Data storage and cybersecurity are chief concerns for healthcare organizations that handle sensitive patient information. Hospitals carry an enormous responsibility to protect this data from stealthy spammers—especially considering that the average cost of a healthcare data breach was $7.13 million last year, nearly twice the global average cost of all industries combined, according to research from IBM Security. A fragmented approach to secure data storage can leave gaping holes in a hospital’s defense strategy. This was the concern at Granger Medical Clinic, where a patchwork system of aging on-premises servers began to hinder the company’s rapid expansion. After a 14-month growth spurt tripled the size of the clinic, these patches created a jumbled mess of data storage and network security infrastructure. To streamline and safeguard this disjointed architecture, Granger turned to the cloud. Here’s how Dynamic Network Advisors helped Granger tap into the benefits of healthcare cloud computing by virtualizing its server through Microsoft 365, while strengthening its defenses with more robust cybersecurity solutions.
Migrating to healthcare cloud computing with Microsoft 365
Moving Granger’s fragmented data to the cloud required a two-step solution. First, Dynamic advised Granger to consolidate its tangled “spaghetti network” of servers onto one centralized data center. Then, they migrated this new environment to the cloud by virtualizing the server to Microsoft 365 with ongoing support from Rapid Scale, a Cox Business company that provides a co-managed cloud hosting solution. The cloud migration streamlined Granger’s network architecture while giving the clinic’s staff instant access to email, Microsoft Office apps, and other collaboration tools from any location. This allowed employees to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, without sacrificing productivity or security. In fact, Granger’s data is now safer than ever, thanks to instantaneous backups and disaster recovery through Microsoft Azure. Migrating to the cloud also freed Granger’s IT team from the hassle and capital expense of managing on-premises servers—replacing those costs with a predictable monthly bill that includes automatic updates and continual support. Instead of patching up old servers that rely on manual maintenance, Granger’s IT team can now shift its focus to long-term strategic growth initiatives.
Blocking cyber threats and ensuring secure data storage
One of the clunkiest tools bolted onto Granger’s motley old network was an on-premises email firewall that required a lot of manual work to run updates, scan for threats, and police suspicious messages. As the clinic’s email volume swelled to nearly 50,000 messages per day—the majority of which was spam—Granger needed more vigilant protection from cyberattacks. To strengthen the clinic’s online defense, the cybersecurity experts at Dynamic recommended Mimecast, a cloud-based email security solution that blocks spam, ransomware, impersonation attempts, and other hacks. This enhanced protection instantly cut down on the amount of spam landing in Granger’s email inboxes, while eliminating the need for the IT department to manage any on-premises equipment. Even with the best cyber-defenses, human error is still to blame for nearly a quarter of all malicious attacks that result in data breaches, according to IBM Security. So, to help Granger safeguard its staff against spam and other email traps, Dynamic connected the clinic with Stickley on Security for quarterly cybersecurity training to help employees recognize phishing attempts and other threats. By leveraging the streamlined efficiencies of cloud-based secure data storage, combined with the heightened protection of more robust firewalls and regular cybersecurity training, Dynamic helped Granger navigate its options to keep sensitive medical information protected. Contact Dynamic Network Advisors to unlock the efficiency and security of healthcare cloud computing at your organization.