HIPAA Risk Assessment Services: Understanding the Requirement Under the Security Rule
A HIPAA risk assessment is a foundational requirement under the HIPAA Security Rule. It is not the entirety of HIPAA compliance, but it is a critical first step. Business Associates and Covered Entities are both required to conduct a risk assessment to evaluate potential risks and vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI). Unlike general compliance checklists or policy templates, a proper HIPAA risk assessment is a formal process that helps organizations identify gaps in their safeguards and take informed steps to reduce risk. What Is a HIPAA Risk Assessment? A HIPAA risk assessment is a security-focused evaluation required under 45 CFR §164.308(a)(1)(ii)(A) of the HIPAA Security Rule. The purpose is to identify threats and vulnerabilities to ePHI and determine whether the existing security measures are sufficient to protect against them. It includes: Identifying where ePHI is stored, received, maintain...