ISO 17799 and Australian Healthcare Organisations

Information security is now recognised as critical factor within the healthcare industry. With the gradual move from paper-based to electronic information there is an even greater need for protection. However, financial and operational constraints often exist which influence the practicality of developing a secure system. A new baseline security standard has been drafted which applies specifically to the unique information security requirements of the healthcare industry. The aim of this paper is to look at the effectiveness of the health information security standard and the development of information security within the Australian healthcare industry.