How often do you see someone without some type of handheld device? Even places where privacy reigns supreme, like an operating room, you can always find an smartphone. Search the internet and it won’t be difficult to find a video of a patient dancing with their doctor before surgery or selfies with the nurses, but what kind of threats do these innocent actions really pose?

In a recent article, ComputerWeekly.com reported that around half of all employees bring their own devices to work without their employer’s knowledge or agreement. That’s a significant margin, and one that is painted with red flags. When employees use personal devices without proper security, serious consequences can occur without your knowledge, like a breach of your organizations protected health information (PHI). And that is just the beginning.

Many of the penalties associated with a data breach are a result of not taking the cautionary steps in creating robust policies and efficient procedures. The result is one that is reactive not proactive; reactionary actions can be expensive and accentuate the fact that your records have been compromised. Being proactive with your risk strategy will not only save your organization money in the long run, it is the right thing to do to protect your patient’s privacy.

Being proactive when it comes to security threats is just smart business. In the long run, an upfront investment in a risk analysis and compliance training is less costly than the potential million dollars in fines that most noncompliant companies are seeing. With the ever-changing rules and regulations, it’s important to know that your first line of defense is impenetrable.