By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Protect Yourself from Shadow IT
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > eHealth > Protect Yourself from Shadow IT
eHealth

Protect Yourself from Shadow IT

ShahidShah
ShahidShah
Share
3 Min Read
shadow IT health hospital
SHARE

shadow IT health hospitalIt’s a common misconception that if executives at hospitals or practices don’t have time to deliver sophisticated IT solutions to their users that users will just wait patiently and hope that solutions will arrive someday.

shadow IT health hospitalIt’s a common misconception that if executives at hospitals or practices don’t have time to deliver sophisticated IT solutions to their users that users will just wait patiently and hope that solutions will arrive someday.

However, there is a larger Shadow IT movement in many clinical settings than senior executives are willing to admit. Given the wealth of cloud offerings available, many of which have better security in the cloud than some on-premises “clinical” solutions, Shadow IT is growing and will cause more problems in the future as we try to reign it in. Just as users found ways to use Microsoft Excel and Access to get around EHR database problems and financial system woes, the cloud is creating another generation of Shadow IT problems.

Sophisticated requirements like clinical collaboration, secure file sharing, medical grade document management, and secure messaging (especially texting) can not be easily deployed within a single facility because the default security mechanisms and firewall controls prevent their effective use. While senior IT folks try and figure out how to procure and secure their own solutions, users end up using Dropbox or other insecure solutions because it doesn’t require much to download and they can start sharing files immediately. Dropbox has such a high value that may senior executives may just look the other way because they know their IT staff can’t deliver anything better sooner.

More Read

social media healthcare
MyHealthTeams CEO Eric Peacock Offers New Function for Social Media in Healthcare
Video:Mobile Device Roundtable:Safeguarding Health Information
Beyond the Buzz: Ten Tips for Healthcare Tweeters
The Sacred Duty of a Mommy Blogger
From Pilot to Policy: Lessons from e-Health Deployed at Scale

Instead of being silent on easy file sharing, announce that you will allow certain “good enough” secure cloud services such as independents like Box (my preference) or Microsoft’s Skydrive (which I like, too). Encourage your staff to bring you ideas for how they’re using cloud services and offer them secure alternatives so that Shadow IT doesn’t grow any bigger.

If you’re in the DC area on April 17th, join me from 11:30am to 12:45am at the BoxWorld Tour where I’ll be speaking on a panel with other experts on how the government is using secure file sharing options like Box.com. If Box.com meets the government’s rules for security and privacy, HIPAA is not that hard to accommodate. Join me at the panel to learn more and ask questions about how you can arrest your Shadow IT growth.

image: shadow IT/shutterstock

TAGGED:healthITshadow IT
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Epidemiological Health Benefits
Personal and Epidemiological Health Benefits of Blood Pressure Management
Health
October 13, 2025
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries: What Families Need to Know
Policy & Law
October 10, 2025
Remote Monitoring touchpoints
Remote Monitoring Touchpoints Patients Will Actually Follow
Technology
October 9, 2025
dental care
Importance of Good Dental Care for Health and Confidence
Dental health Specialties
October 2, 2025

You Might also Like

Positive Client Survey Results for a Russian Maternal mHealth Program

January 23, 2014
Hospital AdministrationSocial Media

20 Hospitals Using Twitter to Attract, Engage and Retain Patients

October 13, 2015

Doctors: It’s No Longer About You

July 11, 2013
Social Media

How Social Media Can Help Address the Diabetes Pandemic

June 24, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?