HIPAA compliance often comes up in two conversations: the cases of patients' privacy violations via doctors talking about their work and data leaks — and fines, assigned to healthcare organizations and their vendors as the consequences of these two. So, what is HIPAA?

HIPAA has been developed as a way to protect patients' data privacy, integrity, and security when the digitalization of the healthcare industry began. Its Rules for Privacy, Security, and Breach Notifications outlined the way organizations that interact with people's private health information in any way should protect those. Why should digital health startups care?

Well, apart from major fines OCR will subject you to for not following HIPAA Rules while you interact with patients’ info and basic decency, there are three points:

1) cybercriminals will try to hack if they know you collect people's health data — health data is one of the most popular and profitable resources to sell. They often contain credit information, they're good for identity theft, and, finally, they contain insights into people's lives that can allow bad agents to take advantage of them;

2) healthcare stakeholders who will most likely be the people you'll need to convince to purchase your product care a lot about security, and HIPAA compliance is one of the most significant selling points; it demonstrates your commitment to security and knowledge of the industry.

3) achieving HIPAA compliance requires you to help your employees understand the way the most common cyber attacks work: ideally, they'll be more cautious and more prepared if you do get hit (and you, most likely, will, because the healthcare industry is a major target for hackers, especially since 2020, when people are working on remote, and that's small and medium businesses, too — not only big corporations.)

Also, it's always easier to implement HIPAA Rulesbased safeguards when you start the development than being reminded of it with a fine—or when you'll start preparing for getting an ISO certification (which is also a must for operating within healthcare; but it's another story.)

Blog post about HIPAA Compliance: https://bekey.io/blog/whatishipaaa...

More about our services: https://bekey.io/digitalhealthcare