Building a HIPAA-compliant website is essential for any organization handling protected health information (PHI). Here’s a quick guide to get your website up to HIPAA standards, ensuring data security and legal compliance.

1. Know the HIPAA Basics. Start by understanding three key HIPAA rules:
   • Privacy Rule: Protects health information and sets limits on its use and sharing.
   • Security Rule: Requires safeguards for digital PHI, including security policies.
   • Breach Notification Rule: Details how and when to inform patients and authorities in case of a data breach.
2. Check if HIPAA Applies. Not every site needs HIPAA compliance. If you collect or store any PHI, such as patient details or health data, HIPAA standards apply.
3. Set Up Administrative Protections. HIPAA requires that you:
   • Appoint a Compliance Officer: They’ll handle HIPAA policies and training.
   • Train Your Team: Everyone who handles PHI should understand HIPAA basics.
   • Do Regular Risk Assessments: Routinely look for vulnerabilities that could expose PHI.
4. Apply Physical Safeguards. Ensure your servers are secure with:
   • Controlled Access: Physical security for servers, restricted to authorized personnel.
   • Backup & Disaster Recovery: Regular backups and a plan for data recovery.
   • Data Encryption at Rest: Encrypt stored PHI to protect it from unauthorized access.
5. Use Technical Safeguards. Protect PHI digitally by:
   • Encrypting All Data: Use SSL/TLS for data in transit and encryption for stored data.
   • Setting Up Access Controls: Multi-factor authentication (MFA) and unique login IDs.
   • Logging Access: Keep records of who accessed PHI and when.
6. Get Third-Party Agreements (BAAs). If any third-party vendors access PHI (like hosting providers), sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with them to confirm they follow HIPAA standards.
7. Plan for Security Breaches. Set up a process for:
   • Identifying and Documenting Breaches: Have a protocol for detecting and handling data breaches.
   • Notifying Affected Individuals: HIPAA requires notifying patients and authorities if PHI is exposed.
8. Conduct Regular Security Audits. Keep your site secure and compliant with regular:
   • Security Checks: Schedule penetration tests and security scans.
   • Policy Updates: Review your policies as tech and regulations evolve.

HIPAA compliance isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a commitment to safeguarding patient data. By implementing these steps, your website can meet HIPAA requirements and protect sensitive health information effectively.

Need help with HIPAA compliance for your website? Contact Fisher Agency today to ensure your organization meets all standards and safeguards patient data securely!

The post How to Make Your Website HIPAA-Compliant: Protect Patient Data in 8 Steps appeared first on Fisher Agency.

“Hello there!

This is Melissa and I am a experienced photographer.

I was baffled, to put it nicely, when I came across my images at your website. If you use a copyrighted image without my approval, you must be aware that you could be sued by the owner.

It’s illicitly to use stolen images and it’s so mean!

Check out this document with the links to my images you used at <insert your domain> and my earlier publications to get evidence of my copyrights.

Download it now and check this out for yourself: <Link to some file on Google Drive – removed>

If you don’t delete the images mentioned in the document above within the next few days, I’ll write a complaint on you to your hosting provider stating that my copyrights have been infringed and I am trying to protect my intellectual property.

And if it doesn’t work, you may be pretty damn sure I am going to report and sue you! And I will not bother myself to let you know of it in advance.”

First step – Don’t click any links and don’t worry about. It’s a scam!

How to identify scam or bogus email checklist?

1. Check if the message contains any grammar errors.
2. Search on google the email of the sender to see if she what she/he says to be.
3. Search on google part of the email in quotations, to see if someone else report the message online
4. Never click links on email by unknown senders

The post Illicitly Stolen Images on your Website SCAM appeared first on Fisher Agency.