Healthcare organizations utilizing the cloud for data security
Monday, December 12, 2011 6:13:20 PM
Several healthcare organizations have experienced major data breaches in 2011, resulting in millions of lost patient files and significant financial damage to affected companies.
According to a recent study by research firm KLAS, the healthcare industry is beginning to combat data protection concerns with increased adoption of cloud computing. The survey found that 71 percent of healthcare providers have deployed or plan to implement cloud technology, with most organizations adopting it for cost-cutting, security and disaster recovery benefits.
"From a standalone practice's perspective, I am generally scared that I will lose my data," one physician from a large clinic told KLAS. "But if it is in the cloud, I know it is more secure. I can see why physicians who have their own practices might all want to use cloud solutions. Then they wouldn't have to worry about the security of the data on-site in their office."
The report comes after the Ponemon Institute recently revealed data breaches at healthcare providers have increased 32 percent during the previous 12 months. More than half of healthcare organizations have little or no confidence in their organization recognizing breaches, while 41 percent of respondents said employee mistakes are usually the cause of data loss incidents.
-McAfee Cloud Security
