What do technology policies and protocols fall under in HIPAA safeguards?

Technology policies and protocols are categorized under Technical Safeguards in HIPAA regulations. Technical Safeguards refer specifically to the electronic systems and practices that protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI). This includes the use of various technologies to manage access to ePHI and ensure that it is securely transmitted and stored.

These safeguards encompass measures like access controls, encryption, audit controls, and system integrity to protect data from unauthorized access and breaches. Organizations must implement these technical protocols to establish a foundation for IT security, thereby ensuring that data handling aligns with HIPAA requirements.

Physical Safeguards involve the physical measures to protect facilities and equipment, while Administrative Safeguards pertain to the policies and procedures designed to manage the selection, development, implementation, and maintenance of security measures. Organizational Safeguards are broader, relating to the overall structure and policies of the organization regarding privacy and security. Hence, technical safeguards specifically focus on the technology-related aspects required to protect ePHI.