How to Make A WordPress Website HIPAA Compliant

Don’t know how to make a WordPress website HIPAA compliant?

No need to worry; in this blog, you will understand every step from scratch on how you can build your website HIPAA compliant.

There are many threats to data these days as data is no longer like earlier. Today, data has become a huge part of our lives, and as most healthcare organizations are shifting into online mode, they are building their websites. And hence. Their websites require compliance with HIPAA to protect the patient’s data. 

WordPress is one of the leading platforms for websites these days, which powers over 455 million such websites for all types of large and small-scale businesses, and so one of them is healthcare services. 

However, you might face difficulty making your website HIPAA-compliant since it requires secure plugins, HIPAA-compliant hosting services, and safe handling of Protected Health Information (PHI).

What is HIPAA Compliance?

HIPPA, also known as the Health Insurance Probability and Accountability Act, has laid down certain rules for protecting the patient’s data, such as health information or any identification detail for the patient. 

Though HIPAA does not state anything regarding website compliance, any website that holds sensitive patient data digitally or ePHI is required to abide by the HIPAA Security Rule.

According to this rule, all such websites are required to keep the information secure and accessible only to the right people, no matter whether the website is custom-built or WordPress-built.

How to Make a WordPress Website HIPAA Compliant?

If your site is handling Protected Health Information or PHI data, you need to set up HIPAA compliance to ensure your patient’s data is safe and secure.

Here are a few steps on how to make a WordPress website HIPAA-compliant.

1. Choose a HIPAA-Compliant Hosting Provider

You need to opt for a hosting service provider that includes HIPAA compliance in their services. You can look for some features such as data encryption, managed firewall, as well as regular security audits, in their services.

These are some of the essential factors while considering HIPAA compliance, which helps your website to be secure and protected from any unauthorized access. 

2. Sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)

However, simply matching some crucial features does not mean you opt for the service unless it is a Business Associate Agreement or the BBA-signed service.

The BBA is a legal agreement or contract that your hosting provider must sign, and it clearly states the responsibilities for safeguarding the patient data for both the parties – you and the service provider.

This agreement also ensures that the hosting service provider you are choosing is legally HIPAA-compliant.

3. Set Up a Managed Firewall

Maintaining a secured and managed firewall becomes very crucial when it comes to HIPAA compliance. A secured firewall monitors the incoming and outgoing traffic to and from your site and helps keep track of any unauthorized access to your site.

You must go for the hosting provider that manages the firewall for your site. The firewall must also be updated and properly configured.

Some of the key factors that you must consider:

• Restricting any unauthorized access to the PHI data with strong authentication.
• Continuous monitoring for any kind of suspicious activity on your site.
• Regular security audits to keep everything updated.

4. Use an Encrypted VPN

Your patient’s data might be transferred from or to the site. It is very important to ensure that the transfer of the data is secured. For that purpose, you would require an encrypted Virtual Private Network or the VPN. 

An encrypted VPN will ensure a safe connection between your website and all authorized users. You need to strongly consider this factor in terms of your PHI data.

Choose a hosting provider that includes a strong VPN with at least AES 256-bit encryption in their services. You must not consider anything at the cost of the patient’s data.

5. Encrypt Your Data

Just as an encrypted VPN is necessary, so is the encryption of your data. When considering complying with HIPAA on your site, it means that your site is dealing with a lot of sensitive data.

HIPAA requires that all of your site’s sensitive data be encrypted both the time it is stored or at rest and the time it is transmitted or in transit state.

You need to ensure that your hosting provider encrypts all the PHI data that lines up with the HIPAA standards.

Some of the other security practices include:

• Using strong passwords and access controls.
• Setting up firewalls and intrusion detection systems.
• Conducting regular security audits.
• Staff Training on security best practices.

6. Opt for Managed Hosting with HIPAA Compliance

Always ensure that your hosting provider offers dedicated servers and data encryption.

They must also provide a quick support system in case any issue arises, and you require an immediate fix to the problem. 

7. Ensure Physical Security

Just like these digital precautions, physical safety is equally important. The hosting provider you opt for must have their servers situated in a risk-free location.

They must have all the security measures ready beforehand to prevent any unauthorized physical access to the servers where your website might be kept. 

Some of the features you must ensure are:

• Secure Access Controls
• Fire suppression Systems
• Environmental controls such as temperature and humidity monitoring.

8. Implement Technical Safeguards

HIPAA requires certain technical safeguards to protect patients’ electronic PHI (ePHI) data. 

• Access Controls: Ensuring that only authorized people get access to PHI by implementing strong authentication techniques such as multi-factor authentication.
• Audit Controls: Tracking and monitoring those accessing the ePHI to prevent any unauthorized attempts and tampering with the data.
• Integrity Controls: Using encryption to restrict unauthorized alterations or damage of the ePHI.
• Transmission Security: Secured transmission of the data using SSL/TLS certificates to protect it during the transfer.

9. Use HIPAA-Compliant Themes and Plugins

Not all plugins are praised for having HIPAA compliance. You must be careful while selecting themes and plugins for your WordPress site. Using insecure plugins might introduce risks to your site and data. 

Here are a few HIPAA-compliant plugins that you can consider for your site:

• HIPAA FORMS: This is a plugin that allows you to create HIPAA-compliant forms and encrypt your data before it gets submitted.
• HIPAAtizer: A service that provides HIPAA-compliant features such as secure data collection and access logging.

Also, always consider updating your plugins and themes to make them stay secure.

Conclusion

If you want to make your WordPress website HIPAA-compliant, you can start by selecting a hosting provider that includes strong security measures such as data encryption, regular audits, and a signed Business Associate Agreement or the BAA. Also, ensuring a managed firewall and an encrypted VPN are other things you need to consider. 

Opting for hosting providers offering dedicated servers, physical security steps such as access controls and encryption, and selecting themes and plugins aligning with HIPAA standards are some other factors.

Having a WordPress care plan will ensure your site stays protected from any unauthorized access, which will further keep your Protected Health Information safe from any such risk. Discover what is a WordPress care plan and secure your site from any kind of vulnerability.

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