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Top 10 best cybersecurity practices for EMS agencies

Train EMS personnel to adopt and follow these important cybersecurity best practices to protect patient data, personnel records and agency hardware

By Paul Trusty

The risk of hacking, data theft and hardware destruction by hackers and criminals is real and credible for EMS agencies. Read about why cybersecurity is important for EMS leaders then share these practices with all of the personnel in your organization.

1. Only use known good applications
2. Update the applications
3. Update the operating system
4. Do not use an admin account as your main user account
5. Provide or seek out information security awareness training
6. Update antivirus software
7. Always change the default manufacturer’s password on every device
8. Turn on firewalls
9. Create strong, secure passwords
10. Turn off auto launch for external media such as USB, CDs, and DVDs

About the author
Paul Trusty, MS, EMT-P is the information technology manager at MedStar Mobile Healthcare in Fort Worth, Texas. He has focused his attention on cybersecurity receiving a Master’s in Information Security and Assurance in 2015 and holds several cybersecurity certifications such as certified ethical hacker and computer hacking forensics investigator. He has 20 years of experience in EMS with the last 14 being focused on IT.

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