Wireless Technology/Security

Wireless Security is always a hot topic when you look at using it in Healthcare. There are some best practices that should always be implemented:

1. Hide the SSID
2. Restrict Access by Mac Address to only your machines
3. Create a public network and a private network so patients/clients have access to the internet without access to your private network
4. Encrypt the data going across the wire
5. Use WEP or some sort of VPN technology to encrypt all wireless communication(ie. passwords that may be the same as your EMR)

I’m sure there a few more things, but I’ll add those as I get them. This implementation will give you a good start and I believe with this well documented will satisfy HIPAA Security Rule compliance quite well. Personally I also reccoment not using WEP for protection, but I much prefer using a secure password protected VPN technology to encrypt the data. I personally use L2TP technology to encrypt the data and provide a secure VPN connection on the wireless.