Preparing for the worst can be a time-consuming process. It’s essential to create a plan in case of data loss. This can have severe consequences for both patients and practitioners when it comes to healthcare institutions. Without a good backup plan, data can get lost, and it may take a long time to restore the information. This article examines how a healthcare organization can create a data backup plan. This includes the following;
Compile All The System Inventory
The first step to creating a healthcare data backup plan is to identify all the devices connected to your network. These should include all computers, servers, and other peripherals, such as printers, scanners, etc. The next step is to identify the software installed on each device. For example, there could be several versions of Office or Windows operating systems in use at any given time across different departments; hence, it’s essential to capture all the software versions installed.
After compiling the system inventory, identify which systems are prone to a cybersecurity breach, and which ones are without any adverse impact on patient care or business continuity. You can achieve this by contacting hospitals with cyber security breach history and finding out the systems that get hacked easily. It’s crucial because it’ll help you prioritize your data backup and restoration efforts in a disaster.
Identify Potential Disasters
The next step is to identify the possible disasters and how they might impact your data. It’s essential to be as comprehensive as possible in this exercise. Some of the things to consider include:
- Structural failure
- Natural disasters
- Fire
- Power outages
- Payment interruptions
Most healthcare organizations form a recovery team to deal with such disasters. This decision helps create a focused approach to data backup and restoration. The best recovery plan is one that the recovery team has tested. The program should also allow for flexibility if the disaster takes a form that’s different from what was identified in the planning stage.
Create A Data Backup Plan
Once you understand which devices and systems are crucial for your day-to-day operations, it’s time to start creating some backup data plans. The first step is to identify how long each process will take. For example, backing up data from a server might take longer than backing up a desktop computer. You also need to identify the media on which you’ll back up your data. These could be tapes, CDs/DVDs, or hard drives. It’s essential to have multiple copies of your backup files and store them in different locations.
When backing up data, you can choose a local backup strategy to back up data from a single location. The drawback of this approach is that if the building housing your servers and computers burn down, you won’t have access crucial business information. It’s also possible to implement an off-site backup strategy where copies of all critical files are stored in another location away from the main office. The other option is to use cloud backup services that offer secure data storage and allow for quick restoration.
Test Your Bacup Plan
Testing your backup plan is just as important as creating it. It’ll help you identify gaps in the process and fix them before a disaster occurs. You should also test restoring data from backup media for every device in the hospital.
Managers or other employees who enjoy travelling won’t have to worry about their data getting hacked by people who intend to breach the hospital’s cybersecurity. This decision ensures that the process works flawlessly. Testing the backup plan also helps identify the people who’ll be involved in executing it.
Every recovery team member must know how their role contributes to restoring data after a disaster has occurred. Healthcare organizations should test their backup plan by simulating a real-life tragedy.
Create Emergency Procedures
It’s crucial to create emergency procedures for a disaster. This document should include contact information for all key personnel, as well as step-by-step instructions on how to restore your data. It’s essential to test this document and make the necessary adjustments. Ensure to include instructions on how to contact the recovery team in case of a disaster.
Providing additional support during an emergency is crucial for a successful data restoration process. Your staff is one of your most valuable assets, and they should be familiar with the data backup plan. They need to know how to access the backup media and how to restore data in case of a disaster. You can do this by having regular training sessions or by including the data backup plan in your team member handbook.
Parting Shot
Creating a healthcare data backup plan can seem daunting, but following these steps should make the process much easier. Having a solid plan in place will help you protect your data from disasters and ensure that your patients’ information is safe.
