Five Reasons Why You Should Keep Your IT Systems Up to Date
Investment in maintaining technology is necessary in all industries, but especially in healthcare.
As IT systems change and versions renew at a rapid rate, staying up-to-date with the latest software releases and operating system not only keeps you current with new functionalities, but keeps your organization safe. Prompt software updates are required not only for solutions hosted on-premise, but also for systems hosted in the cloud, which add another layer of complexity to testing and release cycles, depending on how the application is deployed.
This seems straightforward enough, but why is it so often overlooked by many organizations?
- It becomes another task
- It takes time, testing, training and disruption
- “Will performing these updates even make a difference?”
Your operating system and software applications are interdependent — updates must be well coordinated to make sure that they are mutually compatible. Staying at the forefront of application upgrades also deepens your partnership with vendors. It is costly to support old technology and quick adoption allows you and your users to take advantage of the newly released functionality.
At NYU Langone Health, maintaining our applications and operating systems are both critical components of digital housekeeping. In this article, we delve into the significance of staying up-to-date, and highlight its impact on promoting security, enhancing efficiency, establishing greater functionality, safeguarding data and strengthening research initiatives.
1. Promote Security
As technology progresses, cybersecurity threats such as data breaches, hacks and identity theft become more prevalent. These vulnerabilities are commonly targeted by cybercriminals bent on stealing data and introducing malware infections. Attackers seek out outdated operating systems, exploiting known issues to gain access to protected information or to launch cybersecurity attacks. Outdated operating systems also pose huge risks due to the fact that they no longer receive official support from manufacturers or developers, leaving vulnerabilities unaddressed.
In 2023, 46 ransomware attacks impacted 141 U.S. hospitals, in most cases forcing hospitals to divert patients to other facilities due to their network systems being offline. Last year, a third-party software vulnerability that was being exploited by a ransomware group impacted over 2,600 organizations, exposing personal information of 77 million individuals. Many of the impacted organizations were in the healthcare sector. The best, most economical and efficient way to combat these online attacks is by simply performing updates! As cybercriminals grow increasingly aggressive, it is essential to keep operating systems up-to-date to thwart their ever-growing sophistication. Thus, staying current is a significant aspect of ensuring the safety and efficiency of information technology at NYU Langone.
2. Enhance performance and efficiency
Application improvements often require substantial operating power and software capabilities to run smoothly or correctly. An inability to integrate with new applications limits productivity and functionality. In addition, it can block bug fixes and necessary upgrades, slowing workflow and hindering employee output.
The result? System performance drags, causing slow boot times and delayed application launches. This issue becomes apparent because the new software is designed to function alongside modern operating systems that are optimized for efficiency. These problems are often accompanied by crashes, freezes and system instability, making for a frustrating user experience.
As part of NYU Langone’s application upgrade planning, we regularly review system performance pre and post-upgrade. In anticipation of an upgrade we partner with vendors to perform load testing to better understand any new capacity requirements, and often preemptively add memory and/or CPUs, leveraging our agile production environment that allows us to efficiently scale. And, of course, we monitor upgraded systems post-upgrade.
With modernized operating systems and applications, our users have consistent and uninterrupted access to the most up-to-date features, allowing them to best serve our patients, students, faculty and staff.
3. New Features and Greater Functionality
Updating applications to leverage new features and functions offers enhanced user experiences and improved overall efficiencies. These updates often introduce advanced capabilities and tools that can streamline tasks and processes, boosting productivity and reducing manual effort. Additionally, new features might address previously identified limitations or provide innovative solutions to emerging challenges, ensuring that the software remains relevant and adaptable in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. By staying up-to-date with the latest software versions, users can tap into the full potential of their tools, optimize workflows, and stay ahead in a competitive digital environment.
4. Safeguard Organizational Data
Along with security risks and hindered performance, outdated operating systems can present legal liabilities to IT departments. To remain in compliance with regulations and standards, such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), organizations are required to employ up-to-date systems to guard the confidentiality of their patients’ information. At NYU Langone, we are committed to not only providing excellent care for patients, but also upholding the integrity of their medical and personal information.
5. Research and Innovation
At NYU Langone, our visionary research team is at the forefront of scientific inquiry into pioneering innovations and medical therapies. Updated systems facilitate data collection, analysis and collaboration between researchers and medical professionals. These systems play a pivotal role in advancing medical knowledge, conducting clinical trials, and translating research findings into practical applications.
By using updated IT systems, we are contributing to medical breakthroughs, drug discoveries, and improved patient care protocols. Moreover, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in healthcare software can accelerate the identification of patterns and insights in large datasets, paving the way for personalized medicine and precision therapies.
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Additionally, innovating to native cloud solutions allows for faster adoption of new functionality and new technology. Incorporating capabilities and integrations, like search and analysis, allow for even greater expansion. The power to quickly stand up new infrastructure and increase capacity on demand is future-proofing installations.
Embracing the potential of advanced technology will pave the way for a brighter future where healthcare professionals can focus on what truly matters — the well-being of their patients.
By: Dana Ostrow, Senior Director of Imaging, MCIT Clinical Systems at NYU Langone Health
Resources:
- Beckers Hospital Review. (2024, January 3). Health system ransomware attacks nearly doubled in ’23. https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/cybersecurity/health-system-ransomware-attacks-nearly-doubled-in-23.html
- Bank Infosecurity. (2023, November 20). Known MOVEit Attack Victim Count Reaches 2,618 Organizations. https://www.bankinfosecurity.com/known-moveit-attack-victim-count-reaches-2618-organizations-a-23640
- IT Convergence. (2023, November 17). Risks of using outdated operating system. https://www.itconvergence.com/blog/risks-of-using-outdated-operating-system/#:~:text=Limited%20Security%3A%20Outdated%20operating%20systems,put%20your%20privacy%20at%20risk
- HP. (n.d.). The importance of updating your software and hardware regularly. The Importance of Updating your Software and Hardware Regularly — HP Store Canada. https://www.hp.com/ca-en/shop/Offer.aspx?p=the-importance-of-updating-your-software-and-hardware-regularly
- McAfee, M. (2022, August 8). Why software updates are so important. McAfee Blog. https://www.mcafee.com/blogs/internet-security/software-updates-important/
Norton. (2021, January 22). 5 reasons why general software updates and patches are important. United States. https://us.norton.com/blog/how-to/the-importance-of-general-software-updates-and-patches
