Standard Mobile Devices Do Not Comply With Healthcare Security Requirements

As medical service providers increasingly use mobile phones and devices to view medical records and access patient databases, mobile data security has become a growing issue of concern in the healthcare industry.

Medical records contain an abundance of personal information such as name, date of birth, Social Security number, credit-card numbers, and employer information, making these records a prime target for cybercriminals. According to a recent article, between January and May 2012, 29 healthcare security breaches had already occurred, affecting approximately 935,000 individuals.

According to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health and Information Technology (ONC), off-the-shelf smartphones in today's market typically meet 40 percent of security requirements called for by HIPPA and MU Stage 2 Standards. On the high end of the spectrum, iPhones and BlackBerrys only achieve 60 percent of the recommended criteria after manual configuration.

Currently, ONC is conducting research that will assist small to medium sized health care provider organizations secure mobile devices that process health data. Mobile security for these organizations is essential, as they may not have an IT department or data security partner to manage their devices and the sensitive information that they hold. Implementing the appropriate security applications for these devices will safeguard against the loss of patient data.

The ONC is also in the process of compiling a list of best practices for various mobile security scenarios. This guide, published later this year, will outline wireless pitfalls such as unsecured WiFi access, email on mobile smartphones and unsupervised "bring-your-own-device" methods. Circulating these best practices throughout a national healthcare network will assist smaller medical service providers in adopting and executing health IT.

When implementing security for mobile devices, healthcare facilities should also consider how to securely dispose of wireless devices once they have reached the end-of-life. Data security breaches can occur even after a mobile device has been retired and medical service providers need to dispose of devices in a way that does not jeopardize patient data. Partnering with a certified mobile phone buyback and recycling company ensures retired healthcare devices are put through a comprehensive, multi-step mobile data deletion process that keeps confidential information secure.

Developing health IT is essential to ensure mobile phones and devices in the healthcare industry remain protected. Hospitals and health providers have a responsibility to their patients to maintain the proper and secure handling of wireless devices. Additional protocols need to be established assuring out-of-the-box smartphones are protected from data breaches.

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The Next WiFi Standard

The widespread uptake of WiFi technology has enabled many home & business users to expand their IT infrastructure without the need for additional Ethernet wiring. 802.11n wireless technology, which was certified by the IEEE, has grown in popularity because of its ability to transmit data relatively quickly and at high speeds. However this technology has now be superseded by a new uncertified standard called 802.11ac.

IEEE 802.11ac is a wireless computer networking technology standard which is currently in development that provides greater transmissions speed in the 5GHz radio range. Theoretically it's possible to receive data at 1.3Gps which is quite comparable wired Ethernet speeds without the fuss and hassle of wired technologies. These speeds are accomplished by extending the 802.11n RF bandwidth range, adding more MIMO spatial streams - 8 in total, and high density modulation.

Laptop and mobile manufacturers have already started to embed this technology into their devices. The belief is that the quicker the data is received to these devices the quicker it can go to sleep and reduce battery drain rates. There currently isn't a need for 802.11ac technology in the home environment because of limited video streaming or file transfers that might happen with a small set of users. However this would be different in an office environment where transferring data from a server to workstations need to be quick and efficient.

This new standard claims to be more efficient in a hostile RF environment where other mobile devices compete for a clear path on the airways. A reduction in the interference from other mobile devices has been achieved by using high density modulation (QAM). The advantages of the 802.11ac standard will be greater range, higher data rates, reliability improves, and battery lives on mobile devices will be increased.

Speed - Entry level 5G products work at 450Mbs which is three times faster than most common devices using the 802.11n technology.

Manufacturers will offer a range of products to push the high speed barriers at more than 1.3 gigabits per second. This remarkable speed only just achieved by wired based networks. 1.3 Gps would be achievable within 0-10 metres, roughly 400-800 mbps within 10-30 metres, and then speeds drop off beyond the 30 metre range.

Reliability - 802.11ac offers a dramatic improvement in wireless reliability, range and coverage, and will eliminate most dead spots in a home or office. This new standard uses a new technology called Beam-forming which penetrates all forms of building materials. This technology enables it to outperform its predecessors. Beam-forming is the ability for a Wi-Fi transmitter to "learn" to avoid inefficient pathways between it and the device it is transmitting to.

Battery Life for mobile devices - Manufacturers have indicated that they could possibly extend the battery life for mobile devices as much as 6 times the normal standard. Mobile phones and their battery lives will last longer but at the same time transferring a greater amount of data.

However before rushing out and purchasing 802.11ac devices, be careful that these devices may not be backward compatible with existing mobile devices. Apart from this it appears that 802.11ac has pushed the boundaries and quality of streaming in the home will only improve our experiences. It's an interesting technology and but not something to be committed to until it has been certified as an industrial standard.

About the Author: BuzzAGeek is a mobile computer support company located in South East Queensland (Australia). Their geeks do computer & laptop repairs, networking installations, provide managed IT services and create customised web based business software. They service the Sunshine Coast, Caboolture and Brisbane.

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