Healthcare Data Privacy and Security Firm Meets Demand for HIPAA Expertise and Audit Support by Business Associates
Austin, Texas, November 17, 2015 — CynergisTek™, an authority in health information security, privacy, and compliance, today announced that it has extended its Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) Service to serve business associates (BAs) of healthcare provider organizations, as well as covered entities. The service integrates CynergisTek’s experienced security professionals into an organization’s existing information security program to ensure effective management and regulatory compliance. Additionally, the company announced that GetWellNetwork, the leader in Interactive Patient Care™ (IPC) solutions, is the first BA to employ its vCISO service for expert support and advisement on maturing and managing its information security program.
Like healthcare providers, BAs face more security threats and regulatory requirements to protect personal health information than ever before, but many lack the internal resources and tools required to properly secure their infrastructures. GetWellNetwork selected CynergisTek as a security partner based on its specialized expertise in healthcare and commitment to working as an extension of the existing IT team. Specifically, CynergisTek will assign a senior information security consultant to serve as GetWellNetwork’s vCISO, providing ongoing guidance throughout the process of defining, deploying and managing an information security program.
“Security has become a critical element of doing good business with providers. It’s not the result of concerns regarding forthcoming HIPAA audits. It’s simply the right thing to do.” said David Bennett, chief information and innovation officer of GetWellNetwork. “We realize the need for a dedicated role to oversee information security and think CynergisTek’s vCISO resource will serve us well in analyzing our current state of security and in developing a strategy for improving the overall program.”
CynergisTek’s vCISO service is a three-year program designed to provide information security expertise and advice that supports an organization’s Chief Information Officer, Security Officer, and other key staff. The assigned vCISO is responsible for presenting security priorities, regular status updates and documented plans of action. This enables continual improvement of the organization’s security program based on its unique needs.
“BAs are the fastest growing segment of our new clientele, and we expect that trend to continue as requests for demonstrable safeguards and attestations of compliance from providers increase and the audits get closer,” said Mac McMillan, CEO of CynergisTek. “Providers are getting smarter and tougher on how they give access to their protected health information and therefore, BAs need to be smarter too. We are happy to offer GetWellNetwork the value-add of our service and to guide them on the road to solidifying the integrity of their business and assuring their clients’ commitment to information security.”