Page 8 - Campus Security & Life Safety, July/August 2019

“There is an inherent need for an innovative approach when it comes to the implementation of a comprehensive
Wsecurity plan...”
hen considering the challenges of health- care security, many of us first think about vast hospital campuses
that encompass entire city blocks and experi- ence high volumes of visitors each and every day. However, some overlook individual healthcare facilities that are often a part of larger networks with geographically dis- persed offices. Particularly due to the multi- location management, there is an inherent need for an innovative approach when it comes to the implementation of a compre- hensive security plan that centers on the practice of increased connectivity.
Smaller clinics, doctor’s offices and urgent care facilities can fall into this category, one that makes up an overarching ecosystem that requires adequate coverage and connectivity for security devices. These facilities are criti- cal parts of an overall network that must be intertwined, allowing remote management for capabilities such as making changes to software, managing incoming video surveil- lance footage and incidents, and obtaining real-time security oversight and alerts. Con- nectivity is at the heart of the effort within the healthcare industry to bring ancillary locations under a single umbrella and for many of these entities, cloud-based solutions are a natural fit.
Challenges Facing Dispersed Facilities
Smaller healthcare organizations, whether located in more rural environments or in metropolitan areas, require the same level of
protection as larger businesses, but certain challenges to the adoption of security solu- tions exist, such as:
Costly updates for on-premise solu- tions. For many of these establishments, video data is being collected and stored within the facility in an effort to meet state and federal regulations. However, on-prem- ise video surveillance storage solutions present a critical issue: they must be main- tained. This can be cost-prohibitive for some smaller offices that rely on integrators to make a service call to update hardware in an effort to keep the system up and run- ning—and safe from external threats.
Hardware investments. Initial invest-
ments in on-premise storage solutions can create a barrier to entry for small- to medi- um-sized businesses as part of a connected network of facilities. When setting up a secu- rity system, there’s also an added cost—both monetarily and in time—for deploying an IT team to ensure the network component is addressed properly, which can have a signifi- cant cost associated as well.
Cybersecurity concerns. The addition of connected devices as part of a network undoubtedly creates the added vulnerability for cyber threats or a breach. In a healthcare environment in particular, where records are being transmitted through a network and patient confidentiality is of the utmost impor-
8 campuslifesecurity.com | JULY/AUGUST 2019
By Cody Flood
Taking a Connected Approach
healthcare security
An innovative approach results in a more secure healthcare facility