IDC defines security fabric architecture as an integrated and automated security framework that provides network, multicloud, and IoT endpoint security and advanced threat protection along with advanced security management and analytics.
Combines the many elements of security into a common security framework
Enables incremental buildout of the overall security strategy
Provides greater levels of integration and intelligence sharing between security products
Reduces operational costs and staffing requirements through automation, single pane of glass visibility into the network, self-optimization and self-healing capabilities
Accelerates response and remediation time in the event of a suspected or known attack
Organization: Riverside Healthcare is a fully integrated system serving patients in four Illinois counties. Operational challenge: Understanding what devices are connected to the network. Solution: 14 Fortinet products and solutions, including FortiSwitch, FortiAP, FortiNAC, and FortiVoice.
Benefits: Platform solution provided true integration across security products and enabled vendor consolidation that also helped to reduce operational costs. Lessons learned: Do your own homework up front. Identify what capabilities you need in the next three to four years so you don’t outgrow your initial investments.
“You need to think holistically. What is the end goal for deploying the technology? Then think like a hacker to identify how they might exploit that technology. This perspective has opened the eyes of the facility security and cybersecurity teams to issues that they haven’t thought of before.” — Erik Devine, CISO, Riverside Healthcare
Riverside Healthcare is a longstanding Fortinet customer. The Illinois-based integrated delivery network installed its first Fortinet firewall seven years ago after evaluating six other vendors’ products. Selection factors for the initial security technology acquisition included: Fortinet firewalls were a proven product; the software was the same between devices for wired and wireless networks; and lower operational costs were “CFO-friendly.”
As Riverside grew in size and complexity, it was clear that a truly integrated platform was needed to address the enterprise’s expanding physical and cybersecurity requirements. Since deploying Fortinet’s firewall technology in 2011, Riverside has taken advantage of Fortinet’s Security Fabric and expanded its security portfolio to 14 Fortinet products and solutions including FortiSwitch, FortiAP, FortiNAC, and FortiVoice.
The physical security director and CISO work closely together and jointly manage the video surveillance and door systems. Consequently, Riverside has achieved operational efficiencies by taking a holistic view of security. This close working relationship has also helped the facility security director to think differently about how physical security devices are deployed.
For example, before working with the IT security team, the facility security team might not have contemplated what would happen if a video surveillance device was attacked by cybercriminals, taken offline while a physical crime was committed, and then turned back on to reduce detection of the intrusion. Now, physical security is applying cybersecurity best practices as the two disciplines are more closely aligned. The combined expertise of physical security and law enforcement, along with digital and cybersecurity, greatly enhances the overall security of patients, staff, visitors, and IT assets.
Organization: Bridgeway Senior Healthcare is a family-owned provider of senior care ranging from subacute / rehab care and long-term care to assisted living.
Operational challenge: Replacing a legacy system on the brink of failure, with limited resources to do so.
Solution: FortiVoice
Benefits: Greater staff efficiencies, visibility into communication practices, and ability to hold staff accountable improved communication overall and led to a better staff and patient experience.
Lessons learned: Glean best practices and potential use cases from customer references. Focus on solutions that make staff or processes more efficient.
“Deploy a solution that makes caregivers more efficient in caring for their patients.” — Jason Dugenio, CIO, Bridgeway Senior Healthcare
Bridgeway Senior Healthcare selected Fortinet’s FortiVoice and FortiFone to replace a legacy voice and voicemail system with one using a more modern architecture. Key selection factors included company reputation, solid products, customer references, costs, and ease of management. Lower acquisition and operational costs for Fortinet’s products enabled Bridgeway to also make infrastructure upgrades at the same time.
FortiVoice offers a cordless handset solution which works well in the Bridgeway environment given the inherent mobile nature of staff and caregivers. Calls from physicians or family members can be easily transferred to caregivers and nurse managers no matter where they are in the building or campus. The ability to log when a call came in, how long it took for someone to pick up the call and the length of the conversation, and whether a voicemail was left if the call went unanswered has led to improved visibility into communication practices and greater staff accountability for voice communication. Bridgeway staff, as well as patients and their family members, report that communications has improved since FortiFones were deployed, resulting in greater satisfaction levels. While ROI can often be difficult for healthcare organizations to quantify, better communications is at the core of quality patient care. The ability to respond quickly to hospital case workers looking for a SNF or rehab bed, or a family member inquiring about an assisted living option for a loved one, also has a financial impact. Senior care is a census-driven business. A missed call is a missed opportunity to admit a new patient into a Bridgeway facility.
Bridgeway is exploring adding FortiCamera and FortiRecorder. Use cases for these technologies include monitoring patients who are at risk for wandering, caregiving staff being in the right place at the right time, and monitoring physician rounding. Object recognition capabilities enable asset tracking and inventory management. Fortinet’s Security Fabric enables Bridgeway to add new security capabilities, including connected physical security devices that protect patients.
