Staying HIPAA Compliant Means Upgrading From Windows 7 v.2

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Eric Carr
5 years ago
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Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that it will no longer provide service for Windows 7 starting on January 14th, 2020.

1 Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that it will no longer provide service for Windows 7 starting on January 14th, As we say goodbye to an operating system (OS) first released a decade ago, the time has finally come for businesses to migrate their systems over to Windows 10, especially if you operate in the health care sector. Whether a dental practice, general clinic, or health spa, if your records contain sensitive medical information about your customers or patients you must provide a level of security that meets HIPAA standards to ensure that data remains safe and secure. With Windows 7 having reached End of Life, the program will no longer meet HIPAA compliance standards, meaning your business will expose itself to all of the potential fines and civil lawsuits associated with a violation of compliance standards if you continue using the OS after January 14th, Fortunately, making the switch from Windows 7 to Windows 10 won t require a massive undertaking that will cause unwanted headaches and the potential to lose valuable data. With the help of a health care IT solutions provider like ComputerHABITS, making the switch to Windows 10 can occur quickly, efficiently and, best of all, safely. Let s take a look at why switching to Window 10 matters, what can happen if you don t make the switch in time, and what you can expect while making the transition. What Does End of Life Mean for an Operating System? When Microsoft announced they would no longer provide service for Windows 7 after January of next year it signified what s referred to as the End of Life for the operating system. While End of Life sounds pretty dire, the term doesn t mean that starting next year all computers running on Windows 7 will no longer function. Think of it more like trying to play a cassette tape while riding in a car built after the year Sure, the tape will still play the music recorded on it, but good luck finding a car stereo system that s compatible with the type of technology you re trying to use. What End of Life actually means is that after the January expiration date, Microsoft will no longer support or create new security patches for Windows 7. For someone who thinks the mobile pager was the greatest advance ever in wireless communication, the idea of switching just because a certain technology has become antiquated may seem unnecessary. However, for businesses needing to meet HIPAA compliance standards, making the switch couldn t matter more.

Why Migrating to Windows 10 Matters Between 2009 the year Windows 7 was first released and 2018 there have been over 2,500 reported healthcare data breaches each year that have involved the theft of

2 Why Migrating to Windows 10 Matters Between 2009 the year Windows 7 was first released and 2018 there have been over 2,500 reported healthcare data breaches each year that have involved the theft of over 500 records, according to the HIPAA Journal. Combined, those breaches have resulted in the theft/exposure of more than 189 million patient healthcare records. Healthcare data breaches are now being reported at one a day. Cybercriminals continue their ruthless assault by developing new and better malware on what seems like a daily basis. Those annoying notifications you used to receive from Microsoft saying a new update was available were often security patches designed to help protect your system from a new type of malware invading your computer. As of January 2020 if Microsoft detects a new vulnerability that threatens the security of PCs running on Windows 7 they will no longer release a patch to secure the problem. Without constant updating of the new patches and security updates Microsoft used to provide, your business s operating system will no longer offer the kind of protection against cyber theft that HIPAA requires. Your system and all of the patient records it contains now becomes incredibly vulnerable and far easier for criminals to obtain. Just as a one-foot tall fence will only keep the smallest of people from stepping over it, an OS that no longer receives developer support provides minimal protection for whatever it s supposed to guard.

What Happens if I Don t Meet HIPAA Compliance Standards? If you work in the health care industry, you probably already have a pretty good idea of what would happen if you were to violate HIPAA rules.

3 What Happens if I Don t Meet HIPAA Compliance Standards? If you work in the health care industry, you probably already have a pretty good idea of what would happen if you were to violate HIPAA rules. For individuals who are willing to violate HIPAA regulations, penalties can range from termination by an employer, to fines, to even having their license suspended or revoked. For businesses that knowingly violate HIPAA regulations and, no, saying you were unaware Windows 7 was your OS won t cut it as an excuse the primary penalty comes in the form of severe fines. Tier 1 HIPAA fines for those found unaware of violating HIPAA compliance can range from a minimum of $100 to a max of $25,000 for repeat violations. Tier 2 fines for those found in breach with reasonable cause range from a minimum of $1,000 to max of $100,000. By the time we reach Tier 4 reserved for those who willfully neglect HIPAA Rules fines range from $50,000 to $1.5 million per violation. Simply put, failing to take the time to upgrade your OS opens you up to receiving massive fines that could threaten the overall health and stability of your business. Should thieves steal patient information from an OS you knew was unsecured and didn t meet HIPAA standards, you open yourself up to massive lawsuits from patients angry that their sensitive data wasn t properly secured. As an investment, nothing offers a better return than taking the time and effort to make sure you upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10, and stay on the right side of HIPAA standards.

What to Expect When Making the Switch January 2020 may feel like the distant future, but it s vital you start planning and budgeting now for upgrades to ensure a smooth transition.

4 What to Expect When Making the Switch January 2020 may feel like the distant future, but it s vital you start planning and budgeting now for upgrades to ensure a smooth transition. Upgrading your practice is a significant project, and we highly recommend you coordinate any planned upgrade with ComputerHABITS as soon as possible to beat the rush leading up to the deadline. Compatibility issues between your Operating System (OS), Practice Management (PM), imaging, and other hardware and software, are major factors to consider: Dentrix G4 and G5 (up to 15.1) will not work with Windows 10. However, Dentrix G5 (15.2), G6 and G7 are compatible with Windows 7 and Windows 10. If you are not running a supported version, an upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 would also require an update to your Dentrix software to remain compliant and compatible. Eaglesoft 16 and 17 will not work with Windows 10. However, Eaglesoft 18, 19 and 20 are compatible with both Windows 7 and Windows 10. If you are not running a supported version, an upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 would also require an update to your Eaglesoft software to remain compliant and compatible. Carestream Dental, PracticeWorks v7.9.3 is Windows 10 compatible. If you are not running a supported version, an upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 would also require an update to your PracticeWorks software to remain compliant and compatible. Open Dental is fully compatible with Windows 10. Daisy v4.5 and up is fully compatible with Windows 10. PerioVision v15 and up is fully compatible with Windows 10. Most imaging systems such as all versions of Dexis are compatible with Windows 10. But regardless of compatibility, all imaging platforms should be checked for compatibility before updating to Windows 10, as should server OS compatibilities. In addition to updating your computers, it s important to make sure your server is also up-todate. Along with Windows 7, Microsoft will also discontinue support for Windows Server 2008 on January 14th, Just as with Windows 7, no more updates means no more security patches to keep viruses from attacking your server. Most servers that are still running Windows Server 2008 should be updated with new hardware. The system requirements to run Windows Server 2016 are much higher and require more sophisticated hardware to run the OS efficiently.

Don t Wait to Make the Upgrades Your Business Requires The idea of updating all of your computers at once probably seems daunting and potentially expensive.

5 Don t Wait to Make the Upgrades Your Business Requires The idea of updating all of your computers at once probably seems daunting and potentially expensive. Fortunately, we offer financing solutions as part of your managed service plan. This allows you to pay for your equipment and project costs on a fixed monthly budget, avoiding the need to pay everything in one lump sum. One of the best aspects of working with ComputerHABITS is not having to tackle the upgrade process alone! As your IT partner and trusted advisor, we re here to offer meaningful guidance to keep your dental practice s technology systems running optimally at all times, so you can continue providing the best possible care to your patients. We are available to answer any questions you may have regarding Windows 7 End of Life and how your practice will be impacted. To schedule your upgrade, call James at

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