HIPAA
U.S. regulation for health information privacy and security
ISO 27017
International code of practice for cloud security controls.
Quick Verdict
HIPAA mandates privacy/security for US healthcare PHI with OCR enforcement, while ISO 27017 provides voluntary cloud security guidance within ISO 27001. Healthcare entities comply with HIPAA legally; cloud users adopt 27017 for global best-practice assurance.
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
Key Features
- Mandates risk-based safeguards for ePHI protection
- Enforces minimum necessary PHI use and disclosure
- Requires breach notifications within 60 days
- Imposes direct liability on business associates
- Grants individuals timely access to PHI
ISO 27017
ISO/IEC 27017:2015
Key Features
- Clarifies shared responsibilities between CSPs and CSCs
- Introduces 7 cloud-specific CLD security controls
- Provides guidance for 37 ISO 27002 controls in cloud
- Addresses multi-tenancy segregation and VM hardening
- Enables customer monitoring of cloud service activities
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
HIPAA Details
What It Is
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) is a U.S. federal regulation establishing national standards for protecting individuals' health information. It comprises the Privacy Rule, Security Rule, and Breach Notification Rule, using a risk-based, flexible approach to govern PHI use, disclosure, and ePHI safeguards across covered entities and business associates.
Key Components
- **Privacy RuleControls PHI uses/disclosures, minimum necessary principle, TPO permissions, patient rights.
- **Security RuleAdministrative, physical, technical safeguards for ePHI; risk analysis required.
- **Breach Notification RulePresumption-of-breach model, 60-day notifications. Built on governance, with OCR enforcement; no certification but compliance via audits/settlements.
Why Organizations Use It
Mandated for healthcare entities; reduces breach risks, penalties (up to $2M+ annually), builds patient trust. Enables secure data flows, vendor management via BAAs, cyber resilience.
Implementation Overview
Phased: assess risks, implement safeguards/training/BAAs, continuous monitoring. Applies to providers/plans/clearinghouses/BAs; scalable by size; ongoing audits/documentation (6-year retention).
ISO 27017 Details
What It Is
ISO/IEC 27017:2015 is a code of practice providing information security controls for cloud services. It extends ISO/IEC 27002 with cloud-specific implementation guidance. The primary purpose is addressing cloud risks like shared responsibilities between CSPs and CSCs, multi-tenancy, and virtualization. It uses a risk-based approach within an ISO 27001 ISMS.
Key Components
- Additional guidance for 37 ISO 27002 controls adapted to cloud contexts.
- **7 cloud-specific CLD controlsshared roles (CLD.6.3.1), segregation (CLD.9.5.1), VM hardening (CLD.9.5.2), admin ops, monitoring (CLD.12.4.5), asset removal, network alignment.
- Built on ISO 27001/27002; no standalone certification.
Why Organizations Use It
Drives cloud risk management, supports regulations (GDPR/CCPA), clarifies responsibilities to reduce incidents. Offers procurement advantages, builds trust with stakeholders, competitive differentiation for CSPs/CSCs.
Implementation Overview
Integrate into ISO 27001 ISMS via risk assessment, control mapping, documentation updates. Applies globally to CSPs/CSCs of all sizes. Assessed in ISO 27001 audits; joint audits take 9-12 months.
Key Differences
| Aspect | HIPAA | ISO 27017 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | PHI privacy, security, breach notification for healthcare | Cloud-specific security controls in ISO 27001 ISMS |
| Industry | US healthcare covered entities, business associates | All industries using cloud services globally |
| Nature | Mandatory US federal regulation with OCR enforcement | Voluntary international guidance/code of practice |
| Testing | Risk analysis, OCR audits, no formal certification | ISO 27001 audits with 27017 control assessment |
| Penalties | Civil monetary penalties up to $2M annually | No legal penalties, loss of certification |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about HIPAA and ISO 27017
HIPAA FAQ
ISO 27017 FAQ
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