NEN 7510 and Healthcare IT Outsourcing: Security and Efficiency Hand in Hand

Important aspects of NEN 7510:

• Objective: To ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of medical data.
• Scope: Applicable to all organizations involved in health care, including health care providers, health insurance companies and suppliers that process patient data.
• Certification: Although NEN 7510 certification is not required by law, healthcare providers must be able to demonstrate that they are working in accordance with the standard. A certificate is an effective way to demonstrate this, but other forms of independent assessment are also possible.

 

 

IT outsourcing by healthcare institutions:

More and more healthcare organizations are choosing to outsource their IT services. Important considerations are:

• Quality improvement: increasing the quality of primary care processes by leveraging specialized IT expertise.
• Access to expertise: gaining access to specialized knowledge and technologies that may not be available internally.
• Focus on core functions: By outsourcing IT, healthcare organizations can better focus on their primary care delivery.

 

 

Key considerations in IT outsourcing:

• Security: It is essential that external IT partners comply with standards such as NEN 7510 to ensure the security of patient data¹.
• Regulatory: Healthcare organizations remain responsible for compliance with laws and regulations even when IT services are outsourced.
• Partner selection: It is crucial to choose an IT partner with healthcare industry experience and a proven track record in information security.

By proceeding carefully in both implementing NEN 7510 and outsourcing IT services, healthcare organizations can improve the quality of their services while meeting required security standards.

 

The five most frequently asked questions about NEN 7510 certification and IT outsourcing by healthcare institutions

 

1. Is NEN 7510 certification required by law for healthcare facilities?

No, a NEN 7510 certificate is not required by law. However, healthcare providers must be able to demonstrate that they are working in accordance with the NEN 7510 standard. A certificate is an effective way to demonstrate this, but other forms of independent assessment are also possible.

 

 

2. Does a healthcare facility remain responsible for information security when IT is outsourced?

Yes, healthcare institutions remain responsible for information security at all times, even when IT services are outsourced. It is essential that external IT partners comply with standards such as NEN 7510 to ensure the security of patient data.

 

 

3. What are the benefits of IT outsourcing for healthcare organizations?

• Quality improvement: increasing the quality of primary care processes by leveraging specialized IT expertise.
• Access to expertise: gaining access to specialized knowledge and technologies that may not be available internally.
• Focus on core functions: By outsourcing IT, healthcare organizations can better focus on their primary care delivery.

 

 

4. How can healthcare organizations demonstrate compliance with NEN 7510 without certification?

Healthcare organizations can demonstrate compliance with NEN 7510 by regularly having their information security management system (ISMS) and associated control measures independently assessed. This can be done, for example, through internal audits and assessments by external parties.

 

 

5. What should healthcare organizations look for when selecting an IT outsourcing partner?

• Healthcare industry experience: Choose a partner with proven experience within healthcare to ensure they are familiar with industry-specific challenges and regulations.
• Compliance with standards: Ensure that the IT partner complies with relevant standards such as NEN 7510 to ensure the security of patient data.
• Clear agreements: Establish agreements on responsibilities, security measures and service levels to avoid misunderstandings and ensure service quality.

 

References

¹https://www.igj.nl/onderwerpen/ehealth/vraag-en-antwoord/vragen-over-nen-7510

 

 

About the author

My name is Alta Martes, a specialist in Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, with a focus on modern workplace management, cloud security and identity & access management. With years of experience, I help organizations optimize their IT infrastructure and create a secure, efficient digital workplace. 🎯 Need help with your Microsoft 365 strategy?
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