Importance of Protecting Sensitive Patient Data
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets standards to protect the privacy and security of patient health information. HIPAA Security Rule requires healthcare organizations to assess their systems and processes to identify potential vulnerabilities and implement appropriate measures to mitigate those risks. A HIPAA security risk assessment comprehensively evaluates an organization's security policies, procedures, and technical controls to protect electronically protected health information (ePHI) from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. The assessment aims to identify potential risk areas to ePHI, prioritize those risks, and develop strategies to manage them effectively. Why Conduct a HIPAA Security Risk Assessment? HIPAA Security Rule mandates all covered entities and business associates to conduct a risk assessment periodically to safeguard ePHI. Failure to do so may lead to legal consequences, such as penalties, fines, and reputational damage. Co...