Healthcare security assessments

Build a useful risk picture

Inventory the locations and flows of ePHI, including cloud applications, endpoints, backups, interfaces, remote access, and business associates. Identify reasonably anticipated threats and vulnerabilities and assess existing safeguards in context.

Turn findings into accountable work

• Document the affected workflow, asset owner, potential impact, and evidence supporting each finding.
• Prioritize corrective action using exposure, likelihood, patient-care dependencies, and information sensitivity.
• Assign an owner and target date; record compensating controls and exceptions.
• Retest technical changes and review process evidence before closure.

Keep the analysis current

New systems, acquisitions, vendor changes, and incidents can change the risk picture. A vulnerability scan contributes evidence but is not a complete HIPAA Security Rule risk analysis.

Reference: HHS guidance on risk analysis and NIST SP 800-66 Revision 2.