Which security management system standard is specific to the health care sector?

Which security management system standard is specific to the health care sector?

• A. ISO 27001
• B. HIPAA Security Rule
• C. NIST 800-53
• D. PCI DSS

Answer: (B)

The HIPAA Security Rule specifically governs how electronic protected health information (ePHI) is protected in healthcare settings. It applies to covered entities—health care providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses—and their business associates. This rule isn’t a generic information security framework; it establishes mandatory safeguards across three areas: administrative, physical, and technical. Administrative safeguards cover things like risk analyses and ongoing security management; physical safeguards address facility and device/media protections; technical safeguards include access control, audit controls, data integrity, authentication, and transmission security. Because it is tailored to protecting patient data within healthcare operations, it is the standard that directly targets the health care sector. Other options serve broader or different contexts: ISO 27001 is a general information security management system framework, NIST 800-53 offers a wide catalog of controls often used by government and other sectors, and PCI DSS focuses on protecting payment card data.

The HIPAA Security Rule specifically governs how electronic protected health information (ePHI) is protected in healthcare settings. It applies to covered entities—health care providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses—and their business associates. This rule isn’t a generic information security framework; it establishes mandatory safeguards across three areas: administrative, physical, and technical. Administrative safeguards cover things like risk analyses and ongoing security management; physical safeguards address facility and device/media protections; technical safeguards include access control, audit controls, data integrity, authentication, and transmission security. Because it is tailored to protecting patient data within healthcare operations, it is the standard that directly targets the health care sector. Other options serve broader or different contexts: ISO 27001 is a general information security management system framework, NIST 800-53 offers a wide catalog of controls often used by government and other sectors, and PCI DSS focuses on protecting payment card data.