But you can't operate like that anymore. As more patient information is captured, stored and communicated electronically, as more hospital operations rely on electronic processes, security becomes either an obstacle or an enabler. It's that simple. Protecting data goes beyond hardware and software, beyond tools and techniques, beyond even policies and procedures.
Security is a business imperative.
It allows you to collect the information that builds customer relationships, to share the information that enables collaborative partnerships, and to take advantage of the information that makes you more competitive. It means that customers can trust you with their personal data, that partners can trust you won't expose their trade secrets to competitors, and that shareholders can trust you are taking the steps necessary to ensure your long-term success. In short, security enables e-business. Any time you can reduce latency or eliminate intermediary steps, you decrease costs, you improve customer satisfaction, and you have the opportunity to increase revenue. That's the promise of secure systems.