By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    benefits of using protein powder to build muscles
    Protein Powder for Muscle Mass: Everything You Need to Know
    December 12, 2021
    changes brought on by blockchain in healthcare
    Technology In The Healthcare Industry
    March 28, 2022
    What Does Core Body Temperature Say About Health?
    August 17, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    FDA Approves Diabetes Pill
    May 2, 2011
    Patient Gets Drunk on Hand Sanitizer
    June 20, 2011
    Cultivating Health Improvement
    July 20, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Five Questions to Ask Your Business Associates: #3 Policies & Technologies
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Uncategorized > Five Questions to Ask Your Business Associates: #3 Policies & Technologies
Uncategorized

Five Questions to Ask Your Business Associates: #3 Policies & Technologies

onlinetech
Last updated: February 6, 2012 1:35 pm
onlinetech
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

Our third most important question to a Business Associate is:

What policies and technologies are used to protect my applications and PHI data?

Our third most important question to a Business Associate is:

What policies and technologies are used to protect my applications and PHI data?

Neither HIPAA nor HITECH call for specific technical measures to assure PHI data is available, accurate and secure. However, there are still basic technologies and practices that indicate a culture of security awareness and proficiency. After you review the BA’s independent HIPAA audit report, ask about these data security technologies.

In our case, as a hosting provider, the minimum server security requirements to meet HIPAA compliance are:

  • Virtual or Dedicated Firewall
  • Backup
  • Antivirus
  • OS Patch Management

We also recommend:

  • Private Firewall services (either a Virtual or Dedicated Firewall) with VPN for remote access
  • Separate database and web servers for production
  • Separate test server (can use one for web and DB but not same as production)
  • Offsite data backup at the minimum, ideally a warm-site disaster recovery paradigm (easiest for cloud servers)
  • SSL certificates and HTTPS for all web-based access to PHI (protected health information)
  • Private IP addresses

Is encryption required?
We are asked this repeatedly, and the answer is “No, but it’s a darn good idea.” Encryption is usually handled at the software application level, so if you are working with a Business Associate who is providing software, ask how they address it in the application. If you are putting your own software on a server, you’ll undoubtedly have taken encryption into account. Encryption requires decryption prior to use which is computationally expensive, so you can’t just encrypt everything on the server. The best tools and methods depend on the application, operating system and usage patterns. Look for the following best practices:

  • Always use SSL for web-based access of any sensitive data (personally identifying or medical information)
  • Name, SSN, diagnosis, addresses, prognosis etc. and other sensitive information within an EMR (electronic medical records) system should be encrypted in the database using techniques and mechanisms known only to a select few.
  • Content such as images or scans should be encrypted and contain no personally identifying information.

Important HIPAA policies to ask about:

  • Documentation of data management, security, training and notification plans (every employee should have regular HIPAA security training)
  • Clients should use a password policy for their access
  • Encrypt PHI data whether it’s in a database or in files on the server
  • Do not use public FTP (File Transfer Protocol) to move files
  • Only use VPN (virtual private network) access for remote access
  • Login retry protection in their application
  • Documentation of a DR (disaster recovery) plan

Next week, we’ll talk about important questions to ask about disaster preparedness and how long it will take for you to access your PHI again in the event disaster strikes.

Are you going to HIMSS 12 in Las Vegas, Feb. 20-24? If so, stop by our Booth (#13528) and say hello! Online Tech will be exhibiting at HIMSS with our HIPAA compliant hosting solutions for healthcare and related organizations.

References:
HIPAA FAQ
What Services From Online Tech Help Make Me Compliant?
Encrypting Data to Meet HIPAA Compliance
SearchHealthIT: How to Comply With the HIPAA Security Rule
More HIPAA Resources

For HIPAA Compliant hosting, call 877.740.5028 or email contactus@onlinetech.com

  

TAGGED:HIPAA
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Dental health
May 21, 2025
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
Dental health
May 21, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025

You Might also Like

HIPAA Breaches by State
Uncategorized

HIPAA Breaches By State

September 17, 2011
protect patient data
BusinessHospital Administration

Prioritizing Patient Privacy in Online Healthcare Communications

May 22, 2024
Healthcare Franchise
Health care

Choosing The Right Healthcare Franchise For Your Family

April 14, 2023
2012 Cloud Computing
Uncategorized

2012 Health IT Cloud Computing: Private Clouds Dominate

April 24, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?