Find the Risks Before Regulators Do
Defensible, human-led HIPAA risk analysis to protect your organization and secure ePHI
What is a HIPAA Security Risk Assessment (SRA)?
A HIPAA Security Risk Assessment (SRA)—often called a HIPAA Risk Analysis—is a mandatory regulatory requirement under the HIPAA Security Rule. It requires Covered Entities and Business Associates to evaluate, identify, and document potential vulnerabilities to electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI).
To remain compliant, an SRA must evaluate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards across all data storage and transmission formats.
Why You Can’t Rely on Automated AI SRA Tools
Many organizations attempt to use automated software or self-guided questionnaires for their SRA. While these might generate a quick score, they often fail under regulatory scrutiny.
When the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) conducts an audit and asks why a specific security decision or compensating control was put in place, an automated tool can’t answer. A human consultant can. With over 1,000 completed assessments, our human-led approach ensures your SRA is thoroughly documented and defensible months or years later.
Our Comprehensive HIPAA SRA Process
Our expert consultants integrate standards from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the HITECH Act, the HIPAA Omnibus Rule, and the NIST SP 800 series to deliver a defensible risk analysis:
Scope & Data Collection
We map out every endpoint, cloud storage environment, and portable device where your ePHI exists through evidence-based documentation and staff interviews.
Threat & Vulnerability Identification
We pinpoint realistic threats specific to your operational environment and assess the severity of potential data exposure.
Likelihood & Impact Analysis
We calculate the probability of a threat occurrence combined with its potential operational impact, giving you a clear picture of your actual risk levels.
Security Measure Evaluation
We review your current administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to ensure they align with federal compliance standards.
Actionable Risk Management Plan
You receive a finalized report detailing all risk levels, with clear, prioritized recommendations for addressing them. From there, our Risk Management Plan service can help your organization implement those changes.
How Often Do You Need a HIPAA Risk Analysis?
While the HIPAA Security Rule requires ongoing risk management, industry best practices dictate the frequency of a formal SRA:
Medium & Large Organizations
Annually (Every year).
Smaller Practices
Biennially (Every two years), though annual reviews are highly recommended.
Trigger Events
An SRA should be performed immediately following organizational changes, such as a change in ownership, high staff turnover, the rollout of new technology, or a recent security incident.
The Cost of Non-Compliance
Failing to conduct an accurate and thorough HIPAA Security Risk Assessment is the most common failure point cited by federal regulators. In fact, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has an active Risk Analysis Initiative specifically targeting organizations that fail to perform these mandatory assessments.
Recent OCR enforcement actions and financial settlements heavily penalize organizations for a lack of a comprehensive risk analysis. Non-compliance penalties can reach over $1 million.
HIPAA Risk Assessment FAQ
Common questions from healthcare organizations and business associates evaluating their HIPAA risk exposure.
Who needs a HIPAA risk assessment?
Covered Entities, Business Associates, and Hybrid Entities that create, receive, maintain, or transmit protected health information need a documented risk assessment process to support HIPAA Security Rule compliance.
Can you help after the assessment?
Yes. We can support risk management planning, policy reviews, staff training, and broader HIPAA compliance services based on the assessment findings.
Is this the same as a vulnerability scan?
No. A HIPAA risk assessment is broader. It considers administrative, physical, and technical safeguards, operational realities, and how risks are identified, evaluated, and managed.
Will this help with audits and investigations?
A well-documented assessment helps demonstrate that your organization is actively evaluating risk and making informed compliance decisions, which is critical during audits, investigations, and breach response.
What do we receive at the end?
You receive documented findings, identified gaps, prioritized risks, and practical guidance that can support remediation planning and defensible compliance decisions.
How do we get started?
Start with a free initial consultation so we can understand your environment, discuss current concerns, and recommend the right assessment approach.
Don’t leave your organization vulnerable to data breaches or federal audits. Partner with our team of seasoned compliance experts. BOOK A FREE RISK ASSESSMENT REVIEW
