HIPAA for Beginners

If your organization handles protected health information (PHI), understanding HIPAA is essential.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets the national standard for safeguarding sensitive patient data in the United States.
Whether you’re a healthcare provider, a business associate, or a technology vendor, HIPAA compliance helps ensure that PHI is handled securely and responsibly.

HIPAA is built around four main rules:

• Privacy Rule: Governs how PHI is used and disclosed

• Security Rule: Defines safeguards for protecting electronic PHI (ePHI)

• Breach Notification Rule: Requires notification of data breaches involving PHI

• Enforcement Rule: Establishes penalties for non-compliance

As you begin your HIPAA journey, it’s helpful to explore how the framework complements others such as ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR—helping build a unified approach to data privacy and security.