Description:
The organization has implemented robust security measures to ensure the integrity of electronically transmitted electronic protected health information (ePHI). These measures are designed to prevent unauthorized modifications and detect any improper alterations during transmission. Aligning with the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), our security measures provide assurance that the transmitted ePHI remains unchanged until disposal.
Hashing and Checksum Mechanisms:
Hashing algorithms and checksum mechanisms are employed to generate unique fingerprints or signatures for the transmitted ePHI. These digital signatures act as a verification method, ensuring the integrity of the data and detecting any unauthorized modifications.
Secure Transmission Protocols:
Utilization of secure and encrypted transmission protocols, such as Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), to protect against interception and unauthorized access. These protocols contribute to maintaining the integrity of ePHI during transit.
Digital Signatures:
Digital signatures are applied to the transmitted ePHI, providing a cryptographic method to verify the authenticity and integrity of the data. Any alterations to the content are detectable through the verification of digital signatures.
Access Controls and Authentication:
Implementation of access controls and authentication measures to ensure that only authorized entities have the capability to modify or transmit ePHI. This adds an additional layer of protection against improper modifications.
Regular Integrity Checks:
Regular integrity checks are conducted during and after the transmission process to verify that the transmitted ePHI matches the original content. Any discrepancies are promptly investigated and addressed.
Priority: High
Category: Data Security and Transmission Security
Services Associated with AWS:
Amazon GuardDuty
AWS Key Management Service (KMS)
Services Associated with Azure
Azure Security Center
Azure Key Vault
Objective Evidence:
Technical Documentation:
Detailed documentation on the implementation of hashing, checksums, digital signatures, and other mechanisms to ensure the integrity of transmitted ePHI.
Logs and Records:
Audit logs and records capturing integrity checks, digital signature verifications, and any incidents of improper modifications during transmission.
Incident Response Plan:
A documented incident response plan outlining procedures for detecting, responding to, and mitigating improper modifications to transmitted ePHI.
Possible Technology Considerations:
- Hashing Algorithms
- Digital Signature Algorithms
- Real-time Monitoring Solutions
- Regular Audits and Reviews
What Needs to Be Answered:
- How effective are the implemented integrity checks in detecting improper modifications to transmitted ePHI?
- What procedures are in place to respond to and mitigate incidents of improper modifications during transmission?
- How is the verification of digital signatures performed to ensure the integrity and authenticity of transmitted ePHI?
- How frequently are real-time monitoring solutions utilized to ensure the continuous security of transmitted ePHI?
More Details:
Our choice of hashing algorithms and digital signature algorithms is regularly reviewed and updated to align with the latest industry standards, ensuring the continuous robustness of our integrity-checking mechanisms.
Real-time monitoring solutions, combined with regular audits and reviews, contribute to a proactive approach in detecting and responding to any incidents of improper modifications during the transmission of ePHI. These considerations collectively contribute to the maintenance of data integrity throughout the transmission lifecycle.