UnitedHealthcare Settles $80,000 with HHS to Resolve HIPAA Concerns Regarding Patient Medical Records Request

UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company (UHIC) has reached a settlement with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over a potential violation of the HIPAA Privacy Rule’s right of access provision. UHIC agreed to pay $80,000 and implement a corrective action plan. This is the 45th Right of …

Why Your Business Needs to Beef Up Employee Security Awareness

We live in an era where organizations are increasingly aware of the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape. Despite billions of dollars invested worldwide to fend off cyberthreats, cybercriminals still manage to penetrate even the strongest security defenses. They relentlessly exploit vulnerabilities with one primary target in mind — employees. Cybercriminals perceive employees as the weakest link in …

Don’t Sabotage Employee Cybersecurity Training With These Common Mistakes

In today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape, employee cybersecurity training is crucial. It acts as the frontline defense against cyberattacks, empowering your workforce to identify and mitigate potential threats. However, to ensure the effectiveness of your training program, you should take all the steps necessary to avoid common mistakes that can undermine your efforts. Let’s uncover …

3 Steps to Zero Trust Cybersecurity for Small Businesses

Cyberattacks have become rampant and have also grown in sophistication. A simple lapse in your network security could lead to a chain of events that could prove catastrophic for your business. You can avoid this by implementing a robust cybersecurity framework such as zero trust.   Zero trust asserts that no user or application should be …

What to Look for in an Outsourced IT Partner

In today’s digital age, most businesses rely heavily on technology to streamline their operations and stay ahead of the competition. However, managing an entire IT infrastructure in-house can be overwhelming and costly.   That’s where outsourcing IT services comes into play. By partnering with a reliable and efficient outsourced IT provider, you can offload the …

HHS settles $75,000 HIPAA case with iHealth Solutions over Unsecured Server Disclosure

The HHS Office for Civil Rights has settled a HIPAA investigation with iHealth Solutions for $75,000. iHealth Solutions, a business associate, experienced a data breach affecting 267 individuals when a network server containing protected health information was left unsecured on the internet. The investigation found evidence of potential failures by iHealth Solutions to analyze risks …

The Interim DFARS Rule and What It Means for You

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) was formally made part of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) in January 2020 and updated to CMMC 2.0 in November 2021. The decision affected more than 300,000 defense industrial base (DIB) members, and many found themselves drowning in all kinds of unnecessary noise surrounding CMMC and its …

1Health Failed to Protect Privacy and Security of DNA Data

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has charged genetic testing company 1Health.io (formerly known as Vitagene) with multiple violations related to the privacy and security of DNA data. The company allegedly stored sensitive genetic and health information without encryption, deceived consumers about data deletion, and changed its privacy policy without proper notification. After being warned multiple …

Get Ready for CMMC Requirements Now

Anyone offering a sure-shot solution to all your Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) woes is trying to pull a fast one on you. The CMMC is a comprehensive move by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) that involves many moving parts and will take years to implement fully.  We have highlighted some crucial aspects you …

How to Successfully Leverage AI in Your Business

Artificial intelligence (AI) can help organizations like yours gain an edge in today’s highly competitive business landscape by increasing efficiency, productivity, and profitability. You can improve customer service, enhance marketing efforts, optimize inventory management, streamline sales processes, and more.   Implementing AI requires a strategic approach to ensure that it delivers the intended benefits while being …