Health Business

In December 2007, the NHS chief executive David Nicholson wrote to all NHS trust chief executives telling them to review and tighten their information governance and data transfer arrangements with immediate effect following reports of data loss by nine NHS trusts.
    
At the end of December 2007, a survey carried out by medical network website Doctors.net.uk for the Times revealed that four out of five doctors say they are not convinced that plans for the sharing of patients’ electronic health records through a proposed central database will be secure.
    
However, there is a balance between the advantages of sharing data and the security threats that can arise when databases are accessible to an increased number of users.
    
The demand for security at all levels is proven, but there are so many security vendors and solutions on the market that it can sometimes be bewildering to know where to start.
    
Avanquest Solutions is the company that can help. During 2008 Avanquest aims to take the strain out of the security challenge. They will be offering health organisations a free security audit.  

First line of defence - NAIL IT DOWN
Anti-theft solutions secure more than just PCs.  Any device (with or without a security slot), such as monitors, TVs, VCR’s, peripheral and lab equipment, can be secured.  
    
Classic PC Guardian locks for laptop and desktop PCs are manufactured using above industry standard, heavy duty, aircraft quality multi strand cable construction. They offer tough, flexible high security protection to deter thieves – who will be unlikely to have a set of heavy duty bolt cutters on them and time to spare, and so will move onto an easier target.
    
On the move, a PC Guardian lock will secure laptops in car boots, where they anchor to the fixed metal D-ring found in the majority of car boots, or to fixed office furniture in a clinic or conference location. The retractable lock in the range, the ‘Ezolution’, is compact so fits neatly into a laptop bag. Newly introduced USB locks ensure no unauthorised media storage devices can be connected, helping to eliminate the leakage of confidential health data.

Second line of defence – SECURING THE PC DATA
A Guardian Edge hard disk encryption solution delivers strong pre-boot user authentication and full disk encryption, so if data is lost or stolen it is at least inaccessible to the thief.
    
E-mail is commonly used to transmit sensitive or confidential information such as patient healthcare and identity information, both inside and outside the enterprise. Cryptzone’s Secured eMail solution provides easy to use and powerful end to end e-mail encryption to remove the risk of data leaks.

Third line of defence – PREVENT THE LEAKS
Control, shield and secure data. Controlguard endpoint access manager prevents information leakage and unauthorised access to ANY device or interface. Take control and monitor how information is downloaded from endpoints.  Shield your network from malware copied to endpoints from removable media and portable devices. Secure your network from exposure to the outside world through wireless modems, WiFi, Bluetooth and other interfaces.
    
Sandisk Cruzer Enterprise USB flash drives meet compliance regulations. Drives store files in an encrypted, password-protected partition.  Employees from director level down can copy information onto USB devices so that they can work on projects at home or in outreach offices, safe in the knowledge that they are not risking confidential information and they are compliant. Home and mobile working is instantly safer.
    
Central Management and Control (CMC) add-on software from Sandisk tracks mobile data coming in or leaving an organisation. This client server solution utilises the unique hardware and embedded software capabilities of Cruzer enterprise devices. The CMC agent rides on the USB drive, enabling IT departments to centrally manage company issued USB devices both inside and outside the enterprise.
    
An Avanquest Security Audit will provide an assessment of how effectively an organisation's security policy is being implemented. By looking at security procedures and operating system access controls, we will be able to measure security policy compliance and recommend solutions for any areas of identified risk. Let Avanquest help you secure your data.

For more information
For help with your Security Audit 2008, please contact Avanquest at 01752 895100 or E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , quoting reference HBSEC08