system providers and tech companies quickly fix them. While it’s less likely to happen to average people, high-profile individuals like celebrities, businesspeople, or politicians remain vulnerable, so we cannot overlook the potential risks associated with the exposure of biometric data on social media,” warns A. Januta.

To address these concerns, A. Januta offers a range of practical suggestions for safeguarding our biometric information and preventing its extraction from social networks.

  • Be cautious about sharing biometrics on social media: Stay vigilant when posting videos or images that may expose your unique biometric features, such as fingerprints, face, or iris patterns.

  • Modify media quality and cover sensitive areas: Reduce the resolution of videos and images featuring you, and consider editing or blurring sensitive biometric information before sharing.

  • Opt for less exposed biometric factors: Choose biometric authentication methods that are less commonly exposed publicly or have a lower risk of being compromised, such as iris or retina.

  • Review shared media thoroughly: Scrutinize any media featuring your biometrics before sharing it on social networks, ensuring that no unintended exposure occurs.

  • Conduct regular media searches: Periodically search for your own image online and assess the context in which your images appear, taking necessary actions to remove any unwanted or potentially harmful exposure.

  • Prioritize multi-factor authentication (MFA): Use biometrics that are less exposed for single-factor authentication, or better yet, incorporate biometrics as part of a multi-factor authentication process rather than relying solely on a single biometric factor.

  • Use an additional hardware authentication device: Enhance security with a FIDO-enabled hardware device, providing an extra layer of protection against unauthorized access via standardized protocols.

  • Instead of biometrics, use complex and unique passwords: For less important accounts, use strong passwords, just don’t forget to update them regularly and securely store them in a reputable password manager.

  • Exercise caution with new services and technologies: Be vigilant when providing your biometric data to emerging services or technologies, and ensure that these entities have robust security measures in place to protect your sensitive information.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.


Board of Innovation 如何管理安全以保護其團隊合作和客戶數據

Board of Innovation is a global innovation firm imagining tomorrow’s products, services, and businesses – and creating them today. The company joins forces with the world’s most ambitious businesses to make what life needs next.

Working with prospects and new ideas requires creative flexibility that the company initially doesn’t want to block with security restrictions and limitations. On the other hand, protecting business and client data remains one of the company’s top priorities. Hence, Mehdi Lahmamsi Pinel, Global Operations & IT Manager at Board of Innovation tells how juggling those equally important things in the context of cyber threats aligns with the right security approach. 

The challenge

Trust over control within client confidentiality

The company culture at Board of Innovation is based on trust and employee enablement. These are critical elements for a creative industry. To succeed, the company is remote-first, and collaboration with freelancers and consultants of different backgrounds supplements full-time employees to generate new-of-the-kind products and services.

“Board of Innovation team is diverse as we have around 100 people of about 30 different nationalities in 60 places varying in cities, countries, and continents.”

Click to tweet

Yet, with a dynamic network of company innovators, consultants who move to client facilities, and third-party partners, IT managers face many challenges maintaining high levels of security that don’t interfere with team workflow.

“Business with client companies makes data security and confidentiality imperative, balancing it with the IT Manager’s responsibility to ensure the team works efficiently and effectively.”

Click to tweet

Board of Innovation works with high-profile companies and industry leaders. High traffic of changing projects, collaborators, and partners also requires precise supervision to mitigate the risks.

Since employees are unrestricted with their choices of how they want to work, self-awareness of the entire organization must be on board to achieve security goals. But how does one define the proper data protection standards and make security implicit yet not dominant? It’s a tough and subtle challenge for the IT manager to tackle.

The solution

Depicting minimums of must-security

With evaluation of team setup, work environments, and the need for flexibility, a VPN solution was the most straightforward tool for Board of Innovation. It enables many different security protocols defined in the company. One of the policies is establishing a safe connection to the company network — this is where NordLayer comes into play.

A newly assigned IT manager started by reviewing the then-current cybersecurity strategy applied in the organization. Deployed by the previous responsible manager, Board of Innovation already had an ongoing NordLayer subscription. Yet, it needed a strategy that fits company culture to its benefit.

“I’ve started by revisiting and improving the existing cybersecurity setup. NordLayer was there but not utilized to its fullest potential.”

Click to tweet

So what needed to be added to create a sound cybersecurity strategy that works?

The company has a secure network access solution in place. VPN is a mandatory factor of encrypted connection, and every organization member has to familiarize themselves and agree to data protection policies.

“Whether our collaborators and employees use personal or corporate devices for the job, they must acknowledge internal IT security policies to follow.”

Click to tweet

Board of Innovation follows a streamlined approach to managing its workforce — company policies define access levels to internal data. To put policies into force, corporate devices became a connecting point for every user with access to company resources.

“Mandatory apps like NordLayer and tools for password management, specific internet navigation, and work organization are pre-installed by default. That’s how we enforce security via device management on corporate devices.”

Click to tweet

Having the tools that fulfill internal and client data security requirements relieves the security manager from dependency on employees. And having those corporate devices set up and readily distributed to the hands of the workforce is half the job done.

Users have to launch VPN once connecting to untrusted networks wherever and whenever they work, and the admin can supervise the whole process if the rules are followed.

Why choose NordLayer

Creative freedom and trust are the fou
ndation of the Board of Innovation culture. Thus, any tools and solutions used to keep up with the security requirements must be convenient and simple, enabling and not disrupting the workers.

The organization decided to keep the NordLayer solution due to its user-friendliness. Moreover, the well-known service provider has to sustain being a reputable vendor of a safe and efficient solution.

Role and endpoint management leaves more space for protecting digital company assets by enforcing authenticated user identities. More granular network access segmentation enables careful supervision over the organization members. 

How NordLayer enables data security on different network layers

Systems and policies allow the IT manager to achieve consistency in business processes and operations. Having an overview on the NordLayer dashboard makes it easier to see who complies with the rules, like having the 2FA enabled. Moreover, or get a report of the connection history.

The outcome

Streamlined consistency aligned with internal policies 

Now, Board of Innovation has all workforce onboarded to the NordLayer solution. The solution present in every corporate device and combined with two-factor authentication makes it easier for the IT manager to ensure policies are up and running.

“We distribute NordLayer licenses to all organization members and contributors as a basic rule in our company. We aim to reinforce security policies in as many places as possible.”

Click to tweet

The remote network access solution enables the organization to collaborate with various clients, partners, and freelancers. Managing access to internal resources and project information creates barriers to stopping data leaks and breaches. And importantly, security policies don’t overcome and interrupt innovators’ creativity and workflow.

“Using NordLayer is so easy — simply open the user interface, choose a gateway, get connected, and here you go.”

Click to tweet

All that is left for the IT manager is to distribute access and privileges to internal resources according to the company policies and check that everyone is on board with the process. 

Pro cybersecurity tips

Sharing best practices is what helps businesses of any industry innovate in their own way of security. Creating a strategy for protecting the company network and securing information of different levels can be based on the most unconventional and unexpected advice. Thus, this time just like every time, we asked Mehdi Lahmamsi Pinel, the Global Operations & IT Manager at Board of Innovation, to share his professional insights on business cybersecurity:

Have you ever hesitated to impose security policies because they might overcrowd business operations and disrupt employees’ daily work? Creative freedom and simplicity can remain a priority since cybersecurity doesn’t have to become dominant yet effective and efficient.

NordLayer solution secures and enables every way of working, even if you want to prioritize trust and flexibility. The application, running in the background, simply does its job encrypting connections and segmenting the teams wherever the employees are. They can combine organization-provided devices with personal endpoints securely enabling BYOD policy within the company and IT managers can attend to their work stress-free. Sounds good? Reach out to learn more about NordLayer possibilities.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.


2023 年值得關注的頂級網絡安全趨勢

Much like seasonal flu, cyber threats are constantly evolving every year. While the coronavirus curve has been, for the most part, flattened and more enterprises opened up their offices for on-premise employees, the number of cyberattacks continues to grow. Even last year, cyberattacks increased by 38% in 2022, compared to 2021.

Even without covid as a catalyst, businesses are still becoming more digital, leading to increased attacks. In this environment, cybersecurity is a real challenge, and both business managers and network administrators have a real head-scratcher on their hands. Here are our predictions on the cybersecurity trends for this year.

Cybersecurity is no longer an IT manager’s concern. It’s something that comes into play when making key business decisions. Data breaches can turn the business upside down with penalties and loss of customer trust. It’s a challenge that can come from outside and inside with improperly configured networks.

As digital transformation is becoming more prevalent among businesses, so does the increase of various threats. Here are the eight main cybersecurity trends shaping this year’s digital environment.

Top cybersecurity trends for 2023 blog visual web 1400x843Chat GPT-enforced attacks

Soon after OpenAI launched the intelligent chatbot ChatGPT, it was quickly revealed that it could do more than just form responses across many knowledge domains. Cybercriminals have already started to use this tool for building hacking tools, while scammers are gathering knowledge to build similar chatbots to use for impersonation.

While the publicly available ChatGPT-coded tools are quite rudimentary, it seems that it’s only a matter of time before hackers can turn the AI to their advantage. In general, the least of its contributions is that it lowers the entry threshold by being a huge help for novice malware developers. Even without coding assistance, it helps to write genuine-sounding phishing emails for hackers.

Although ChatGPT has various safeguards to prevent it from being used for exploitation, this is something that businesses should keep in mind. Artificial intelligence is going mainstream which levels the playing field for hackers and can put increased pressure on your cybersecurity plan.

Remote and hybrid employees risks

After the pandemic, businesses have settled with hybrid workforce models. In some cases, these models are relics of a period when the Covid-19 outbreak forced the digital transition. As this development had to happen very quickly and not interrupt business operations, this also meant that the security measures weren’t always without gaps.

This blend of employees working on-premises, remote working contractors, and a wide variety of their used company-issued and personal devices makes it a colossal job to secure everything. For IT administrators, the attack surface is too huge to oversee everything that is happening. As data breach cases pile up, we’ll likely continue to see an increased interest in securing business networks and balancing them with workplace flexibility.

Automation of cybersecurity

As hackers themselves are starting to leverage AI for their exploits, it’s only natural that businesses should keep up. Data sources multiply exponentially, so automation is necessary to crunch numbers before humans can analyze them. This allows companies to get the best of both worlds and dramatically improve their cybersecurity status.

Various sources show that successful AI pairings can extend network visibility by up to 35%. These developments clearly show that AI has the potential to be a key component when transforming network security operations. Leveraging machine learning moves organizations forward and builds more sophisticated systems to withstand the most complex online threats.

International state-sponsored attacks

While state-sanctioned cyberattacks are nothing new, the ongoing war in Ukraine marked a turning point for a steep increase. Russia remains largely isolated from the rest of the Western world, and 64% of Russian hacking was directed directly at Ukraine. These are huge numbers, even without factoring in hacking attempts at their allies. Cyber espionage is escalating in other areas as the US recently shot down the Chinese surveillance balloon.

As all this is happening, a business can easily be caught in the crossfire. This makes private companies and critical infrast
ructure organizations prime targets for credential theft, vulnerability exploitation, or ransomware. In such a climate, not having a cybersecurity plan in place is a severe liability, and businesses will likely take action to address IT security shortcomings.

Building a security-aware culture

According to Verizon, 85% of breaches involve a human element, so investing in cybersecurity technologies but skimping on the workforce is missing the forest for the trees. In today’s climate, thinking that cybersecurity risks are a problem for the IT department can blow up when you least expect it. Every single employee must be aware of potential cyber risks and know how to deal with them.

In some cases, this may require building transparent information security policies. In others, security awareness training may be necessary. Security culture building will become a key factor in many organizations this year. As social engineering attack numbers aren’t subsiding, there’s no other way to combat these threats than through company culture.

Data breaches will continue to increase

Data breaches increase yearly more than they did the previous year, and this year will be no exception. Data is still one of the most valuable assets, and organizations still leave plenty of room for attackers to exploit gaps in the fence. Building a firm infrastructure isn’t cheap or simple, either, so most companies exist hoping they won’t be the next target.

This said prevention is much more effective (and cheaper) than settlements, lawsuits, and fines for data security violations. Yet, many businesses still rely on legacy software without any risk management policy and procedure updates. We can expect that more businesses will be caught off guard this year while others will try to learn from others’ mistakes rather than their own.

Global recession serves as a catalyst for hackers

As many experts are warning about economic downturns, this can catalyze cybercrime. Most cyberattacks are financially backed, so as the economy shrinks due to global geopolitical events like Russia’s war in Ukraine, this sends a shockwave throughout all spheres of life. Hacking, therefore, can become a lucrative option if a person has the skills and no other options to earn a living wage.

Hackers-for-hire, therefore, may emerge in search of easy money, which can have various devastating consequences for companies. While some might perform penetration tests or collect bug bounties, others may not be so ethical. This should be considered, especially in Europe, considering its geopolitical tensions.

Credential stealing will continue to rise

Various reports show that mobile device vulnerabilities targeting credentials are on the rise. Hackers know that employees use their IoT devices to access the company network. So these devices are user-managed. They tend to have quite more vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit.

What also helps hackers is that most systems are still protected with only passwords. It’s especially easy to crack such a setup when employees reuse the same passwords. A move towards passwordless or hardware identity tokens is happening slowly. This proves to be a lucrative opportunity for thieves. Some experts claim that we’ll also see more second-factor authentication exploits via SMS and push-based multi-factor authentication solutions this year.

Tips on how to prepare your business for 2023

To prepare for this year, companies should start with budgeting. The amount spent on cybersecurity in 2021 and 2022 should be a benchmark for the 2023 budget. It should also adjust according to how many significant changes occurred in the organization and the cybersecurity landscape.

Adjusting the cybersecurity budget according to your company size is also common. A rule of thumb is to allocate at least 10-20% of your total budget. Revising the budgeting plan as you go is always a good idea. Cybersecurity threats and landscape can change a lot throughout the year, so staying flexible is one of the methods to stay ahead of the curve.

How can NordLayer help to protect your business in 2023?

Most recent developments in cyberspace are relevant to every business as most of them will be affected by them. Organizations need trustworthy allies to deter cyber threats as the threats keep piling up.

A modern remote network access solution like NordLayer is developed to integrate threat, network, and security management centrally to provide an explicit range of issue-targeted features. Especially with the help of a convenient design that combines cloud-based platforms, data privacy protection, and access control security strategies. 

NordLayer covers security with a centralized control interface and product integration to existing infrastructure. It provides secure remote access solutions for hybrid environments and implements zero trust for distributed workforces conveying everything to the cloud environment.

Achieve a multilayered security protection network and data environment — secure your business in 2023 with NordLayer — reach out to talk more.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.