Don’t Let a HIPAA Audit Shut You Down: Security Best Practices 

Privacy laws are nothing to sneeze at. In particular, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rules have far-reaching implications for businesses. And, because the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regularly audits businesses for compliance, you need to make sure your HIPAA security is up to snuff.

The Impact of HIPAA Audits

With the increase this year in the number of HIPAA audits being performed, it’s more important to be ready. HIPAA compliance audits can affect your company in several ways:

• Fines or other penalties, up to and including a mandated suspension of business activities
• Civil lawsuits that result from violations of HIPAA security uncovered during the audit process

Preparing for HIPAA Compliance

Accordingly, you need to be ready when an audit occurs. A compliance expert should regularly verify that your company’s policies align with HIPAA rules and regulations and ensure that employees follow proper HIPAA security procedures at every turn.

Best Practices for HIPAA Security

Here’s a quick list of best practices to keep a HIPAA security audit from shutting you down:

• Maintain solid data management and security policies
• Maintain compliant password policies
• Use encryption for personal health information; while this isn’t required by HIPAA, it will certainly help reduce your risk
• Encryption should apply to databases, files, images, scans, and more
• Develop and implement a disaster recovery plan that addresses HIPAA security requirements
• Consider bringing in an independent HIPAA security compliance auditor

Conclusion

There was a time when following privacy rules meant keeping doors and filing cabinets locked. Today, you need to be much more diligent and prepared for the worst. 

Take Action with Kotori Technologies

HIPAA compliance isn’t optional, it’s essential. At Kotori Technologies, we help businesses like yours stay ahead of audits and secure sensitive health data with confidence.

Here’s how you can get started:

• Review your current data protection and password policies
• Schedule a HIPAA readiness consultation with our compliance experts
• Implement encryption and disaster recovery strategies that align with HIPAA standards
• Request an independent audit to identify and close security gaps

Don’t wait for an audit to expose vulnerabilities. Contact Kotori Technologies today and ensure your HIPAA security is audit-ready.