The Basics of “Digital Health”

At Community Health Network, we prioritize your physical and mental well-being. But in today’s world, practicing good digital hygiene and health is essential to our well-being. Things like changing your passwords, being careful about websites you visit, and closely reading email messages for potential attacks are all important to keeping you and your personal information safe.

Community uses many industry standards and best-practices to keep your health information safe. We as Caregivers understand that one can never be too careful when it comes to cyber safety, and that cyber safety IS patient safety.

What is Multi-Factor Authentication?

Cyber security threats and attacks have been on the rise over recent years. In fact, stolen or compromised login information (usernames and passwords) account for nearly 95% of cyber security incidents, like attacks or data breaches. These, among many other startling statistics, all point to a simple, important conclusion: Passwords are no longer reliable as a standalone method of online security. People and organizations alike have, therefore, turned to alternative methods of security to add layers of protection to digital accounts and information.

Enter: multi-factor authentication.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is most simply understood as any additional step you take to log in to an account or service, beyond entering your username and password. Has your bank ever asked you to enter a code after logging in from a new computer? How about entering a PIN after you swipe your credit card? These are a couple among many examples of MFA. The most popular types of MFA involve using a second device, usually a smartphone, to enter a code or confirm through an app it’s actually you that’s making a login attempt.

The most popular methods of MFA are authenticator apps and text message (SMS) codes. After a login attempt, you will receive an app notification or SMS code to authenticate as a second step. After confirming your identity via the second device, you’re in. With MFA in place, you can’t log in without your second device, and you can even deny login attempts from attackers that manage to steal your username and password.

How Does this Impact Me?

Community uses MFA across many services to keep your information safe. But you, too, can use MFA with many services you use every day! Online services like Facebook, Google and Amazon support MFA and usually include easy-to-follow instructions to set it up. Cyber security experts recommend that you use MFA whenever possible.

Community patients that access information through MyChart can use MFA to help keep their health information safe. Check out this easy-to-follow MyChart Guide to update your security settings. To turn on MFA in MyChart, go to “Profile”, and then “Security Settings."

We hope these tips will keep you safe online and help maintain your digital health.