HIPAA-Compliant Software: A Developer's Checklist
Key takeaway
HIPAA-compliant software requires encryption in transit and at rest, strict role-based access, audit logging, secure backups, and signed Business Associate Agreements with every vendor that touches PHI. Compliance is an ongoing process, not a one-time checkbox.
If your software stores, processes, or transmits protected health information (PHI), HIPAA's Security Rule applies. These are the technical safeguards teams most often need to implement.
Core technical checklist
- Encrypt PHI in transit (TLS) and at rest.
- Enforce role-based access control and least privilege.
- Maintain audit logs of who accessed what, when.
- Automatic session timeouts and strong authentication (MFA).
- Secure, tested backups and a disaster-recovery plan.
- Sign Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) with every vendor touching PHI.
Beyond the code
HIPAA also covers administrative and physical safeguards, risk assessments, and staff training — and it's continuous. Our security team implements the technical controls and helps you stand up the surrounding process. (You can also spot-check your public site's headers with our free Security Header Scanner.)