The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act – a piece of legislation, was adopted in the United States in 1996. This legislation did more than facilitate an increase in the information flow. It also had the purpose of improving the way patients and medical professionals manage information that may be used to potentially identify certain individuals.
Introduction
Protected health information (PHI) is required by law to be stored in a facility that provides both physical and electronic safeguards. Is this location reachable over the internet, or is it not? It is the responsibility of the medical practitioner to offer the information in the format chosen by the patient, which may be in the form of an electronic file or a hard copy on paper.
Nexcopy’s Secure Disk is a HIPAA-compliant USB flash drive that is available to medical professionals for use in storing protected health information (PHI) about patients. These professionals may utilize the Secure Disk to store PHI on patients (PHI).
The technique known as Secure Disk encrypts as well as hides patient information. This partition requires a password to access it. When connected to a computer, the secret partition completely disappears from plain sight. Following the successful entry of the correct password, the hidden partition will become operational, and digital health information will be shown.
The hidden partition of Secure Disk is managed by the chipset of the USB stick. The most protection that a technical item can provide comes from its physical components, not its software.
It became increasingly important for medical staff to protect patient medical data as they began to rely more heavily on electronic records and other forms of technology to store and monitor patient information. As a direct response to the need, the federal government of the United States developed these safeguards. The HIPAA is the end product of these legislative efforts (HIPAA). Following an investigation into offline storage options, Nexcopy discovered that none of them were simple, low-tech, or user-friendly.
Considerations
Secure Disk was developed by Nexcopy with these three considerations in mind. Following is a description of each component:
Simple: Always included is the latest in protective technologies
Low Technology: There is no requirement for user credentials or cloud storage. It is a solution that can only be used offline.
User Friendly: Nexcopy simplified the sign-in process for individuals who are not technically savvy.
The HIPAA compliant USB flash drive protects patients’ medical records. Flash drives with a Secure Disk are compatible with Windows (Windows 7 and later). There is currently no support for Apple or Linux (in development).
When a USB drive is removed from a computer, the hidden partitions on that drive are automatically enabled, making it more difficult for inadvertent access to occur. This prevents the secret partition from being accidentally opened. Users can log out of Secure Disk even when the device remains connected to the host computer.
What is Hard Drive Security?
Hard drive security is the process of protecting data on a hard drive from unauthorized access. Hard drive security can be achieved in a variety of ways, including using encryption, backups, and password protection.
Encryption refers to the process of encrypting data so that only those with the correct keys can access it. Symmetric-key cryptography is a method that encrypts data using this algorithm. Symmetric-key cryptography uses the same key to encrypt and decrypt data.
Backups are copies of your data that you make regularly to protect it from damage or loss. Backups can be stored on physical media, such as a hard drive or CD, or they can be stored in a software program.
Password protection is another way to protect your data from unauthorized access. When you create a password for your hard drive, you create a unique code that you need to enter in order to access your data.
Types of Security
There are a number of different types of security that can be used when storing HIPAA-compliant hard drives. Some of the more common types of security include:
Password protection: This type of security requires users to enter a password to access the hard drive. This is a good way to protect the hard drive from unauthorized access.
Encryption: Hard drives can be encrypted using a variety of encryption methods. This helps to protect the data on the hard drive from being accessed by unauthorized individuals.
Security questions: These security questions are used to ensure that only authorized persons have access to the hard disk. These questions may be asked during the creation of a user account or when setting up a hard drive.
HIPAA Compliance
One of the most important things to remember when it comes to HIPAA compliance is that every business must take precautions to protect the privacy of its patients and employees. This includes ensuring that all hard drive storage is done in a HIPAA compliant manner.
There are a few different ways to do this. One option is to use an external hard drive. This will ensure that all personal data is off-site and protected from unauthorized access. Another option is to use a cloud storage solution. This allows businesses to store data in a secure location without having to worry about protecting it themselves.
Whatever option a business chooses, it is important to make sure that they are properly HIPAA compliant. By doing this, they can ensure that their patients and employees are safe from unauthorized access and privacy violations.
Tips for Securing Your HIPAA-Compliant Hard Drive
There are a number of tips that you can use to help secure your HIPAA-compliant hard drive. Some of these tips include:
Make sure that you install and use appropriate security measures. Security measures should always be updated as new threats emerge.
Store your hard drive in a safe and secure location. Make sure that it is out of reach of children and other unauthorized individuals.
Why Is Compliance With HIPAA Required Of Healthcare Providers?
HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which is a United States federal law that regulates the privacy and security of electronic health information. Compliance with HIPAA is required of healthcare providers in order to protect the privacy and security of patients’ personal information.
HIPAA requires that electronic health information must be kept on a secure hard disk. Healthcare providers must encrypt patient data before it is stored on a hard disk and keep complete records of the encryption keys used. HIPAA also requires that healthcare providers destroy patient data that has been permanently erased or overwritten.
All of these requirements are designed to protect patient’s privacy and ensure that their medical records are kept confidential. By complying with HIPAA, healthcare providers can ensure that their patients’ personal information remains safe and secure.
Takeaway
With the recent rise in data breaches, businesses have become increasingly vigilant about protecting their confidential information. One method that many businesses are using to protect their data is by storing it on a HIPAA-compliant hard drive. A hard drive that is HIPAA compliant can store your data without being subject to the privacy laws of the United States, which makes it a valuable tool for businesses that operate internationally or whose employees work in countries where privacy laws may not be as strict as those in the United States.
