What is the purpose of the HIPAA Security Rule?

The purpose of the HIPAA Security Rule is to protect electronic health information. This regulation specifically focuses on safeguarding ePHI (electronic Protected Health Information) by establishing national standards for the security of such information. The Security Rule lays out a framework for covered entities and business associates to follow, ensuring that electronic health information is secure against unauthorized access, integrity breaches, and availability issues.

This includes implementing administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to ensure that ePHI remains confidential and is accessible only to authorized personnel. The emphasis is on electronic records because the healthcare industry's move towards digital systems has significantly increased the potential for unauthorized access and breaches, making it essential to have stringent regulations that specifically address the security of this type of information.