HHS releases 6-point checklist for mobile device security for healthcare providers

The Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center released a brief March 23 on how healthcare organizations can ensure mobile device security. 

Six recommendations from the HHS on mobile device security:

1. Healthcare organizations should consider physical security, configuration management, data backups and cloud storage of mobile devices.
   
   
2. Healthcare organizations should be cautious about what networks they are connecting mobile devices to.
   
   
3. Make sure all devices and all apps are updated as soon as possible.
   
   
4. All devices should have required passwords.
   
   
5. Make sure devices have encryptions as HIPAA requires any device that stores or processes any of the 18 categories of personal health information to be encrypted.
   
   
6. All mobile devices should include a remote wiping capability.