Lost, misplaced, and stolen portable devices are one of the leading causes in healthcare security breaches, so physical safeguards are a critical aspect of data security, according to an article on the Healthcare IT Security website.

In order to remain Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant, healthcare organizations need to form policies and procedures for hardware and electronic media that contain electronic protected health information as it goes into and out of a facility — as well as the movement of these items within the facility. 

Facilities also need to find appropriate methods to dispose of hardware, software and patient data. Data encryption and remote wipe features are two security solutions.

For example, if a device is lost or stolen, encrypted data will remain inaccessible to unauthorized users. Some portable devices could have built-in encryption capabilities, but others could require an encryption tool to be bought and then installed. Healthcare providers must choose encryption options that best fit the mobile devices they use on a regular basis, the article said.

Read the article.