1
Look at the checklist
Start with the ten-question readiness check. Use Yes only when you can point to current evidence.
HIPAA Readiness
Start Here: Five Simple HIPAA Steps
Build a practical start here: five simple HIPAA steps sequence around risk, dependencies, ownership, evidence, and the work the organization can safely complete.
CISO-led guidance from Ali Hassani, backed by 25+ years of IT, cybersecurity, compliance, and infrastructure experience.
The process
Five steps, in the right order
Keep the first pass small enough to complete. Depth comes from evidence and validation, not from a long questionnaire.
2
Read the score honestly
Green means stronger initial readiness; yellow or red highlights uncertainty and missing safeguards. No self-score proves compliance.
3
Open the matching guidance
Use the enforcement overview to understand consequences and the action plan to organize work.
4
Validate the real environment
A professional review can examine PHI flows, risk analysis, policies, access, Microsoft 365 or cloud settings, endpoints, networks, backups, vendors, logging, vulnerabilities, and evidence.
5
Fix, document, and repeat
Assign owners and deadlines, capture proof, test recovery and incident procedures, then reassess after system, workforce, vendor, or operational changes.
Before you begin
Use evidence, not confidence
A policy title is not the same as an approved, current procedure. A backup job is not the same as a successful restore test. A vulnerability scan is not the same as a complete HIPAA risk analysis.
Do not enter patient names, medical information, credentials, incident details, or other sensitive data. The quick check asks only for Yes, No, Not Sure, or Not Applicable and automatically clears after five minutes.
For a more detailed control view after the first pass, continue with the live HIPAA Security Rule Safeguards Matrix or the full HIPAA compliance roadmap.
Start with what you can prove today
The ten-question check takes about two minutes and keeps all responses in the browser session.