What are the three types of safeguards required by the Security Rule?

The Security Rule under HIPAA mandates the implementation of three specific types of safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI). These safeguards are administrative, physical, and technical.

Administrative safeguards pertain to the policies and procedures that manage the selection, development, implementation, and maintenance of security measures to protect ePHI. These may include risk assessments, workforce training, and incident response plans.

Physical safeguards are related to the physical security of facilities and equipment that house ePHI. These measures help protect against unauthorized access to facilities and electronic systems, including secure access to buildings, visitor logs, and device security.

Technical safeguards focus on the technology and the policies and procedures that govern its use. This includes access controls, encryption, and audit controls that protect ePHI from unauthorized access and breaches during electronic transmission and storage.

The other options do not align with the definitions provided in the Security Rule. For instance, social, financial, and operational safeguards do not encompass the necessary protections outlined by the Security Rule, making them incorrect choices.