Healthcare is one of the most targeted industries by cyberattacks. And it’s easy to see why; private patient data is valuable, most players lack adequate security measures, and the industry has a high propensity to pay a ransom, among other factors.
Statistic-wise, the U.S. healthcare industry suffered an average of 1,410 weekly attacks per organization in 2022, reflecting an 86% hike from the previous year.
As we’ve mentioned above, most attacks target valuable patient data such as insurance, medical records, and payment details. That’s why healthcare organizations must have a reliable disaster recovery plan to protect their data from malicious actors. A disaster recovery plan is also essential for maintaining compliance with HIPAA and other industry regulations.
But let’s face it; finding a dependable yet secure and cost-effective disaster recovery solution can be challenging. Thankfully, Azure’s end-to-end backup and cloud recovery plan is one of the best options available for healthcare organizations. Please keep scrolling to discover what it entails, how it reduces security risks, and examples of health facilities already benefiting from its usage. You’ll also learn the importance of working with a Microsoft Partner, like TMC, to help you migrate to Azure Cloud.
What is Azure Cloud Recovery Plan?
Azure’s Disaster Recovery Plan is a comprehensive solution that helps healthcare organizations protect their data from malicious actors and disasters. It provides end-to-end backup and cloud recovery services, enabling healthcare facilities to quickly restore their systems during an attack or disaster.
The plan includes features such as automated backups, replication of virtual machines (VMs), and failover testing. It also offers advanced security measures such as encryption, identity management, and access control. But that’s not all; the plan also enables healthcare organizations to maintain compliance with HIPAA and other industry regulations by ensuring that all patient data is securely stored and backed up.
How Does Azure Cloud Recovery Plan Reduce Security Risks?
With Azure Disaster Recovery solution, healthcare organizations can confidently store and recover (untampered) critical patient data in the cloud. Below are the top ways Azure Cloud improves security for healthcare facilities:
1. Dependable Failover and Recovery
Azure Cloud Recovery Plan provides dependable failover and recovery services. It enables healthcare organizations to replicate their VMs in the cloud, allowing them to quickly restore their systems in the event of an attack or disaster.
2. Advanced Security Measures
Azure offers some of the most advanced security measures to ensure that all patient data is securely stored and backed up. These include:
- Encryption – Breaking Azure’s 256-bit encryption is virtually impossible, as it ensures that only authorized personnel can access the data, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and tampering.
- Identity Management – Azure’s identity management feature enables healthcare organizations to control who has access to their systems and data. This helps them reduce the risk of malicious actors gaining access to their systems and data.
- Access Control – By setting up different levels of access for different users, health facilities can ensure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive patient data, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and tampering.
3. Automated Backups
Azure Cloud Recovery Plan also provides automated backups, ensuring that all patient data is securely backed up in the cloud. This helps healthcare organizations quickly restore their systems in the event of an attack or disaster.
4. Guaranteed Compliance
Azure makes it effortless to comply with industry regulations like ISO 27001 by supporting Site Recovery between separate Azure regions. The best part? If your patient data requires additional protection, Azure DR supports encryption-at-rest and encryption-in-transit to ensure that all data is securely stored and backed up.
An Example of a Healthcare Facility That Uses Azure
Countless healthcare customers have partnered with Azure to ensure their data is securely stored and backed up. These include Sophia Genetics, KenSci, Humana, Adaptive Biotechnologies, and even the CDC, among other partners.
For example, Humana, a Kentucky-based health insurance company, leverages Microsoft Azure Data Lake Storage to store and analyze patient data. The company also uses Azure Site Recovery to replicate its VMs in the cloud, allowing them to quickly restore its systems in the event of an attack or disaster.
The Importance of Working with a Microsoft Partner, Like TMC, to Help You Migrate to Azure Cloud
When migrating your healthcare organization’s data and systems to the cloud, it’s essential to work with a reliable Microsoft partner. Technology Management Concepts, TMC is a trusted Microsoft partner that specializes in helping healthcare organizations migrate their data and systems to Azure.
TMC has extensive experience working with healthcare organizations of all sizes, from small clinics to large hospitals and even health insurance companies. We understand the healthcare industry’s unique needs and can help you migrate your data and systems to Azure quickly and securely.
Still in doubt? Here are a few more reasons you want to partner with us to rethink your healthcare organization’s IT and security infrastructure:
- Certified Experts – We are a team of certified Microsoft experts with the experience and knowledge to help you migrate your data and systems to Azure quickly and securely.
- Secure Migration – We understand the importance of security in healthcare organizations, which is why we use secure migration methods to ensure that all patient data is safely transferred to the cloud.
- Cost-Effective Solutions – We offer cost-effective solutions tailored to your organization’s needs.
- 24/7 Support – We provide 24/7 continuous support to ensure that your data and systems are always secure and running smoothly.
Conclusion
Azure’s Disaster Recovery Plan is an excellent option for healthcare organizations looking to securely store and back up their patient data. With Azure, you can ensure that all your data is encrypted-at-rest and encrypted-in-transit and comply with industry regulations like ISO 27001. In addition, Azure’s Disaster Recovery Plan provides healthcare organizations with a reliable way to back up their data and quickly restore their systems in the event of an attack or disaster.
At TMC, we understand the importance of protecting patient data and ensuring that healthcare organizations can quickly restore their systems during an attack or disaster. We specialize in helping healthcare organizations migrate their data and systems to Azure Cloud Recovery. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you migrate your healthcare organization’s data and systems to Azure.
