Because the Director of the Workplace for Civil Rights (OCR) on the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers (HHS), I’m pleased with my crew’s work in the direction of growing cybersecurity consciousness final month, and in reality, each month. OCR enforces the Well being Insurance coverage Portability and Accountability Act’s (HIPAA) Privateness, Safety, and Enforcement Guidelines to guard people’ well being info personal and safe.

To maintain people’ protected well being info protected, a company will need to have robust cybersecurity measures. When a HIPAA regulated entity understands and has good cybersecurity practices in place, this lowers the chance of protected well being info turning into compromised. To advertise these good practices, OCR affords assets to the general public and coated entities that deal with trending cybersecurity subjects. Though robust cybersecurity habits needs to be year-round, OCR celebrated October’s Cybersecurity Consciousness Month with gusto within the following methods:

• Useful resource Paperwork on Telehealth: OCR issued two useful resource paperwork to advertise cybersecurity in telehealth for various audiences.
• E-newsletter on Sanctions Insurance policies: OCR continuously publishes Cybersecurity Newsletters to maintain the general public knowledgeable of probably the most up-to-date cybersecurity subjects. In October, OCR put out a e-newsletter on “How Sanction Insurance policies Can Help HIPAA Compliance”. A company’s sanction insurance policies might be an necessary device for supporting accountability and bettering cybersecurity and knowledge safety. The e-newsletter relayed what the capabilities, the content material, and execution of what such a coverage may appear like.
• Movies on Defending Towards Cyber-Assaults: OCR launched two movies, in English and Spanish, on the HIPAA Safety Rule and the way it can assist regulated entities defend towards cyber-attacks. The movies focus on actual world cyber-attack traits, primarily based on OCR’s expertise with its breach experiences and enforcement, together with methods to detect and mitigate widespread cyber-attacks.
• Settlements: OCR introduced its first ever settlement regarding a ransomware assault. Ransomware is a sort of malware (malicious software program) designed to disclaim entry to a person’s knowledge, often by encrypting the information with a key recognized solely to the hacker who deployed the malware, till a ransom is paid. This settlement with a enterprise affiliate highlights how ransomware assaults are more and more widespread and concentrating on the well being care system. 
• Webinar on Threat Evaluation: To cap off Cybersecurity Consciousness Month, OCR hosted a webinar titled “The HIPAA Safety Rule Threat Evaluation Requirement”, to an viewers of over 4,000 registrants. A threat evaluation is a key and obligatory step for efficient cybersecurity and HIPAA Safety Rule compliance. This webinar mentioned what’s required to conduct an correct and thorough threat evaluation to protected well being info.
• Cybersecurity Coaching: All through October, OCR’s eight regional workplaces performed cybersecurity coaching for big hospitals, small medical suppliers, enterprise associates, state well being departments, and state social service companies to help them in complying with their cybersecurity obligations within the face of adjusting hostile threats.

We encourage your efforts to maintain your group in compliance with HIPAA, and a part of that effort is having robust cybersecurity measures. Keep tuned for future OCR bulletins in assist of HIPAA and cybersecurity, and please make use of our free cybersecurity assets.

Further Sources: