1
Look at the checklist
Start with the ten-question readiness check. Use Yes only when you can point to current evidence.
Start Here
Start Here: Five Simple HIPAA Steps
You do not need to read a regulation first. Start with what your organization has actually done, what it can prove, and what still needs professional validation.
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 requires broad checklist coverage and no reported gap in the critical controls. Yellow, red, or limited coverage identifies work that needs attention. No self-score proves compliance.
3
Open the matching guidance
Use the enforcement overview to understand consequences. Then use the eight-priority action plan to organize implementation 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 PHI or patient information. The quick check accepts only Yes, No, Not Sure, or Not Applicable. Assessment answers stay in the current browser memory and clear automatically after five minutes.
The five steps describe the visitor journey. When the check identifies work, the eight-priority action plan provides the implementation framework. For a deeper control view, continue with the HIPAA Security Rule Safeguards Matrix.
Start with what you can prove today
The ten-question check takes about two minutes. Its answers are not submitted to OC Security Audit or retained by the assessment tool.