The Security Pitfalls of Wi-Fi in Healthcare Facilities

There are no quiet moments inside a busy healthcare facility. Herds of medical staff stampede back and forth to their designated stations. Visitors bombard the information desk with frequently asked questions and concerns regarding their loved ones. But one of the most popular questions asked at these stations has nothing to do with health or patient care.

“What’s the Wi-Fi password?”

Since its inception in 1997, Wi-Fi has revolutionized the way we connect and communicate with one another all over the world. Despite these benefits, major concerns are rising over the safety of Wi-Fi used in healthcare facilities.

Anyone who works in healthcare knows that fast, accurate communication is essential to conducting life-saving procedures and maintaining a safe environment. Unfortunately, these facilities may not have the proper equipment or access to reliable forms of communication needed to connect and provide such services.

With Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) provided by MOTOTRBO Nitro, there’s a better way.

But how exactly does CBRS compare to a standard Wi-Fi network connection? Here’s a look at how CBRS and Wi-Fi differ and why many facilities around the country are transitioning to a more reliable and safe means of communication with MOTOTRBO Nitro.

Stronger Security

Having the proper channels of communication in place to effectively respond to emergencies is a no-brainer nowadays, especially at hospitals. Unfortunately, with the world we live in, you can never be too careful. Security threats expand beyond just an armed intruder—the digital world is also at risk.

Wi-Fi is commonly targeted by hackers as a way to infiltrate a business’s network without ever setting foot on premises. This is a significant problem, especially when considering that hospitals store a vast amount of highly sensitive information.

Unlike public Wi-Fi, CBRS provides a private network, which is much more secure than a shared network. This allows medical staff and faculty to connect and communicate securely without requiring everyone to share and clog the same Wi-Fi hotspots. Access to this private network requires a SIM card that’s activated from a secure PC login. CBRS enables healthcare facilities to stay HIPAA compliant and operate their own private networks, secure from hackers looking for potential weaknesses.

Greater Coverage

When Wi-Fi was created, it was unlicensed and primarily built for home and office use. As a result, the range of a single access points is quite limited. Covering a large campus would require a large number of access points. This is not only costly but also dangerous, as it leaves your network more vulnerable to attacks.

CBRS is built with larger enterprises in mind. Its high-powered capabilities allow it to cover four times the range of Wi-Fi with fewer access points. This provides better coverage and network performance, while significantly reducing any associated costs required to operate the system.

Increased Mobility

How many times have you lost your connection while moving from floor to floor? This occurs because Wi-Fi has no mechanism to handle a device switching between access points. So as staff and other members of your team move around, it’s likely that they will experience diminished network performance and possibly total disconnection.

Wi-Fi was not built to support your complex enterprise operations. CBRS makes dropped communication a thing of the past. With its hand off support, CBRS allows you to move throughout your entire work space with no network issues. Built on cellular technology, CBRS eliminates the frustrations that are commonly experienced by establishments that rely solely on a Wi-Fi connection for their communication needs. With CBRS you can focus on providing the best quality service and achieving patient satisfaction with a solid network backing you up.

Lower Investment

At first glance, it may seem like Wi-Fi equipment has a low cost, but the truth is that Wi-Fi is becoming harder to scale and support. In order to provide a consistent and reliable Wi-Fi network, you need to set up many access points throughout your facility. In addition, you need full-time staff on site who can respond to any troubleshooting issues that arise. These costs add up over time and will only continue to grow with network updates.

CBRS makes industrial-strength, enterprise-grade wireless broadband networks economically feasible. Instead of having to account for multiple access points, equipment, and staffing to help your network run smoothly, you can simply use CBRS as a dependable service. This revolutionary system, coupled with top-notch equipment and support, is available to any business for a predictable monthly fee. CBRS enabled networks like MOTOTRBO Nitro to seamless broadband services, creating a much more affordable solution for any large-scale corporation.

Out with the Old

Although we still rely heavily on Wi-Fi for our personal everyday needs and entertainment, when it comes to running a secure and fully functional healthcare facility, it’s important to consider which tools are providing the best support required to perform optimally.

MOTOTRBO Nitro is here to give your enterprise a CBRS boost. Stop wasting precious time and resources with an over saturated Wi-Fi network, risking the security of sensitive information in the process. CBRS empowers all healthcare facilities and their staff with total control and security.