Epic’s Incident Recovery surroundings (IRE): A Deep Dive for Healthcare Leaders
Cyberattacks are a constant threat to healthcare organizations. Having a robust disaster recovery plan isn’t just best practice – it’s essential for patient safety,financial stability,and maintaining trust. Epic, a leading electronic health record (EHR) vendor, offers a unique solution called the Incident Recovery Environment (IRE) designed to keep your organization operational during a cyber incident.This article provides a complete overview of Epic IRE, covering its architecture, setup considerations, and emerging best practices.
Understanding the Epic IRE: “Minimum Viable epic”
Unlike traditional disaster recovery approaches that rely on data vaulting, Epic leverages its innovative IRIS mirroring technology. This ensures near-real-time data synchronization between your production environment and the IRE. Think of it as a continuously updated, ready-to-go copy of your Epic system.
Crucially, the IRE isn’t a full replica of your production environment. It’s intentionally streamlined, focusing on core functionality. Epic removes integrated third-party applications to prioritize essential workflows: patient care and revenue cycle management. This “minimum viable epic” approach allows you to maintain critical operations even when your primary system is compromised. You’ll primarily access the IRE through web or mobile web interfaces.
Key Considerations for IRE Implementation
Setting up an Epic IRE requires careful planning. Here’s what your organization needs to consider:
* Hosting Model: Will you utilize an Epic-hosted IRE or self-host in the cloud?
* Epic-hosted: Simplifies management and reduces internal IT burden.
* Cloud-Hosted (e.g., Microsoft Azure): Offers scalability and cost-effectiveness through operational expenditure (OpEx) rather than large capital investments (CapEx). this is becoming increasingly popular.
* Broader Recovery Strategy: The IRE addresses Epic specifically. Though, other applications will likely require traditional vaulting and “clean room” environments as part of your overall recovery process. Consider investing in solutions designed to air-gap your environment and streamline this setup.
* Authentication Challenges: Most Epic systems rely on Active Directory for user authentication. A cyberattack often compromises Active Directory, leaving you without a login mechanism for your IRE.
Navigating Authentication During a Cyberattack
This authentication hurdle is a significant challenge. Fortunately, Epic offers solutions:
- Epic Native Authentication: You can revert to Epic’s built-in authentication system. However, this typically necessitates large-scale password resets.
- Multifactor Authentication (MFA): Native Epic authentication can support MFA, but only if it’s already enabled. Enrolling thousands of users in MFA during an active incident is a complex undertaking.
- OpenID connect (OIDC): Epic’s newest offering allows integration with identity providers like Okta or microsoft EntraID (formerly Azure AD). This simplifies MFA and streamlines access. While adoption is currently low, expect to see increased implementation over the next 1-2 years as organizations recognize its benefits.
Proactive Steps to Enhance Your IRE Readiness
Don’t wait for an incident to test your IRE. Here’s how to prepare:
* Regular Testing: Conduct frequent, realistic drills to validate your IRE’s functionality and identify potential weaknesses.
* Documentation: Maintain comprehensive documentation outlining IRE access procedures, workflows, and troubleshooting steps.
* User Training: Ensure your clinical and revenue cycle teams are familiar with accessing and utilizing the IRE.
* identity Management Strategy: Prioritize a robust identity and access management (IAM) strategy, including MFA, and explore the benefits of OpenID Connect integration.
* Consider a Clinical Care Resiliency Framework: A holistic approach to clinical care resiliency will ensure your organization can continue to deliver safe, effective care even during disruptions.
The Future of Epic IRE and Healthcare Resilience
Epic’s IRE represents a significant advancement in healthcare disaster recovery. By prioritizing data synchronization and streamlined functionality, it empowers organizations to maintain essential operations during a cyberattack. As threats evolve,and technologies like OpenID Connect mature,the IRE will continue to play a vital role in bolstering healthcare resilience. Investing in proactive planning, regular testing, and a comprehensive recovery strategy is no longer optional – it’s a necessity for protecting your patients, your organization, and
