Purpose: This Project Provides An Opportunity To Appl 737496

Purposethis Project Provides An Opportunity To Apply the Competencies

This project provides an opportunity to apply the competencies gained in the lessons of this course to develop a risk management plan for a fictitious organization to replace its outdated plan. You are an IT intern at Health Network, Inc., a health services organization with over 600 employees, generating $500 million in revenue, with facilities in Minneapolis, Portland, and Arlington. The organization’s products include HNetExchange, HNetPay, and HNetConnect, with various security and operational considerations.

Your task is to develop a comprehensive risk management plan that covers the environment, scope, applicable laws and regulations, roles and responsibilities, and risk mitigation strategies, based on the scenario provided. The plan should address current and emerging threats, align with organizational objectives, and ensure compliance and security across all operations. The deliverable must be formatted in Microsoft Word or compatible software, using Arial 10-point font, double-spaced, and adhere to a professional standard.

Paper For Above instruction

Developing a robust risk management plan is critical for organizations in the healthcare and technology sectors, especially those handling sensitive health data and providing internet-facing services. This paper synthesizes the scenario of Health Network, Inc., to create an initial draft of a tailored risk management plan. It encompasses the purpose, scope, regulatory compliance, responsibilities, and mitigation strategies pertinent to Health Network’s environment and threat landscape.

Introduction

The purpose of this risk management plan is to identify, assess, and establish strategies to mitigate risks faced by Health Network, Inc., a healthcare technology provider with extensive data center operations, critical product lines, and publicly accessible web platforms. The organization’s environment involves managing sensitive health data, ensuring high availability of services, and maintaining compliance with regulatory standards. As a fictitious organization, it exemplifies the complexities faced by health IT providers, necessitating a comprehensive approach to security and operational risk management.

Scope

The scope of this risk management plan includes all organizational assets related to Health Network’s core products—HNetExchange, HNetPay, and HNetConnect. This encompasses physical data centers, servers, network infrastructure, employee devices, and cloud or third-party hosting services. The plan covers internal and external threats, regulatory compliance, and roles across departments involved in risk mitigation efforts. The geographical scope extends to the company’s main facilities in Minneapolis, Portland, and Arlington, as well as remote access points used by employees and customers.

Compliance Laws and Regulations

Health Network operates within a complex regulatory landscape requiring adherence to federal, state, and industry standards. Notably, the organization must comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which mandates the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of protected health information (PHI). HIPAA Security Rule and Privacy Rule enforce administrative, physical, and technical safeguards for electronic health data.

In addition to HIPAA, the organization must follow the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, which enhances HIPAA enforcement and data breach notification requirements. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and Medical Device Regulation (if applicable) may impose further controls depending on specific services or devices.

Other relevant regulations include the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) if federal data is involved, and applicable state laws such as the Minnesota Data Practices Act and Oregon’s data breach notification statutes. Ensuring compliance involves continuous monitoring, employee training, and implementing technical safeguards aligned with these legal frameworks.

Roles and Responsibilities

Effective risk management requires clear delineation of roles across the organization. The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) oversees the overall security strategy and compliance efforts. The IT Department is responsible for implementing technical safeguards, monitoring threats, and incident response. Data protection officers or compliance officers ensure adherence to legal standards like HIPAA and state laws.

Operational managers, including those in data center management and product development, coordinate risk assessments and mitigation activities relevant to their areas. Employee awareness and training are crucial, with Human Resources leading initiatives to educate staff on security policies and best practices.

Additionally, third-party vendors managing data centers or hosting services share responsibility for physical and cybersecurity controls, underscoring the importance of contractual and oversight mechanisms to manage supply chain risks.

Risk Mitigation Plan

The threats identified in the scenario include hardware loss, theft of mobile devices, production outages, internet threats, insider threats, and regulatory changes. To address these, the mitigation strategies include:

• Hardware Loss/Theft: Implement full encryption of mobile devices and laptops, enforce strict access controls, and deploy remote wipe capabilities.
• Production Outages: Establish redundant data centers, regular backups, and disaster recovery plans to ensure high availability and rapid recovery.
• Internet Threats: Deploy multi-layered firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and conduct regular vulnerability assessments.
• Insider Threats: Develop strict access governance policies, conduct background checks, and monitor user activities for anomalies.
• Regulatory Changes: Maintain an ongoing compliance program, including legal counsel involvement, to adapt policies as laws evolve.

Emerging threats such as sophisticated cyberattacks or supply chain vulnerabilities require ongoing risk assessments and adaptations. Implementing continuous monitoring, security information and event management (SIEM) systems, and staff training will bolster the organization's resilience.

Overall, the risk mitigation strategies must be dynamic, proactive, and aligned with organizational objectives and legal requirements to safeguard health data, ensure service availability, and maintain trust among stakeholders.

Conclusion

A comprehensive risk management plan tailored to Health Network’s scenario is essential for safeguarding sensitive health information, ensuring regulatory compliance, and maintaining operational continuity amid evolving threats. It requires a collaborative effort across responsibilities, continuous assessment, and adaptive mitigation measures. Implementing such a plan will help secure the organization’s assets, protect its reputation, and support its mission to deliver quality health services effectively and securely.

References

• National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2018). Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. NIST Special Publication 800-53.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2013). HIPAA Security Rule. HHS.gov.
• Mehlinger, H. D., & King, V. E. (2002). Cybersecurity and Healthcare. Journal of Medical Systems, 26(1), 1-11.
• Ostrowski, P. (2009). Managing Healthcare Information Security Risks. Healthcare Information Management Systems Society.
• Fung, B., et al. (2020). The Impact of Healthcare Data Breaches. Journal of Healthcare Risk Management, 40(3), 11-18.
• HealthIT.gov. (2022). Protecting Patient Data with HIPAA Security Rule. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Oregon Revised Statutes. (2021). Data Breach Notification Law.
• City of Minneapolis. (2019). Data Security Policy for Municipal Data.
• Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). (2020). Critical Infrastructure Security, Guidance, and Tools.
• ISO/IEC 27001:2013. (2013). Information Technology — Security Techniques — Information Security Management Systems — Requirements.