In plain English
We skip technical terms whenever we can. When we have to use one, here is what it means.
| Backup | A second copy of your important files and systems, kept somewhere safe, so you can get back to work if something is lost or damaged. |
|---|---|
| Break-in testing | Checking your defenses the way an attacker would, then telling you what we found and what we fixed. The technical name is penetration testing. |
| Business associate agreement | A written promise between a healthcare organization and a company that handles its patient information, saying how that information will be protected. |
| Compliance | Following the rules that apply to your organization and being able to show it. |
| Encrypted | Scrambled so only the right person can read it. If an encrypted laptop is lost, the information on it stays private. |
| End of life | When the maker stops releasing security fixes for a computer or program. After that, it is no longer safe to rely on, and insurers and auditors may count it against you. |
| Firewall | A guard at the door of your network. It lets the right traffic in and keeps the wrong traffic out. |
| HIPAA | The federal law that protects patient health information. It also sets rules for how organizations keep that information safe. |
| Monitoring | Keeping watch over your computers and network so a problem is spotted and handled early. |
| Password manager | A secure vault that remembers strong passwords for you, so no one has to reuse them or write them down. |
| Restore test | Actually bringing a backup back, to prove it works. A backup you have never tested is a guess. |
| Risk analysis | A review of what could go wrong with your information and what you are doing about it. HIPAA expects one. |
| Scams and phishing | Fake emails and messages made to look real, hoping you will click a link or share a password. |
| Scan for weak spots | An automatic check for known problems in your computers and network, so they can be fixed before anyone takes advantage of them. The technical name is vulnerability scan. |
| Two-step sign-in | Signing in with two proofs, such as your password and a code sent to your phone. A stolen password alone is not enough. |
| Updates | Fixes the makers of software release to close security holes and correct problems. We make sure they are installed. |
| Virtual CIO | An outside technology leader who meets with you regularly, helps you plan and budget, and guides technology decisions. You get the guidance without a full-time hire. |
| Wi-Fi survey | A walk through your building with special equipment that shows where the wireless signal is strong and weak, so the network can be planned properly. |
Hear a word that is not here? Ask us. We will explain it, and we will add it.
Start with a free Solid Ground Assessment
A short conversation and a plain summary of where your technology stands. No cost and no obligation.
Request your assessment