Five tips for securing your digital patient records

As an osteopath, you can never be too careful with your patients’ health information. Here are five basic safety measures you can take to dramatically increase the security of your electronic data:

1

Install updates on all of your devices

Whether it’s your phone, computer, tablet, or even an app, install those updates! Most system updates include some security fixes, and the longer you delay installation, the more vulnerable you become.

2

Use strong passwords and keep them guarded on all your accounts

When it comes to creating a password, opt for something longer like a phrase or a song lyric. Creating a lengthy password is far more secure than using a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols (even though that’s what most of us have been taught to do).

Also avoid reusing passwords on multiple sites. It’s very tempting, we know! But it makes you susceptible to data breaches. If you’re struggling to keep track of all your passwords, rather than doubling up on them, think about subscribing to a password management system to store them safely for you.

4

Encrypt your data

3

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) in as many places as you can 2FA requires not only your username and password but also an additional code which is sent to a separate physical device such as your phone or tablet. Essentially, 2FA requires something you know (your email and password) as well as something you have (your phone).

2FA is the single most secure thing you can do to protect your online account, because it requires that you have your phone with you—it’s very unlikely that someone trying to access your accounts is also going to have your phone!

If you lose your laptop, even if it’s password-protected, the information could still be accessed. With encryption turned on, your data is much safer because if anyone gains access to the information, they’ll be unable to decipher it.

5

Safely store and backup your data

Even with encrypted devices, strong passwords, and other security measures in place, this won’t prevent data loss if your information isn’t backed up. Your laptop might be password protected to the moon and back, but if you drop it in the lake, retrieving what was on it might not be possible. If you’re a Cliniko customer, we handle data backups for you. If you’re not, make sure you’re backing up regularly.

While there are other precautions you can take, following these steps will give you a good baseline level of security. You’ve probably already undertaken some of the actions on this list, but it’s important to do everything, rather than picking and choosing. The extra time these precautions require to set up is worth it—for both data security and your peace of mind!

Find out more

At Cliniko, security shapes every decision we make and, when you’re using our practice management software, you can rest easy knowing your patient data is protected.

Take a free trial today at cliniko.com/oa-member - the trial is 90 days for OA members.