July 19, 2025
Managing cybersecurity in-house is
tough—especially when your plate is already full with resident care, staffing,
and compliance. That's where a Managed Services Provider (MSP) can help. But
not all MSPs are created equal.
If you're trusting someone to safeguard
your systems and data, they need to understand healthcare—and LTC in
particular. The wrong partner can add confusion. The right one becomes part of
your leadership team.
When evaluating an MSP, ask:
- Do they have experience in HIPAA-regulated
environments?
- Will they conduct or support
your Security Risk Assessment?
- Can they support 24/7
monitoring and response?
- Do they offer documentation
for audits and accreditation?
- Can they provide cyber
insurance and incident response support?
- Do they communicate
clearly—with no tech jargon?
- Can they show you evidence of a
completed HIPAA assessment?
- Will they provide their certificate
of insurance (COI) showing active Cyber and E&O policies?
- Do they have current
third-party certifications, like a SOC 2 audit letter?
- Can you review their own Incident
Response Plan to verify readiness?
One assisted living group in Central
Ohio hired an MSP that specialized in LTC. The MSP helped build their WISP,
conducted tabletop drills, and provided quarterly reports with actionable
recommendations. The administrator said, "I finally feel like someone has our
back."
"The
right partner doesn't add to your workload—they lighten it." - Abby Hartwell
On the other hand, a different facility
went with a budget IT vendor who didn't understand HIPAA. During an ODH visit,
they couldn't produce access logs or policy documentation. The surveyor called
it a red flag—and the facility was required to submit a corrective action plan.
"The bitterness of poor quality remains
long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten." - Benjamin Franklin
Choosing an MSP is about more than price.
It's about peace of mind.
Is your technology partner helping you
meet your goals—or creating more work for you?
