Internet Filtering Solutions for Healthcare Organizations

In today's fast-paced technological world, healthcare organizations must not only inoculate themselves from external Internet security threats such as spyware and malware, but must also protect themselves against the threats from within their walls. Like any other business, healthcare organizations are susceptible to employee misuse of their Internet access, which could result in costly consequences. For example, when employees engage in viewing offensive Web content at work, including pornography, this often results in sexual and hostile work environment lawsuits. Organizations also lose time and money when employees tie up network bandwidth with IM, P2P and other streaming media, spend too much time shopping online, or inadvertently allow spyware and malware into the system. Finally, when employees inadvertently disclose sensitive information through Web-based email, they put organizations in financial and legal jeopardy. With the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) pushing to protect sensitive client data, healthcare cannot afford to have less than the best in Internet security solutions. 

8e6 offers a wide range of Internet filtering and reporting appliances that not only help companies maintain compliance HIPAA, but also help protect the security of a company's network infrastructure, improve employee productivity and reduce liability. With no premiums, easy to install and use, and 24-7 technical support, 8e6 is the best choice for overburdened IT administrators and managers.

8e6 for Healthcare Business Benefits:

1. Maintain HIPAA compliance
2. Protect company and client sensitive data
3. Maximize employee productivity
4. Avoid costly legal liabilities due to sexual harassment and hostile work environment lawsuits
5. Preserve network bandwidth
6. Enforce company Acceptable Use Policy (also known as Internet Access Policy)
7. Control access to customer records and private data
8. Monitor communications going into and out of the company

Facts about Internet use at most companies: 

• More than 40 percent of survey respondents cited blocking inappropriate content as the most critical business need for Web filtering within their organizations.
• Nearly two thirds of respondents are facing the challenge of increased levels of malware and phishing attacks on the network as a direct result of employee Internet usage.
• The majority of respondents are interested in incorporating laptop filtering in their security strategy, with 80 percent citing the need to ensure consistent enforcement of Acceptable Use Policies across all computers, regardless of whether they are operating inside or outside the network.
• A growing number of organizations are requiring Internet filtering and reporting as part of the company's compliance program and audit preparation. 40 percent already incorporate them into their compliance strategy. 
• One CTO discovered that an employee had inadvertently created a botnet within the company's network after surfing real estate sites in search of a new home. The botnet was stealing bandwidth and processing power from the company's resources. This illustrates the growing problem of accidental malware infection from even legitimate Web sites.
• A technology manager discovered a male employee had created an internal site on the network with pornographic pictures of himself and was e-mailing the images to female employees, including the CEO and other top executives.