HIPAA requires covered entities and business associates to secure protected health information (PHI). Failing to do so can result in steep fines and penalties. Some PHI breaches, however, are out of the organization’s control. Determined hackers can expose PHI, and employees can make mistakes — they’re only human, Despite training, rigorous security protocols, and constant monitoring, data breaches can happen.

Due to rising trends and policy changes, organizations are opting for solutions that ensure a proactive measure of cybersecurity. Companies are being held to much higher standards on how they collect, store, and protect individuals’ data. So they are searching for solutions that are both cost-effective and accurate. SIEM software provides threat management along with a detailed and centralized view of enterprise security.

With our mundane lives becoming more and more integrated with technology daily, it is important to impart awareness of the subject matter, as well. Technology and mainly the internet has changed the landscape of even our imagination, to say the least, and while it is still embarked on curving the bits and nooks of the world, some tweaks need to be paid attention to, also.

HIPAA compliance requires covered entities and business associates to secure protected health information. Social Security numbers, medical record numbers, health plan beneficiary numbers, account numbers, and names of patients, relatives, or employers all must be secured from unauthorized access. The penalties and fines for HIPAA violations can be steep — in some instances reaching millions of dollars. And, HIPAA isn’t prescriptive about what it takes to be in compliance.

Those who work in the healthcare industry know: HIPAA compliance is often fiercely enforced by the Department of Health and Human Services, and penalties can be steep. “Each covered entity is required to implement safeguards to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of PHI. These safeguards will vary depending on the size of the covered entity and the nature of healthcare it provides, but the penalties for failing to safeguard the integrity of PHI can be extremely high.

HIPAA’s regulations refer to two parties: a covered entity and a business associate. These groups are required to achieve PHI compliance. Specifically, this means these groups are liable for protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of personal health information.

The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) has been in place for just over a decade (2011). Its purpose is to provide a “cost-effective, risk-based approach for the adoption and use of cloud services” by the federal government. This is to equip and enable federal agencies to utilize cloud technologies in a way that minimizes risk exposure through security and protection of federal information and processes.