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BackWhat is Protected health information (PHI)?
Protected Health Information (PHI) is individually identifiable health information that relates to a person’s past, present, or future physical or mental health, healthcare services, or payment for healthcare. In the United States, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) defines PHI and establishes requirements for protecting it.
PHI can exist in electronic, paper, or verbal form. Healthcare providers, health plans, healthcare clearinghouses, and their business associates must safeguard PHI against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and loss. Failure to protect PHI can lead to data breaches, regulatory penalties, financial losses, and loss of patient trust.
As healthcare organizations continue adopting electronic health records (EHRs), telemedicine, and cloud-based healthcare systems, protecting PHI has become a critical cybersecurity priority.
What information is considered PHI?
PHI includes health-related information that can identify an individual directly or indirectly.
| PHI category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Personal identifiers | Name, address, date of birth, phone number, email address |
| Medical information | Diagnoses, treatment records, laboratory results, prescriptions |
| Health insurance information | Policy numbers, beneficiary details, claims information |
| Payment information | Billing records and payment history related to healthcare services |
| Medical record identifiers | Patient record numbers, account numbers, device identifiers |
| Biometric information | Fingerprints, facial images, voiceprints used in healthcare records |
Health information that has been properly de-identified under applicable regulations is generally not considered PHI.
Why protecting PHI matters
Healthcare data is highly valuable because it often combines personal, financial, and medical information in a single record. Cybercriminals target PHI for identity theft, insurance fraud, financial fraud, and extortion.
Protecting PHI helps organizations:
- Safeguard patient privacy.
- Reduce the risk of healthcare data breaches.
- Support compliance with HIPAA and other healthcare regulations.
- Maintain patient trust.
- Prevent unauthorized access to medical records.
- Minimize financial and reputational damage.
Strong security controls are essential for protecting sensitive healthcare information throughout its lifecycle.
Best practices for protecting PHI
Healthcare organizations should implement multiple layers of security to protect PHI.
| Best practice | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Encrypt PHI at rest and in transit | Protects sensitive healthcare data from unauthorized access |
| Enforce least-privilege access | Limits PHI access to authorized personnel |
| Implement multi-factor authentication | Strengthens account security |
| Monitor access to patient records | Detects unauthorized activity |
| Keep systems updated | Reduces exposure to known vulnerabilities |
| Train employees | Reduces the risk of phishing and human error |
Combining administrative, technical, and physical safeguards helps organizations strengthen PHI protection.
How Hexnode helps protect PHI
Hexnode UEM helps healthcare organizations secure the endpoints used to access, process, and store electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI). Administrators can enforce device security policies, configure encryption on supported platforms, deploy operating system updates, manage approved applications, and monitor device compliance from a centralized console.
Hexnode UEM also supports device restrictions, application management, inventory reporting, and remote security actions such as device lock and enterprise wipe. These capabilities help healthcare organizations reduce endpoint-related risks and strengthen the protection of ePHI across managed devices.
FAQs
No. PII identifies an individual in general, while PHI specifically refers to identifiable health information protected under HIPAA. Some information, such as a patient’s name combined with medical records, may qualify as both PII and PHI.
PHI includes protected health information in any format, including paper, verbal, and electronic records. Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) refers specifically to PHI that is created, stored, transmitted, or received electronically.
