When a Neurologist Used Gmail for Patient Data

It began with something seemingly small.
A moment that, on the surface, didn’t seem like much.

CEO & Founder of Innova IT Solutions, Brandon Arzoumanian, was sitting in his neurologist’s office, the usual routine check-up. But what caught his attention wasn’t the consultation, it was the screen. Right there, on the doctor’s computer, was a familiar Gmail tab open.

He realised that his neurologist, a well-respected specialist, was sending and receiving patient health information through a personal Gmail account. Not a corporate one, not a secure portal. Just Gmail.

“That’s when it hit me,” he recalls. “If a neurologist, someone dealing with some of the most sensitive data imaginable, was using a free email account, how many others were doing the same?”

That question sparked what would become Innova IT Solutions, a managed IT and cybersecurity company dedicated to helping healthcare providers and businesses protect what matters most: their data, their people, and their reputation.

A Wake-Up Call About Patient Data Security

In Australia, patient health information is one of the most tightly regulated forms of data. And for good reason. It’s deeply personal; names, diagnoses, medication histories, even mental health records.

Under the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), healthcare providers have a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to secure this data. Add to that the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Standards, Edition 5, which specifically outlines IT security requirements for general practices, and it’s clear: using a free email service simply doesn’t cut it.

Yet, this is what’s happening across the country.
From small practices in rural towns to bustling clinics in Sydney, countless healthcare providers still rely on outdated systems, unsecured networks, and non-compliant email solutions to handle confidential information.

“Most of them don’t even realise they’re breaking compliance,” our founder explains. “They just want technology that works. They don’t have time to decode the technical jargon. And that’s where we come in.”

Why Hackers Want Your Health Data

Cybersecurity threats are no longer limited to banks or tech firms. Healthcare is now one of the most targeted industries for cyberattacks worldwide.

Why? Because medical data is gold.

A single patient record can fetch ten times more than a stolen credit card on the dark web. It’s not just an ID. It’s a full identity. Health data contains everything from personal details and insurance numbers to addresses, family contacts, and medical history. That’s why hackers love it.

And when these systems are compromised, the impact is devastating, not just financially, but emotionally. For patients, it’s a breach of trust. For clinics, it’s a potential compliance disaster that can lead to fines, lawsuits, and reputation damage that takes years to rebuild.

“Innova was built to make sure that never happens,” says the founder. “We believe small practices deserve the same level of protection as big hospitals, without the complexity or the price tag.”

From Frustration to Foundation

That day in the neurologist’s office wasn’t just a surprise. It was a wake-up call.

The founder, who had years of experience in IT infrastructure and network security, realised that many healthcare providers were left behind by the rapid pace of digital transformation. They didn’t have in-house IT teams. They didn’t have enterprise-grade cybersecurity systems. And most importantly, they didn’t have trusted advisors who could translate technology into everyday language.

So he decided to build one.

Innova IT Solutions was founded in Sydney, with a simple mission: To help businesses succeed with the right technology.

IT That Feels Personal, Not Corporate

From the start, Innova took a different approach. Instead of selling pre-packaged solutions or drowning clients in technical acronyms, the company focused on understanding how each practice actually runs.

Every clinic is unique. Their workflows, their staff, their priorities. So the technology should be, too.

Whether it’s setting up secure communication systems, implementing multi-layered cybersecurity, or managing cloud-based patient management software, Innova tailors every setup to match the size, workflow, and pace of the business.

The team’s philosophy is simple: To make IT invisible, in the best way possible.

Because when technology works seamlessly, staff stop noticing it. There’s no lag, no downtime, no panic over lost files or suspicious emails. Everything just runs quietly, efficiently, and securely.


Why You Should Care About Cybersecurity, Even If You're Not in Healthcare

Innova’s story may have started in a clinic, but its mission goes far beyond healthcare.

Every business, from accounting firms to small retailers, relies on technology. And every one of them stores sensitive information; customer details, invoices, intellectual property. The same vulnerabilities that affect medical clinics can just as easily impact any business without proper security measures.

Cybersecurity isn’t just about firewalls and antivirus software anymore. It’s about resilience. Making sure your business can withstand and recover from whatever comes its way.

Whether it’s a phishing attempt, ransomware attack, or accidental data loss, being proactive rather than reactive can mean the difference between a small scare and a full-blown crisis.

A Simple Mission with a Big Responsibility

Today, Innova IT Solutions continues to grow, expanding its services beyond healthcare to small and medium businesses across Australia. But the heart of the company remains the same: to make technology safe, simple, and human.

That means bridging the gap between compliance and practicality. Helping teams understand not just what they need to do, but why it matters. And giving them tools that work quietly in the background, letting them focus on people, not problems.

“We’re not here to sell you tech,” the founder says with a smile.
“We’re here to make sure you can sleep at night, knowing your business is protected.”

The Takeaway

Sometimes, innovation doesn’t start with a grand idea. It starts with a quiet moment of realisation. A neurologist using Gmail.

From that moment grew a company built on trust, transparency, and a relentless drive to close the compliance gaps that too many clinics and businesses still face today.

Innova IT Solutions was created to turn that frustration into progress, to ensure no professional, in any industry, ever has to rely on insecure systems again.

Because at the end of the day, protecting data isn’t just about technology.
It’s about people.

And that’s something worth building a company for.

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