The Need for a Strategic Technology Service Provider
In healthcare today, a technology service provider has a role that goes far beyond keeping systems up and running, or ensuring email and Wi-Fi is working. It’s more about keeping pace with constant change both in how practices operate and how technology evolves. With AI and other advancements rapidly reshaping the healthcare landscape, and an ever-changing regulatory environment, technology needs to be constantly evaluated, adapted, and seamlessly integrated to reduce obstacles for physicians and staff. This is where strategic technology service providers come in. It’s not just about support; it’s about guiding practices through change, helping them stay current with emerging tools and innovations, and ensuring technology continually enhances patient care and operational efficiency. Traditional support models fall short. Today, practices need a partner who can help them navigate complexity and make smarter technology decisions, not just keep the lights on. The Limitations of Typical Technology Service Providers Typical technology service providers can be useful in providing extra hands or needed expertise for certain specific projects. However, their focus is primarily reactive – fixing what’s broken and maintaining what exists. They may be great at break-fixing and troubleshooting, but when it comes to strategy, alignment, and forward-thinking guidance, most technology providers fall short. Here’s where that becomes a problem: What a Strategic Technology Partner Brings At Healthspaces, we believe physician-owned and PE-backed practices deserve more than break-fix solutions. You need a partner who sits at the decision-making table, helping you: Be Adaptive, Not Just Reactive In healthcare, standing still is falling behind. New regulations, patient expectations, and technological advances are constantly reshaping the way clinics must operate to keep them and their patients safe and organized. A purely reactive approach leaves you scrambling to catch up; solving yesterday’s problems instead of preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities. Adaptability means proactively assessing where your practice is headed and evolving your technology alongside it. It’s really about asking, What’s next? and being ready before it arrives. An adaptive partner helps you anticipate shifts, pivot quickly, and maintain sustained progress, so you never lose ground to competitors or compromise patient care. Why It Matters for Healthcare Practices Your technology environment shouldn’t just support your operations, it should empower your growth. The right strategic partner will: The Bottom Line If you feel stuck reacting to technology issues, it’s time for a reset. Traditional technology service providers can be part of the solution but not the whole solution. A strategic technology partner brings clarity, structure, and momentum to your practice. At Healthspaces, we help physician practices go beyond the break-fix cycle and build technology environments that support long-term success.
Things Your Clinic Can’t Afford to Ignore Regarding Cybersecurity
Budgeting for Cybersecurity: What Clinics Can’t Afford to Ignore Cybersecurity is not optional in healthcare – it is essential. With increasing threats targeting provider groups and clinics, from ransomware attacks to data breaches, failing to invest in security can have devastating financial and reputational consequences. Yet, many physician-owned practices struggle to determine how to budget for cybersecurity and where to allocate those funds effectively. And, unfortunately, cybersecurity is used as a stick by vendors to sell expensive products that frequently don’t provide real protection, plus oftentimes they make life more difficult for end users, especially patients and providers. At HealthSpaces, we take a strategic and rational approach to cybersecurity, as part of our Virtual CIO process – aligning security investments with business goals to ensure clinics remain compliant, operational and protected. Here’s how clinics should approach cybersecurity budgeting and why they can’t afford to ignore it. The Cost of Inaction Many clinics operate under the illusion that they are too small to be targeted or that their existing security measures are sufficient. However, data shows that healthcare remains one of the most targeted industries for cyberattacks, and yesterday’s solutions are no longer sufficient. The cost of a data breach in healthcare is the highest of any industry, averaging $10.93 million per breach in 2023, according to this IBM Data Breach Report. Beyond financial losses, a breach can lead to: Patient trust erosion – Patients may leave if they feel their data is unsafe. Regulatory fines – Non-compliance with HIPAA and other regulations can result in hefty penalties from the Feds. Civil penalties – In virtually every case, after HHS/OCR comes calling, State Attorneys General and even private law firms join the bandwagon to come after you. Operational downtime – Ransomware attacks can bring clinic operations to a halt. Distraction to the management team – Dealing with all the fallout and recovery efforts detracts from taking care of patients and running the practice. Ignoring cybersecurity isn’t just a risk – it’s a liability. How to Budget for Cybersecurity Effectively A strong cybersecurity strategy isn’t just about spending more money; it’s about investing strategically to maximize protection where it matters most. Here’s how clinics can take a structured approach to cybersecurity budgeting: 1. Align Cybersecurity with Business Objectives Security shouldn’t be a standalone technology function, or an after-the-fact add-on – it should be integrated into the clinic’s overall technology and operational strategy. Our vCIO approach focuses on aligning cybersecurity investments with key business goals, ensuring that security measures support patient care, compliance, and operational efficiency. 2. Prioritize Risks and Allocate Resources Accordingly Not all risks are equal. Start by assessing vulnerabilities in areas like: User vulnerabilities – Are users properly trained on an ongoing basis to detect and respond to phishing attacks? According to CISA.gov, over 90% of all breaches begin with a phishing attack on end users. Network security – Are systems properly segmented and monitored? Endpoint protection – Are all devices secured and regularly updated? Authentication and access control – Are staff following best practices for login credentials, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO)? Provisioning – Is this automated across the practice, with end users segmented by job role, to prevent inappropriate access? By conducting a risk assessment, including likelihood and impact of different threats, clinics can allocate their budget where it will have the most impact. 3. Reduce Phishing by Rethinking Communication Your employees can unintentionally be your biggest threat when it comes to data breaches, Phishing remains one of the biggest cybersecurity threats to clinics, with attackers often targeting staff via very sophisticated but fraudulent emails. Instead of relying on traditional email, which is inherently vulnerable, clinics can eliminate phishing threats altogether by using internal communication platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or similar secure collaboration tools. Internal communication platforms are not exposed to the outside – Phishing attacks typically occur via email, but platforms like Slack keep communication within a controlled, encrypted environment. By shifting communication to a secure, internal system, clinics can dramatically reduce the risk of phishing attacks while improving workflow efficiency. 4. Invest in People, Not Just Technology Most breaches occur due to human error, or at least human enablement. While tools such as firewalls and antivirus software are critical, so is training staff to recognize scams and follow security protocols. Allocating part of the cybersecurity budget to ongoing security awareness training can prevent costly episodes. And fortunately these solutions are relatively inexpensive, especially compared to expensive monitoring and reporting tools and services that frequently give more appearance of compliance than actual protection. 5. Implement Proactive Security Measures Preventative security investments cost far less than responding to a breach. In addition, in the fire drill that usually follows a breach, there is precious little time to unravel the problem and look for the root cause. To be better prepared for when – not if – a security event happens, clinics should focus on: Extended endpoint detection and response (XDR) solutions Security Incident and Event Monitoring (SIEM) systems Ongoing penetration testing and reporting Application white-listing Business Continuity, and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) planning, including redundant systems where feasible. A proactive approach minimizes both risks and costs in the long run. And just by doing the planning exercise, the practice can frequently identify hidden risks and take appropriate action. 6. Consider Compliance as a Cost-Saving Strategy Regulatory compliance isn’t just about avoiding fines – it’s about ensuring best practices that inherently strengthen security. Our vCIO process helps clinics align cybersecurity with HIPAA and other regulatory requirements, reducing exposure to compliance-related penalties. Making Cybersecurity a Business Priority Cybersecurity isn’t just a tech issue – it’s a critical business function that directly impacts patient care, reputation, and financial health. By adopting a strategic vCIO-driven approach, clinics can make smart investments that balance security, compliance, and operational needs. Ignoring cybersecurity is far more expensive than budgeting for it wisely. The question isn’t “Can we afford to invest in cybersecurity?” – it’s “Can we afford not to?” Need
Security Theater vs. Security Protection: Avoiding the Illusion of Safety
In today’s healthcare environment, security is not optional. Yet, many organizations fall victim to “security theater”- implementing measures that provide more appearance of safety than actual protection. It’s tempting to tick off compliance checkboxes with standardized assessments, fancy reports and a few expensive tools. However the result is often a fragmented, overly costly, and ultimately ineffective security posture, one that leaves the practice with way less protection than they probably think they have. What Is a Security Theater? Security theater refers to measures designed to make people feel safe without necessarily improving real security. It’s like locking the front door while leaving the back door wide open. In healthcare, this often manifests as: The Hidden Downside of High Cost Piece-Part Solutions You’re spending a ton of money with a big-name tech vendor, so you MUST be protected, right? (Remember the old adage, “No one ever got fired for picking IBM”). Fragmented security investments with big-name companies often leave organizations with significant blind spots. Consider the following pitfalls: Moving from Theater to Real Protection True security requires a shift in mindset from reactive compliance to proactive risk management. Here’s how to bridge the gap: From Illusion to Impact Security in healthcare should not be an illusion designed to satisfy auditors or impress stakeholders. It should be a genuine effort, focused on the major risks, and designed to actually protect patient data, ensure continuity of care, and build trust. By moving beyond the flashy tools and shallow assessments of security theater, organizations can build robust, cost-effective defenses that truly safeguard what matters most. Are you ready to stop playing to the audience and start building real protection? Reach out to learn how you can transform your approach to real security protection.
Why Is Tech Support in Healthcare So Frustrating?
When Traditional Healthcare IT Support Falls Short Healthcare organizations, especially mid-enterprise physician-owned practices, face constant change and unique challenges with technology support. Users tell us repeatedly that traditional help desk ticketing systems often feel like a black hole – issues are submitted but seem to vanish into the void, leading staff wondering if their concerns are being addressed. Other problems with old-fashioned ticketing systems: Healthcare users need support systems tailored to their environment: quick, intuitive, and capable of understanding the criticality of issues in real-time. Until then, old fashioned ticketing systems will continue to be a square peg in a round hole. Real-Time Collaboration Beats Ticketing Systems Newer collaboration tools like Slack transform the user experience by fostering real-time help and collaboration. Unlike ticketing, which is one-directional and opaque, tools like Slack enable everyone in a group to see issues as they arise, collaborate on solutions, and ensure things get done. This visibility builds trust with your technology systems, creates alignment and transparency, and empowers teams to tackle challenges together. Our customers have told us how these real-time support models can make a difference: Example: During a new system rollout, staff in a particular clinic voiced concerns about system usability through their dedicated Slack channel. The IT team quickly addressed the issue, shared the resolution in the channel, and ensured everyone understood the solution. This transparent approach kept the rollout on track and minimized disruptions while fostering a stronger sense of collaboration across departments. By breaking down barriers and prioritizing communication, healthcare organizations can achieve more than just successful technology rollouts. They can build cohesive, resilient teams that are ready to embrace change and drive innovation. The Big Picture Technology in healthcare is as much about people as it is about systems. Empowering leaders, embracing agile tools, and fostering transparent communication allows healthcare teams to turn challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation. Success starts with a conversation. By choosing tools that prioritize collaboration, healthcare organizations can not only enhance their technology initiatives but also create resilient, forward-thinking teams prepared to meet the future with confidence.