A risk profile is an evaluation of cybersecurity threats. Keep reading to learn more about risk profiles and why they are an important piece of cybersecurity. Also, find out how a HIPAA compliant email provider can help healthcare providers stay one step ahead.
The first step of creating a risk profile is to identify your organization’s critical assets. This is data that would have the biggest impact on your business operations if compromised or exposed. Also, think about the processes that use or need this information. Next, consider the types of potential threats that would affect these operations. Some examples could be data theft or credential misuse. Once possible threats are determined, it’s time to take a look at what vulnerabilities exist in your environment that make your organization more susceptible. A common weakness is often a lack of employee awareness. Does your staff use weak passwords? Can they recognize a malicious email? Outdated antivirus software is another flaw that might open the path for a successful malware attack.
After crucial assets and threats are identified, the next step is coming up with strategies to avoid or manage them. This process is often documented through a business continuity plan. Organizations can then work on implementing the appropriate safeguards. These might include encrypting information, creating data backups, patching software or training employees on best practices. It is crucial to make cybersecurity an ongoing priority with an annual risk management review. Companies should also update their information security program to reflect the latest policies and standards. Involved leadership can help secure the necessary budget for security solutions. It also reinforces the importance of cybersecurity awareness across your company.
While risk profiles will vary from company to company, certain strategies will steer you in the right direction from the start. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommends these foundational measures:
Risk management is especially crucial for healthcare providers since they are also obligated to keep protected health information (PHI) secure. And with email serving as a leading threat vector for cybercrime, stronger email security is a must. That’s where Paubox Email Suite’s HIPAA compliant email platform comes in. Paubox Email Suite’s Plus and Premium plan levels enable healthcare email encryption by default. This means you don’t have to spend time deciding which emails to encrypt to comply with HIPAA email rules. Plus, patients can access messages directly in their inbox without having to navigate any separate passwords or portals. Paubox Email Suite’s Plus and Premium plan levels include robust inbound email security tools that block malicious emails from reaching the inbox in the first place. Our patent-pending Zero Trust Email feature uses email AI to confirm that an email is authentic. Additionally, our patented ExecProtect feature intercepts display name spoofing attempts.
HITRUST CSF certified 4.9/5.0 on the G2 Grid Paubox secures 70 million HIPAA compliant emails every month.