In May 2019, Canva leaked over 127 million users private information. Four years later, Latitude did the same for 14 million customers. These are well-known online resources that operate with teams of network experts and cyber security analysts and still suffer data leaks that resonate in and out of the industry.
When you have a data breach, you risk losing customers due to lowered trust capital as well as having your organisation’s name dragged through the news media – even when it is 100% not your fault.
At Web 105, we work with nonprofit organisations, healthcare providers, and government agencies, offering professional website design and development for Australian groups. We want to help all our clients find a balanced approach to website privacy protection so you have less worry about data leaks and can focus on what matters most: achieving your mission.
Here is a quick list of steps you can take to better protect your website’s user and visitor data.
7 Website Security Actions to Take Now
All these steps aim to mitigate the risk of user data being compromised. This includes donor lists, client details, visitation analytics, and anything else that should be behind a privacy wall.
Ever since the Privacy Act of 1988, Australian organisations must work hard to safeguard patients’ personal and healthcare data. Here are the industry standards we know work best.
#1 – Start with a Foundation of Data Protection
Any healthcare organisation’s website must meet basic privacy and security standards. That includes using SSL (secure sockets layer) certificates. These are the “s” you see in a website address starting with https://.
Protected health information (PHI) always needs to be encrypted whenever it moves from digital space to digital space. That means forms you have for contact, database inclusions, and even donor thank you notes with specific address information.
Always ensure your CMS (content management system) has security measures in place, including some form of audit trail under user IDs, date and time stamps, and IP address logging in case a breach occurs.
#2 – Safeguard Admin Accounts
Anyone with administrative access to your website should be carefully monitored for authenticity. You wouldn’t want an admin’s credentials to get compromised and lead to massive stores of data suddenly ending up on the Dark Web.
All passwords should be stored and unique to each individual admin account. The CMS should be carefully monitored, and passwords should be changed regularly to ensure legacy information isn’t stolen.
If you can, have a system in place where too many attempted logins lead to a “locked” account.
#3 – Stay Updated
The very moment you forget to update your plugins, extensions, domain certifications, and other website features, you are exposed to what is known as a “Zero Day” exploit. These are the backdoors hackers and fraudsters love to use because no one else knows they exist yet.
A fundamental cause of such exploitation is when systems are not kept up to date. Most of the periodic updates you receive from software teams and systems are to plug the security holes that pop up from time to time. Always keep your Australian healthcare organisation’s website up to date.
#4 – Build a Network Shield
No matter where your healthcare website is hosted, you want a digital shield of tools in place to prevent cyberattacks. Most third-party providers like GoDaddy or Bluehost will have these systems built-into the service.
The goal is to add firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other protections that prevent any form of potential intrusion. You want to talk to your provider to be sure they can accommodate the stricter privacy controls of a healthcare organisation.
#5 – Around the Clock Monitoring
Hackers, fraudsters, and other cyber criminals don’t exactly keep regular banking hours. You cannot expect all the potential attacks on your healthcare website to occur Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm.
The trick is you cannot expect your team members to watch your site’s real-time web traffic at the odd hours of 2 or 3 in the morning.
The best way to proactively protect your website is through 24/7 active monitoring and support. You can do a lot of this with automated and AI-enhanced plugins or extensions. You may also want to talk to your host provider and see if they have programs for active monitoring as well.
These systems will notify you and the security team you are using so a resolution can be found as quickly as possible.
#6 – Scale Your Healthcare’s Website
One interesting side effect of the global pandemic was the massive demand spikes it placed on the website of healthcare providers. People wanted information and suddenly these sites began to crash due to too much traffic.
As you update your current site or decide to invest in a new online presence, you want reliable networks that can handle a surge in traffic. Auto-scaling ensures that your website, blog, portfolio, or patient portal avoids unwanted downtime and continues to provide the essential services your clients expect.
#7 – Automate Backups
Anyone who has ever had a Word document crash halfway through understands the frustration of losing hard work due to something as simple as a bad storm or power outage. The same thing can happen to a website.
You want an automated backup system that is hosted in the cloud and on a physical hard drive you can keep on or off-site. This ensures you have a way to get back up online and keep your patient information safe, even if the network goes down, systems crash, or another unexpected situation.
Saving the Stress by Hiring the Best
Of course, all these privacy and security measures become a lot easier to integrate when you leave the design and development up to the experts. Our team at Web 105 has worked with Australian NFPs, NDIS-backed organisations, healthcare providers, and more for years. We have the skills and technological know-how to ensure your healthcare website meets current industry privacy standards.
Our goal is to keep your patient data safe with an online presence that has the most up to date protocols in place. Let’s schedule a time to discuss how our expert team can help maintain your stellar reputation, protect your essential data, and avoid the sticky mess of a breach. Book a consultation now and let’s get started!
FAQs
Do you have a right to privacy in Australia?
Yes, you do have a right and expectation of privacy. This is a fundamental human right codified in the 1988 Privacy Act and updated with the 2022 act that enhances the OAIC’s ability to regulate organisations.
Do I need a privacy policy for my healthcare website?
Yes, you should have a clearly outlined privacy policy that calms your clients’ fears and is aligned with modern industry standards and legal requirements.
Who is exempt from the Australian Privacy Act?
Technically, small businesses and NFPs with under $3 million in annual turnover do not have to provide a privacy policy. However, anyone working with personal information should and, in most cases, must do everything possible to protect that data.