Understanding the difference between HIPAA compliance and cybersecurity

While HIPAA compliance provides a regulatory framework for protecting patient health information, cybersecurity offers an approach to defending against evolving digital threats.

Understanding HIPAA compliance

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted in 1996 as a federal law designed to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge. HIPAA compliance refers to a set of regulatory requirements established by this legislation and its subsequent updates.

The components of HIPAA

HIPAA consists of several rules that healthcare organizations must follow:

The Privacy Rule establishes standards for the protection of PHI and gives patients rights over their health information. It defines who can access PHI, under what circumstances, and requires patient consent for most uses and disclosures.

The Security Rule sets national standards for protecting electronic PHI (ePHI) through administrative, physical, and technical safeguards. This rule is perhaps the closest intersection between HIPAA compliance and cybersecurity practices.

The Breach Notification Rule requires covered entities to notify patients, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and sometimes the media when there has been a breach of unsecured PHI affecting 500 or more individuals.

The Omnibus Rule (2013) expanded HIPAA's reach to include business associates and strengthened patient rights while increasing penalties for violations.

Who must comply with HIPAA?

HIPAA applies to three main categories of entities:

Covered Entities include healthcare providers (hospitals, doctors, clinics), health plans (insurance companies, HMOs), and healthcare clearinghouses that electronically transmit health information.

Business Associates are third-party vendors that handle PHI on behalf of covered entities, such as IT service providers, billing companies, and cloud storage providers.

Subcontractors work for business associates and also handle PHI, making them subject to HIPAA requirements through the chain of responsibility.

Learn more: What is HIPAA?

Understanding cybersecurity

According to Kinza Yasar in What is cybersecurity?, "Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems, networks and data from digital threats." It encompasses the technologies, processes, and practices designed to defend against, detect, and respond to cyberattacks, data breaches, and other malicious activities.

Microsoft further defines cybersecurity as "a set of processes, best practices, and technology solutions that help you protect critical systems, data, and network from digital attacks."

The scope of cybersecurity

Cybersecurity extends beyond healthcare and regulatory compliance. According to the Microsoft article, "An effective cybersecurity program includes people, processes, and technology solutions to reduce the risk of business disruption, data theft, financial loss, and reputational damage from an attack." The business impact is important, as Kinza states, "According to a Gartner survey, 61% of CEOs are concerned about cybersecurity threats and 85% believe cybersecurity is critical for business growth."

This approach involves:

Threat Detection and Prevention through tools like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and antivirus software that monitor for suspicious activities and block potential attacks.

Incident Response procedures outline how organizations should react when a security breach occurs, including containment, investigation, and recovery processes.

Vulnerability Management involves regularly identifying, assessing, and addressing security weaknesses in systems, software, and processes.

Security Architecture encompasses the design and implementation of secure systems, including network segmentation, access controls, and encryption strategies.

Risk Management involves continuously assessing and mitigating potential security risks across the entire organization.

Cybersecurity as a practice

Unlike HIPAA compliance, which involves meeting specific regulatory requirements, cybersecurity is an ongoing, adaptive practice. The Microsoft article states that,  "As data has proliferated and more people work and connect from anywhere, bad actors have responded by developing a broad array of expertise and skills." The threat constantly changes, with new vulnerabilities discovered daily and cybercriminals developing sophisticated attack methods.

The scale of current threats demonstrates this issue: "Recent Microsoft Entra data shows that attempted password attacks have increased to 4,000 per second on average. In 2023, human-operated ransomware attacks increased 195%" states Microsoft. Additionally, Kinza explains that, "in early 2025, over a million phishing attacks were observed by the Anti-Phishing Working Group, indicating a significant increase in phishing threats."

Kinza further emphasizes the financial impact, noting, "In 2024, the average cost of a data breach reached $4.88 million, which is a 10% increase over the previous year."

Effective cybersecurity requires staying current with emerging threats, regularly updating security measures, and continuously monitoring systems for signs of compromise. It's less about checking boxes and more about maintaining security that can adapt to new challenges.

Learn more: FAQs: What you need to know about cybersecurity

How HIPAA compliance and cybersecurity intersect

Despite their differences, HIPAA compliance and cybersecurity are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they complement each other in important ways, particularly in healthcare organizations.

The security rule bridge

HIPAA's Security Rule serves as a bridge between compliance and cybersecurity. It requires covered entities to implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect ePHI. These requirements align closely with fundamental cybersecurity practices:

Administrative safeguards include security officer responsibilities, workforce training, and access management procedures.

Physical safeguards cover facility access controls, workstation security, and device and media controls.

Technical safeguards encompass access control, audit controls, integrity protections, person or entity authentication, and transmission security.

Shared security measures

Many cybersecurity practices directly support HIPAA compliance:

Encryption protects data both at rest and in transit, satisfying HIPAA's standards while providing strong cybersecurity protection.

Access controls ensure that only authorized individuals can access PHI, supporting both HIPAA privacy requirements and cybersecurity principles of least privilege. Microsoft's Zero Trust approach exemplifies this principle: "A Zero Trust approach assumes that no one—inside or outside the network—should be trusted by default." The TechTarget article by Kinza reinforces this, noting that "companies should adopt a zero-trust model where trust is never assumed, and verification is continuous."

Audit logging tracks access to and modifications of PHI, meeting HIPAA requirements while providing cybersecurity teams with security monitoring data.

Risk assessments are required by HIPAA and form the foundation of effective cybersecurity programs.

Learn more: What is cybersecurity in healthcare?

Common misconceptions

"HIPAA compliance equals security"

One of the misconceptions is that achieving HIPAA compliance automatically means an organization is secure. HIPAA establishes minimum standards for protecting PHI, but these standards were developed decades ago and may not address modern cyber threats effectively.

The regulatory focus can sometimes create operational challenges. According to an NIH article,  "HIPAA, combined with its severe penalties for violations, may cause medical centers and practices to withhold life-saving information from individuals who have a right to it and urgently need it."

"Cybersecurity is only about technology"

Another common misconception is that cybersecurity is purely a technical discipline. While technology plays a role, effective cybersecurity also involves people and processes. This aligns with HIPAA's recognition that administrative and physical safeguards are equally important as technical measures.

The human element remains critical in both contexts. The NIH article explains that, "Staff with limited education and understanding are particularly prone to breaching these rules during routine tasks."

The cybersecurity workforce shortage adds to this challenge. Kinza notes, "The global cybersecurity workforce gap, which is the number of security professionals organizations need compared to the number of active pros, has grown to nearly 4.8 million."

Human factors, such as social engineering attacks and insider threats, represent security risks that can't be addressed through technology alone. Training, awareness programs, and proper policies and procedures are important components of both cybersecurity and HIPAA compliance.

"One-size-fits-all solutions"

A small physician's office has very different needs from a large hospital system or a cloud-based health technology company. Effective approaches to both HIPAA compliance and cybersecurity must be tailored to the specific organization and its unique circumstances.

Read also: 10 HIPAA myths

FAQs

Does HIPAA apply to healthcare organizations outside the United States?

No, HIPAA is a U.S. law, though international organizations working with U.S. patient data may still need to comply.

How often should a healthcare organization perform HIPAA risk assessments?

HIPAA does not set a strict schedule, but best practice is at least annually or after significant changes.

Are there cybersecurity frameworks that complement HIPAA’s Security Rule?

Yes, frameworks like NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 align closely with HIPAA safeguards.

Do HIPAA requirements cover medical devices like pacemakers or insulin pumps?

Only if they collect, store, or transmit PHI in a way handled by a covered entity or business associate.