Healthcare Practices Need Less Bad Surprises
Finding leftover Halloween candy, that’s definitely a good surprise! Getting hit with unexpected hardware expenses makes for a very bad surprise! I’m here to discuss with you the importance of partnering with the right IT firm and how they can prevent bad and often expensive surprises from sneaking up on your medical practice.
Last week, we discussed the importance of partnering with an IT managed service provider (MSP) to avoid falling into the outdated break/fix model of network management. While popular some years ago, recent industry literature points out the various problems associated with managing a network in the break/fix manner.
Why Break/Fix Model Inevitably Leads to Bad Surprises
So, you haven’t heard from or had to contact your current IT provider in a while. Quiet times can lure you into a false sense of security, thinking how things seem to be working okay for now. That seems like a good thing, right? Actually, operating this way is quite a gamble, one that could potentially bankrupt your practice. It sounds scary because it is. Countless times in the MSP industry we run across medical offices unknowingly utilizing the break/fix model, unaware of the blaring gaps in security.
Does any of this sound familiar?
- Developing a tolerance for hardware problems you view as small. These small inconveniences can be a symptom of a larger problem. Problems that can be easily treated now but may escalate into major ones over time. Sound similar to the advice you give patients every day???
- Rapid advances in technology lead to frequent software patches and updates. All these updates eat up more and more drive space. Now you’re experiencing ever increasing slowdowns, poor performance, and hardware incompatibilities. Doesn’t it cost a fortune to replace these items? Did you plan for that in this year’s budget?
- Neglecting to notice backups are not processing daily due to unavailable server space or a faulty server. Weeks’ worth of work and imaging are irreplaceably lost. Did you know you’re now neglectful under HIPAA as well?
- No one in your office nor your IT consultant notices the antivirus software subscription lapsed. The window opened just enough, and a ransomware virus spread through the network. Ransomware attacks are up over 400% this year, and small business healthcare is a hot target for cyberattacks.
How to Spot Bad Surprises on the Horizon?
The Achilles heel of the break/fix model is that there must be a sign of trouble before your network is given the proper attention. In order to prevent bad surprises, it is crucial that small business healthcare engage in the right partnership with a proactive IT managed service provider.
What does it really mean to be proactive in the industry? With the right MSP your network is being monitored 24/7, with HIPAA trained technicians looking for any potential weaknesses and contacting you to forecast a solution before signs of trouble hit.
The Good Surprise: That’s Already Included in my IT Plan!
Go ahead and replace the workstation instead of developing a tolerance for hardware problems you view as small. Let your MSP update that imaging software without fear of slowdowns. Rest assured your system is backed up properly, with plenty of storage space on a healthy server. Be confident your MSP is monitoring your network with the highest caliber antivirus software and will never let it expire.
No more bad surprises! Your days of worrying about unexpected and expensive hardware and network issues are over. This is one of the greatest benefits of partnering with a HIPAA trained MSP! Instead of waiting for some type of disaster to hit, put your trust in a managed service provider that plans ahead.
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IT Practice was created in 1996 with the goal of making IT fears a thing of your past. With more than 20 years of experience in network management and security we understand the intricacies of protecting medical professionals and their practices. Contact us with your questions or a hassle-free tech analysis at media@itpractice.com.
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By Heather Bratcher
Heather is the Digital Marketing Specialist for IT Practice (www.itpractice.com), a Raleigh, NC based managed services provider specializing in medical and dental IT. She can be contacted at media@itpractice.com.
