What are the four “safeguards” outlined by the HIPAA Security Rule?

The four “safeguards” outlined by the HIPAA Security Rule are Administrative, Physical, Technical, and Organizational. These safeguards serve as critical measures that covered entities and business associates must implement to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI).

Administrative safeguards involve the policies and procedures designed to manage the selection, development, implementation, and maintenance of security measures to protect ePHI. This includes workforce training and risk assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities.

Physical safeguards refer to the physical measures, policies, and procedures designed to protect a covered entity's electronic information systems and related buildings from natural and environmental hazards, as well as unauthorized intrusion. This encompasses securing the physical location where ePHI is stored and ensuring that only authorized personnel have access.

Technical safeguards involve the technology and related policy and procedures that protect ePHI and control access to it. This includes encryption, access controls, and audit controls to monitor who accesses ePHI and how it is used.

While the other options mention relevant concepts, they do not accurately reflect the defined components of the HIPAA Security Rule. Therefore, identifying the correct safeguards as Administrative, Physical, Technical, and Organizational is essential for individuals working in healthcare and health informatics to