Are you up to date on GDPR compliance regulations It’s not required but it’s not impossible to be overwhelmed by the intricate and constantly changing GDPR laws. All it boils down to is data protection. Customers are in control of their personal information, and their any data stored in digital format is safe. It doesn’t matter if you are only beginning to grasp GDPR, or would like to know more about the requirements that apply to companies around the world.
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and GDPR (Global Data Protection Regulations) are two abbreviations that healthcare professionals and companies who handle personal information must be aware of. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is an US law that governs the use and disclosure of patient’s personal health information. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDR) is an EU regulation that affects all businesses that handle personal information of EU citizens. While they may have distinct purposes, all regulations share the same goal, which is to safeguard the privacy of personal information and security.
There are many reasons to adhere to GDPR and HIPAA
HIPAA compliance and GDPR compliance are essential for many reasons. First, it protects sensitive information from unauthorized access or disclosure, misuse and alteration. Healthcare organizations, for example manage sensitive medical information that could be used for identity theft or medical fraud. Businesses that handle personal data including names, addresses and email addresses, are bound by GDPR. This applies whether it is used for identity theft, fraud, or phishing.
In addition, these regulations must be followed. HIPAA regulations apply to covered entities such as healthcare providers, health plans as well as healthcare clearinghouses. HIPAA violations could lead to civil penalties, criminal charges and harm to a healthcare provider’s reputation. Every business that processes personal information from EU residents are bound by GDPR regardless of where they’re situated. Non-compliance can result in hefty penalties and legal actions.
These regulations are vital in helping build trust between customers and patients. Customers and patients expect privacy and security when dealing with their personal data. The compliance to HIPAA regulations as well as GDPR regulations will show the company’s commitment to data privacy and security and is committed protecting personal data.
HIPAA and GDPR Compliance – Important Requirements
HIPAA and GDPR regulations have numerous requirements that businesses must be aware of. For HIPAA covered organizations, they must ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI). This means that they must implement physical, technical and administrative safeguards in order to ensure that ePHI is protected from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. For security breaches that could lead to incidents, all covered entities should have policies and procedures in place.
To comply with GDPR, businesses need to get explicit consent from the individual for the collection and processing of their personal information. Consent must be freely given and must be specific, well-informed and unambiguous. The GDPR mandates that businesses provide individuals the right to be able to access, rectify or erase their personal information. Companies must also take the required organizational and technical measures to secure personal data.
HIPAA Compliance as well as GDPR Best practices for compliance
Business must follow best practices in order to ensure compliance with HIPAA/GDPR rules. The best practices include:
Risk assessments should be conducted regularly: Businesses should be able to regularly assess the risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of personal information. This will help you identify security weaknesses and establish appropriate security measures.
Implementing access control: Businesses should restrict access to personal information to those who are authorized. This can include strong passwords as well as multi-factor authentication. Access controls must be based on the least privilege.
Training employees: Regular training should be provided to employees regarding data privacy. This will help to prevent accidental or intentional data breach.
Implementing incident response plans: Businesses should have plans in place for dealing with potential security incidents and breaches. This can include identifying a response team setting up communication protocols and regularly conducting drills.
For businesses that process personal information, HIPAA Compliance and GDPR Compliance is essential. These regulations safeguard sensitive data from unauthorised access, disclosure and misuse, and demonstrate the commitment to the privacy and security of your data. Businesses can follow the best practices, for example, conducting risk assessments, using access controls, training employees and establishing incident response plans to ensure compliance with these regulations.
For more information, click HIPAA and GDPR compliance