Under HIPAA of 1996, what is a basic tenet in information security for health care professionals to follow?

• A. Security training is provided to all levels of staff
• B. Patients have access to their own electronic health records
• C. All data must be encrypted in transit
• D. Access to records is unrestricted

Answer: (A)

Training all staff in information security safeguards is essential because HIPAA’s Security Rule requires administrative safeguards that ensure the workforce understands how to protect PHI. When security training is provided to everyone—from clinicians to administrative staff and contractors—it creates a consistent baseline of awareness about how to handle data, recognize threats like phishing, follow proper access procedures, and report incidents. This broad, ongoing education helps prevent mistakes that could lead to breaches and establishes accountability across the organization.

Patients’ rights to access their records are important, but that duty relates to privacy rights rather than a security training requirement. Encryption of data in transit is a valuable security control, but HIPAA does not mandate encryption for all data in every situation; it’s an optional measure that must be assessed as appropriate. Allowing unrestricted access to records directly contradicts HIPAA’s security principles, which require controlled, need-based access.

So, providing security training to all levels of staff best embodies the basic security practice HIPAA expects.