Ekim IT Teams with Breach Secure

• Mike Beebe
• • February 5, 2024
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Ekim IT Solutions Partners with Breach Secure Now to Deliver Fully HIPAA-Compliant IT Solutions for Healthcare Organizations

Lewiston, ME – 02/05/2024 – Ekim IT Solutions, a premier Managed IT Service Provider, is excited to announce its strategic partnership with Breach Secure Now, a leader in cybersecurity awareness and HIPAA compliance solutions.

Ekim IT Solutions and Breach Secure Now: Elevating HIPAA Compliance for Healthcare Providers

In an era where cyber threats are increasing at an alarming rate, particularly within the healthcare sector, compliance is no longer a checkbox item. It is a critical pillar of any organization’s risk management and data protection strategy. Recognizing the urgent need for healthcare organizations to step up their cybersecurity and compliance posture, Ekim IT Solutions has partnered with Breach Secure Now, a leader in cybersecurity awareness and HIPAA compliance solutions.

Through this strategic collaboration, Ekim IT Solutions now offers a fully managed HIPAA compliance program tailored specifically for healthcare organizations. This program is designed to not only help providers meet federal requirements but to exceed them, ensuring the protection of patient data, mitigation of risk, and alignment with ever-evolving industry regulations.

A Timely Response to an Escalating Threat

Healthcare providers face a growing number of cybersecurity incidents. From ransomware attacks to phishing scams targeting staff, the risks have never been higher. According to recent industry reports, healthcare is now one of the most targeted sectors for cyberattacks due to the high value of patient records on the dark web.

“In today’s environment, compliance can no longer be an afterthought,” said Mike Beebe, CEO of Ekim IT Solutions. “Cyberattacks in healthcare are skyrocketing, and the cost of inaction is steep, both financially and in terms of patient trust. Our partnership with Breach Secure Now empowers healthcare organizations to take proactive security measures, ensuring their patients’ sensitive information is protected and that they remain compliant with federal regulations.”

What the Program Includes

The fully managed HIPAA compliance program delivers a comprehensive, turnkey solution that reduces the burden on internal IT teams and practice managers. Key features include:

• Risk Assessments: Thorough evaluations of your organization’s security risks, vulnerabilities, and current compliance standing.

• Policy & Procedure Templates: Customizable documents to guide your HIPAA compliance efforts, ensuring alignment with best practices.

• Employee Security Training: Interactive modules designed to educate staff on identifying threats and safeguarding patient data.

• Breach Detection & Response Support: Systems and guidance to detect, report, and respond to data breaches in compliance with HIPAA laws.

• Documentation & Audit Support: Organized, accessible records that demonstrate compliance in the event of a regulatory audit or investigation.

This end-to-end program alleviates the guesswork many healthcare providers face and provides a clear roadmap toward total HIPAA compliance.

More Than Just Compliance, A Culture of Security

Beyond simply meeting regulatory requirements, Ekim IT Solutions and Breach Secure Now aim to help organizations build a culture of cybersecurity. By emphasizing staff education and proactive monitoring, the program reduces the risk of human error, the leading cause of healthcare breaches, and fosters a security-first mindset across every level of an organization.

“We’re not just providing a service,” added Beebe. “We’re equipping healthcare teams with the knowledge, tools, and ongoing support they need to protect their patients and their reputations. That’s the real value of this partnership.”

Empowering Maine’s Healthcare Community

With deep roots in Maine and a strong understanding of the regional healthcare landscape, Ekim IT Solutions brings localized expertise to this national-level solution. The firm’s hands-on approach, combined with Breach Secure Now’s platform, makes HIPAA compliance achievable for organizations of all sizes. From private dental practices and outpatient clinics to senior care facilities and specialty providers.

A Comprehensive Approach to HIPAA Compliance & Cybersecurity

Healthcare organizations today face increasing pressure to protect sensitive patient data and comply with complex regulatory standards. With cyberattacks targeting healthcare more than ever and penalties for non-compliance becoming more severe, HIPAA compliance must move beyond a checkbox approach. It must be a consistent, well-managed priority.

That’s why Ekim IT Solutions, in partnership with Breach Secure Now, now offers a fully managed HIPAA compliance and cybersecurity program designed to help healthcare providers navigate these challenges confidently. This comprehensive solution integrates risk management, staff education, security monitoring, and documentation support into one streamlined system.

Here’s what’s included in this all-in-one program:

HIPAA Compliance Assessments

Understanding your vulnerabilities is the first step toward securing your practice. Ekim IT Solutions conducts full HIPAA risk assessments, evaluating your technical, administrative, and physical safeguards. These assessments identify gaps in your compliance posture and provide a clear action plan to reduce risk and meet regulatory requirements.

Security Awareness Training for Staff

Employees are often the first and last line of defense against cyber threats. Ekim IT Solutions provides ongoing cybersecurity awareness training that empowers your team to recognize phishing emails, avoid data mishandling, and follow best practices for digital hygiene. This training helps create a security-first culture throughout your organization.

Dark Web Monitoring

Compromised credentials can be used by attackers to infiltrate your systems without your knowledge. Our dark web monitoring tool scans the internet for stolen login credentials and alerts your team immediately if any sensitive information is found. Early detection enables fast action and helps prevent breaches before they escalate.

Automated Security Policies & Documentation

Maintaining HIPAA documentation can be tedious and overwhelming, but it’s essential. Our managed platform creates and updates your organization’s security policies, incident response plans, and training records automatically. All documentation is organized, audit-ready, and easily accessible in one secure place.

HIPAA Security & Compliance Checklist

To stay compliant, organizations must address a wide range of requirements. Our program includes a detailed checklist that covers all HIPAA-mandated safeguards. From access controls and encrypted communications to workstation security and user authentication. This checklist keeps your compliance strategy on track and transparent.

Incident Response & Breach Management

In the event of a breach, every second counts. Our team helps guide you through response protocols, mitigation steps, and required reporting. We provide expert assistance in notifying affected individuals, regulators, and ensuring that post-incident procedures meet federal guidelines, reducing liability and reputation damage.

The Power of Breach Secure Now’s HIPAA Compliance Platform

Breach Secure Now provides one of the most effective HIPAA compliance platforms available today, simplifying complex regulations and guiding organizations through security assessments, training, and ongoing compliance maintenance.

“In healthcare, security breaches are not just IT problems; they are patient safety issues,” said Stephan Murray, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Ekim IT Solutions. “With Breach Secure Now, we’re giving our clients the ability to manage risk before it becomes a liability, ensuring that patient data remains confidential and secure.”

Why Healthcare Organizations Need a Fully Managed HIPAA Compliance Solution

HIPAA compliance is often misunderstood as simply using the right software or encrypting patient records. In reality, true compliance requires a far more comprehensive approach. One that encompasses your entire organization’s policies, procedures, staff training, and technical safeguards.

For healthcare providers navigating increasingly complex regulations and escalating cyber threats, this can quickly become overwhelming. That’s why more organizations are turning to fully managed HIPAA compliance solutions designed to eliminate the guesswork, reduce risk, and simplify operations.

This is where Ekim IT Solutions steps in.

We are more than just an IT support company. We serve as a strategic compliance partner for healthcare organizations across Maine and beyond. Our managed HIPAA compliance solution delivers the infrastructure, training, and ongoing monitoring needed to meet and exceed industry standards.

We Ensure Your Entire Organization Is HIPAA-Compliant

HIPAA compliance is not a one-time task, it is an ongoing commitment. From risk assessments and security protocols to documentation and breach response, compliance touches every part of your operations. Ekim IT Solutions takes a holistic view, helping you implement the necessary administrative, physical, and technical safeguards that align with HIPAA’s requirements.

We work alongside your internal team to identify potential risks, close compliance gaps, and create a culture of security awareness. This ensures your entire organization, not just your systems, is prepared and protected.

We Manage the Technical Security Requirements for You

Healthcare organizations often lack the in-house resources or expertise to fully manage the complex technical aspects of compliance. That’s why our team takes full responsibility for your cybersecurity infrastructure. We implement and maintain secure networks, monitor system access, manage data encryption, and ensure that backups and disaster recovery plans are in place.

Our services include continuous system monitoring, dark web surveillance, patch management, and firewall and antivirus oversight. All of these are necessary components of HIPAA’s technical safeguards, and we handle them so you can focus on your core mission: delivering exceptional patient care.

We Proactively Prevent Costly Data Breaches

A single data breach can result in significant financial penalties, reputational damage, and loss of patient trust. Unfortunately, many breaches result from small, overlooked vulnerabilities, such as outdated software, weak passwords, or human error.

Ekim IT Solutions takes a proactive approach to risk management. We don’t wait for a breach to occur; we work to prevent it. Our team conducts regular risk assessments, security audits, and compliance checks to detect and resolve threats before they escalate. We also provide staff training to help your team recognize phishing attempts, use secure practices, and understand their role in maintaining compliance.

“The key to compliance is automation,” said Kolby Kalafut, Partner & Director of Software Development at Ekim IT Solutions. “With Breach Secure Now’s platform and our proactive approach, we help healthcare providers automate risk management, documentation, and training. So compliance isn’t just a task, but a seamless process.”

The Risks of Ignoring HIPAA Compliance

For healthcare organizations, HIPAA compliance is not optional, it’s a legal requirement. Yet, many providers underestimate the risks of non-compliance, often focusing on daily operations and patient care without prioritizing the necessary safeguards for sensitive health information. The consequences of neglecting HIPAA standards are severe, ranging from financial penalties to irreparable damage to a provider’s reputation.

Significant Financial Penalties

HIPAA violations carry steep financial consequences. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) can impose fines of up to $1.5 million per violation per year, depending on the level of negligence and the size of the organization. These penalties can easily cripple small to medium-sized healthcare practices and cause long-term financial instability.

Fines are typically assessed based on tiers of culpability, from unintentional oversights to willful neglect. However, ignorance is not an acceptable defense. Even organizations that unintentionally violate HIPAA can face substantial monetary penalties if they fail to demonstrate a good-faith effort to comply.

Potential Criminal Charges

In cases of willful neglect, non-compliance may lead to criminal charges. Individuals, including business owners, administrators, and IT personnel, can be held personally accountable for mishandling or failing to protect protected health information (PHI). Depending on the severity of the violation, penalties can include substantial fines and even imprisonment.

These legal consequences underscore the importance of implementing a thorough, well-documented HIPAA compliance strategy that includes staff training, incident response protocols, and data security policies.

Erosion of Patient Trust

HIPAA compliance isn’t just about avoiding fines, it’s about protecting the privacy of your patients. When healthcare providers experience a data breach or are found non-compliant, patients often lose confidence in the organization’s ability to protect their most sensitive information.

This erosion of trust can be devastating for practices that rely heavily on word-of-mouth referrals, community engagement, and long-standing patient relationships. Once trust is broken, it is difficult and often costly to rebuild.

Increased Exposure to Cyberattacks

Failing to maintain HIPAA compliance typically means weak cybersecurity infrastructure. This opens the door to a wide array of threats, including ransomware attacks, phishing scams, and data breaches.

Cybercriminals specifically target healthcare organizations due to the high value of medical records on the black market. Without the proper safeguards in place, such as encryption, network monitoring, employee training, and secure backups, healthcare providers become easy targets for attackers.

The Bottom Line

Ignoring HIPAA compliance isn’t just risky, it’s reckless. Healthcare organizations that fail to meet compliance standards expose themselves to significant financial loss, legal liabilities, operational disruptions, and the loss of patient loyalty.

Fortunately, these risks are entirely preventable.

About Ekim IT Solutions

Ekim IT Solutions is a trusted Managed IT Service Provider (MSP) serving businesses across New England with a core mission: to empower organizations through secure, efficient, and forward-thinking technology solutions. We specialize in delivering comprehensive IT management, proactive cybersecurity services, and industry-specific compliance support that helps small to mid-sized businesses thrive in today’s digital world.

Our team is made up of experienced IT professionals who understand the evolving challenges that modern businesses face. From cyberthreats to data compliance requirements, outdated systems to network inefficiencies, we proactively address IT issues before they disrupt operations. By implementing advanced tools and best practices, we help our clients reduce downtime, streamline workflows, and operate with confidence.

What sets Ekim IT Solutions apart is our preventative approach to IT management. Instead of reacting to problems, we design systems to anticipate them. Whether you’re a healthcare provider needing HIPAA compliance, a dental clinic requiring data security, or a retail chain looking for consistent IT support across multiple sites, we tailor our solutions to your unique business environment.

Our services include but are not limited to:

• Managed IT support

• Cybersecurity protection

• HIPAA and regulatory compliance

• Network monitoring and optimization

• Cloud solutions and backup

• Strategic IT consulting and roadmapping

We view every client relationship as a long-term partnership. That’s why we prioritize transparency, proactive communication, and a commitment to helping you achieve your business goals through technology. We are more than just a service provider, we become an extension of your team.

Headquartered in Maine, Ekim IT Solutions proudly supports businesses throughout the New England region, delivering local support with enterprise-grade expertise.

About Breach Secure Now

Breach Secure Now is an industry-leading cybersecurity and compliance platform designed to help businesses, especially healthcare organizations, stay ahead of cyber threats and HIPAA requirements. Their solutions focus on security awareness training, compliance documentation, dark web monitoring, and breach response management.

For more details, visit www.breachsecurenow.com.

Get Started with HIPAA Compliance Today

Navigating HIPAA compliance can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. At Ekim IT Solutions, we specialize in making compliance straightforward, effective, and stress-free for healthcare providers across New England.

Our fully managed HIPAA compliance services are designed to remove the burden from your internal team, allowing you to focus on delivering excellent patient care while we handle the complexities of cybersecurity, documentation, and regulatory adherence.

By partnering with Ekim IT Solutions, your organization will:

• Ensure full regulatory compliance by addressing all HIPAA technical, administrative, and physical safeguards.

• Reduce cybersecurity risks with proactive monitoring, dark web scanning, and managed security protocols tailored to healthcare environments.

• Empower your staff through continuous security awareness training and policy support to ensure your entire team follows best practices.

• Be audit-ready at all times with organized documentation, incident response plans, and expert guidance every step of the way.

We understand that every healthcare practice is unique. That’s why we tailor our solutions to fit your size, risk profile, and goals. Whether you’re a dental clinic, private practice, or multi-site care facility, our HIPAA compliance program is scalable, customizable, and aligned with your operational needs.

Choosing Ekim IT Solutions means more than just checking boxes, it means gaining a reliable partner who is invested in your success and security.

Let us help you take the next step toward confident compliance and peace of mind.

🗓️ Book a  call with us
📞 207-333-2206
📧 info@ekimit.com
🌐 www.ekimit.com

Or check out our free resource:
👉 Your Security Compliance Checklist

• Mike Beebe
• • February 5, 2024
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