7 Tips to Help You Reach HIPAA Compliance
March 29th, 2017 by admin
If you aren't shouting "hip, hip, hooray for HIPAA"...you're a normal person. Adhering to HIPAA Compliance standards is a necessary and complicated process for healthcare professionals. With so many regulations in place it can be hard to keep up. These seven simple steps will ensure that you are actively working to improve your compliance and that your company is free from fines.If you work in healthcare, adhering to HIPAA Compliance standards is a necessary, albeit complicated and confusing process. Following these seven simple steps can help make things run smoother for your business, and ensure your company is actively improving on all HIPAA compliance regulations and able to avoid fines.
1. Get a HIPAA Compliance Scan at Least Once a Year
The safest, smartest, most cost-efficient, and overall best option for your business is to get a HIPAA Compliance Scan. At Equinox IT Services, we implement a program that runs on your network, sifting through all the needed information for a highly detailed report that unveils security risks and provides detailed steps of what can be improved in order to meet HIPAA standards. This report is designed to pick up on everything - from the simple that you may have overlooked, to the tiniest flaws that can’t be found otherwise.2. Get on a Domain, not a Workgroup
There are two ways to set up a Windows network, a Workgroup or a Domain. A peer-to-peer Workgroup is a loosely connected group of workstations. A Domain is centrally managed and includes security features. You cannot be compliant with many HIPAA requirements like Information System Activity Review, Unique User Identification, Audit Controls, and Person or Entity Authentication in a Workgroup. You need a Domain. You may need to purchase a server, convert your existing server into a Domain Controller, or create a secure network in the Cloud.3. Add Encryption to all of Your Mobile Devices
Encryption is just one more lock and key that helps keep your precious data safe. There are many different types and levels of encryption. Here are just a few of the options:- Full Disk Encryption: Encrypts data on the entire hard drive. Full Encryption includes restricted access and requires user authentication.
- Virtual Encryption: Encrypts containers (files full of data). Virtual Encryption includes restricted access and requires user authentication.
- File Encryption: Specific folders are encrypted using a unique point of access for each file. File Encryption includes restricted access to certain, selected files that remain encrypted in any place where the data is deposited.