# HIPAA 164.308(a) — Security Management Process

- Source: https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/a_gen_hipaa_164308a_1680f6ea57-hipaa-164308a-security-management-process
- Section: [Solutions](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions) › [HIPAA Readiness](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/62000039493) › [Security Rule](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/folders/f_gen_62000039493_securityrule)
- Last updated: 2026-05-30
- Publisher: iCompaas, Inc. (https://www.icompaas.com)

HIPAA · Control 164.308(a) · Priority: medium · Component: Security Rule

### What this control covers

A covered entity or business associate must in accordance with 164.306: (1)(i) Implement policies and procedures to prevent, detect, contain, and correct security violations.

### Why it matters

Risk is the language an executive team understands; this control connects technical reality to board-level decisions and budget allocation.

### How to implement

#### AWS

Codify the policy intent as **SCPs, AWS Config conformance packs, and Security Hub standards** so the cloud enforces what the document says.

#### Azure

Codify in **Azure Policy initiatives** (built-in regulatory compliance for CIS, ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA) and assign at management-group level.

#### On-premises

Maintain a policy library with a documented review cadence (annual minimum); store in your GRC tool with attestation tracking. Map each policy to controls so an audit pull cites the exact policy clause.

### Evidence to collect

-   `policy_document` — A signed, version-controlled policy stating leadership intent and the named owner.
-   `infra_scan` — See the iCompaas Evidence library for the canonical source for this evidence type.

Signed policy or standard documents the safeguard. Focus: Security Management Process.

### Quick checklist

-   Security — Management Process / Security
-   Business — Management Process / Security
-   Policy — Management Process / Security

### Related articles on this site

-   [164.308(a)(1)(i)- Security management process](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/62000230582-164-308-a-1-i-security-management-process)
-   [NIST 800-171 3.2.1 Ensure that managers, systems administrators, and users of organizational systems are made aware of the security risks associated with their activities and of the applicable policies, standards, and procedures related to](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/62000229264-nist-800-171-3-2-1-ensure-that-managers-systems-administrators-and-users-of-organizational-systems-)
-   [CMMC 2.0 AT.2.056 Ensure that managers, systems administrators, and users of organizational systems are made aware of the security risks associated with their activities and of the applicable policies, standards, and procedures related to t](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/62000229422-cmmc-2-0-at-2-056-ensure-that-managers-systems-administrators-and-users-of-organizational-systems-a)
-   [164.308(b)(1) -Business associate contracts and other arrangements (1)](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/62000230577-164-308-b-1-business-associate-contracts-and-other-arrangements-1-)

## Related compliance guidance

- [HIPAA compliance for SaaS: a practical implementation guide](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/hipaa): The Security Rule safeguards this readiness item belongs to, with a phased implementation roadmap and the evidence OCR expects.
- [SOC 2 compliance: a practical implementation guide for cloud-native SaaS teams](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/soc-2-trust-services-criteria): Most healthcare customers ask for a SOC 2 report alongside HIPAA assurances; the two share most technical controls.