What are the HIPAA Safeguards?
HIPAA Safeguards are the administrative, technical, and physical safeguards that covered entities are required to maintain by the terms of the HIPAA Security Rule to protect individuals’ electronic protected health information (ePHI).
The Security Rule defines Administrative Safeguards as “administrative actions, and policies and procedures, to manage the selection, development, implementation, and maintenance of security measures to protect electronic protected health information and to manage the conduct of the covered entity’s workforce in relation to the protection of that information.” The Administrative Safeguards comprise more than half of the HIPAA Security Requirements. Administrative Safeguards include:
The Security Rule defines Technical Safeguards as “the technology and the policy and procedures for its use that protect electronic protected health information and control access to it.” The Technical Safeguards include:
The Security Rule defines Physical Safeguards as “physical measures, policies, and procedures to protect a covered entity’s electronic information systems and related buildings and equipment, from natural and environmental hazards, and unauthorized intrusion.” The Physical Safeguards include: