FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT
Fortified Health Security Arming Healthcare Systems in the Cybersecurity War
(as seen in Nashville Medical News September 2018)
If the thought of a cybersecurity breach to your bank is terrifying, imagine the fallout for a healthcare organization tasked with protecting the financial, personal and medical information of millions of patients.
Cyber attacks can make or break a health system, shaking the confidence of patients and providers. That’s where Fortified Health Security comes in. Founded in 2009, the Franklin-based company is quickly becoming an industry leader, partnering with more than 100 health systems and hundreds of hospitals in 35 states.
The New War in Healthcare
“Cybersecurity is a battle, and it’s one that requires continuous engagement,” said Dan Dodson, president of Fortified Health Security. “Our healthcare clients need a partner that understands healthcare and cybersecurity, because there’s a uniqueness in healthcare that other industries don’t face.”
Dodson said a common misconception among healthcare executives is the perceived and actual value of their security program. Every day, a healthcare system gets hacked. Once detected, administrators typically drop big money on exceptionally pricey technology aimed at preventing future attacks. Problem is, it’s rarely used to its full potential.
“Oftentimes, the technology is so advanced that no one really knows how to run it,” Dodson explained. “The perceived value of that investment and actual value is astronomically different, and that’s a gap we have to bridge.”
He encourages executives to stop thinking about the next shiny box and instead make sure their investment in security technology is being maximized. Fortified staff members work with an organization’s existing technology to maximize results and walk alongside IT staff to provide training and ongoing support. “We’re an extension of the security team, as our role is to make sure people are leveraging expertise and best practices, and making sure the person on the ground is informed and making the best decisions for the healthcare organization,” he said.