The US Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is responsible for enforcing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). HIPAA is a set of federal laws that protects the privacy and security of patient health information. As a covered entity, you must take measures to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all electronically protected health information (ePHI) in your possession.
This includes implementing physical, technical, and administrative safeguards. In this article, we will discuss what security controls you need to put in place to ensure HIPAA compliance.
Technical Controls
Access Controls
In computing, access control is a security measure that determines who or what can access a computer system, as well as what resources they can use. Access controls can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both. They are used to protect systems and data from unauthorized access, modification, or destruction.
Audit Controls
Audit control is a security measure that is put in place to help prevent or detect unauthorized access to a system. Audit controls can be physical or logical, and they are usually implemented as part of a larger security strategy.
There are many different types of audit controls, but some of the most common ones include access control lists, intrusion detection systems, and audit trails. Each of these controls serves a different purpose, but all of them work together to help keep your system secure.
Integrity Controls
Integrity controls are measures that are put in place to ensure that data is accurate and complete. They are designed to prevent errors and omissions in data and to ensure that data is consistent across different sources.
There are a variety of different integrity controls that can be used, and the most effective ones will vary depending on the specific dataset. However, some common integrity controls include data validation, data cleansing, and data reconciliation.
Data validation is a process that checks whether data meets certain criteria. This can include things like checking for correct formats, ranges, and values. Data cleansing is a process of removing inaccuracies and inconsistencies from data. And data reconciliation is a process of comparing data from different sources to look for differences.
Data Encryption
Data encryption is the process of transforming readable data into an unreadable format. This is done using a key, which is a secret piece of information that is used to decode the encrypted data. The key is known only to the sender and the receiver of the data, making it very difficult for anyone else to access it. Data encryption is used in a variety of applications, from securing communications between parties to protecting sensitive information from being accessed by unauthorized individuals.
Physical Security Controls
Physical security controls are security measures that are designed to protect people, property, and assets from physical harm. They can include things like fences, locks, alarms, and security guards. Physical security controls are important because they can deter and detect potential threats, and they can help to prevent and respond to security incidents.
There are many different types of physical security controls, and the best ones for your organization will depend on your specific needs. However, some common physical security controls include things like:
- Fences
- Locks
- Alarms
- Security guards
- Cameras
- Access control systems
- Barricades
- Lighting
Administrative Controls
Security Management Process
Security management is the process of identifying, assessing, and controlling risks to an organization’s information and assets. The goal of security management is to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of an organization’s data and resources.
Security management is a continuous process that should be adapted to the changing needs of the organization. It includes various activities such as security planning, security policies, security awareness, security training, security monitoring, and security audits.
Designated security personnel
Covered entities must have a designated security official. The official’s job is to develop and implement HIPAA-related security policies and procedures.
Workforce training and management
It’s important to give your employees the proper training on security policies and procedures and sanction employees that fail to live up to those standards.
Security policies and procedures
Companies must have security policies and procedures to govern their security practices and these should be reviewed on a consistent basis.
Recap
There are a number of security controls that you need to implement in order to be HIPAA compliant. These include data encryption, access control, and activity logging. This article provided an overview of each of these security controls. To learn more about how to implement these controls, contact Oppos cybersecurity consultants.
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