Managed IT and HIPAA Security for Montana Healthcare Practices
Information Systems of Montana (ISM) provides managed IT, 24/7 security monitoring and backup for Montana medical, dental, behavioral health, physical therapy and specialty practices. We put the HIPAA Security Rule's technical safeguards in place, document them, and keep your EHR, phones and network running so patients are seen on time.
We are a local Montana team that has protected Montana healthcare practices since 1995. (Running a veterinary clinic? Veterinary practices follow different rules. See our veterinary IT page.)
The risks Montana practices face
Healthcare is one of the most targeted industries for ransomware, and small practices are not too small to be hit. The common problems we see:
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Ransomware that takes down the EHR and schedule, forcing cancelled appointments and paper charts
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Phishing emails that steal staff logins to email and patient portals
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Unpatched computers and medical devices running outdated Windows
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No current, documented HIPAA risk analysis, which is the first thing regulators ask for after a breach
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Patient Wi-Fi and clinical systems sharing the same network
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Cyber insurance applications asking for multi-factor authentication, encryption and tested backups
HIPAA in 2026: what applies now and what is coming
The current HIPAA Security Rule is in force and enforced. It requires covered entities and their business associates to perform a risk analysis and put administrative, physical and technical safeguards around electronic protected health information.
In January 2025, HHS proposed the first major overhaul of the Security Rule in more than a decade, including required multi-factor authentication and encryption. That rule is not final. HHS has since moved its target for final action to July 2027.
Our approach: meet the current rule today, and build toward the proposed requirements now, because they reflect what attackers already exploit and what cyber insurers already ask about. When a final rule lands, you will be close instead of starting over.
How ISM protects your practice
Every managed plan includes the security layers below, built into the price instead of sold as add-ons:
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24/7 threat monitoring and response from a staffed security operations center
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Backup with off-site redundancy and tested restores, so a ransomware event does not shut your doors
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AI-powered email protection against phishing and impersonation
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Multi-factor authentication, encrypted devices and managed patching
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Separate, secured networks for clinical systems and patient or guest Wi-Fi
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Support for your HIPAA risk analysis and documentation of your technical safeguards
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A business associate agreement covering our work with your systems
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EHR, practice management and imaging support, working directly with your vendors
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Business phone systems for practices (see our VoIP services)
Protecting Montana businesses since 1995
11.1-year average client relationship
Best of Montana five years running
Named to the CRN 2026 MSP 500 and the MSP 501
Titans of the Industry nominee two years running
Frequently Asked Questions
No IT service makes a practice HIPAA compliant on its own, and any provider who promises that is overselling. Compliance is your practice's program. ISM puts the Security Rule's technical safeguards in place, supports your risk analysis, documents the controls, and signs a business associate agreement for our work with your systems.
The overhaul HHS proposed in January 2025 is not final, and HHS now lists July 2027 as its target for final action. The current Security Rule still applies and is enforced. The proposal would require measures like multi-factor authentication and encryption, which cyber insurers already expect, so we recommend putting them in place now.
Our security operations center works to contain the threat and we restore systems from backup. Under HIPAA, affected patients must be notified without unreasonable delay and no later than 60 days after discovery, and the breach must be reported to HHS. Montana's breach notification law (MCA 30-14-1704) can also apply. We give you and your counsel the technical facts to make those calls.
Yes. We support the network, devices, Microsoft 365 and security around your EHR, practice management and imaging systems, and we work directly with your software vendors when an issue sits on their side.
No. Veterinary practices are not covered by HIPAA, so they follow a different set of rules. See our veterinary IT page for how ISM protects animal hospitals and clinics.
Yes. ISM serves practices across Montana, including Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell and Missoula, plus rural communities. Most support is delivered remotely, security monitoring runs 24/7, and our local Montana team handles on-site work when it is needed.
Talk to a Local Montana Team
Schedule a free practice IT risk review. We will look at your security, backups and compliance gaps and tell you plainly what to fix first.
