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A Deep-Dive Into the HIPAA Security Rule

We cannot talk about information security without talking about HIPAA. The information security standard has been governing how information is managed in the healthcare industry since 1996. Considering how sensitive patients’ information and personal details are — and the growing number of cyberattacks targeting healthcare institutions — the HIPAA Security Rule is considered to be among the most extensive across the globe.

Don’t get me wrong, HIPAA compliance is far from enough in terms of data protection. As with other compliance standards, the HIPAA Security Rule is only meant to set a standard and define best practices for the healthcare industry to follow. A lot of healthcare institutions go one or two steps further in order to fully protect the safety of their patients’ information.

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Azure and HIPAA Compliance: What You Need to Know

What is HIPAA?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a landmark piece of US legislation that was introduced in 1996, in order to safeguard and secure patient information and transmittal. Covered entities (CE) and Business Associates (BA) should comply with HIPAA regulations. Healthcare providers, health insurance plans and healthcare clearinghouses fall under CE whereas Business Associates can be a person or an entity that provides third party services and activities for covered entities, which involve accessing protected health information (PHI). Any information about the health status, provision of healthcare or payment of healthcare services that is created, collected or transmitted by a covered entity and linked with individually identifiable information is considered PHI under US law.

You may also like: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started With Azure Console.

HIPAA Regulatory Rules

Healthcare organizations have been embracing cloud to cut costs and improve the quality of care. While cloud adoption is a crucial stride for a healthcare entity, it is equally significant to adhere to HIPAA regulations. Ensuring valuable benefits for caregivers and consumers alike, HIPAA establishes standards for the secure handling of PHI.