If you’re a covered entity or business associate under HIPAA, the Security Risk Analysis (SRA) isn’t optional—it’s required.
But more than that, it’s one of the most important things you can do to protect your patients’ data and your organization’s future. The SRA is the foundation for every other step in your HIPAA compliance journey. Done right, it doesn’t just check a box—it helps you identify real risks and prioritize smart, strategic improvements.
Still, for many organizations, the SRA process feels overwhelming. So let’s break it down.
At its core, the HIPAA Security Risk Analysis is a structured assessment of the potential risks and vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI).
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) provides guidance, but the rule isn’t prescriptive. That means organizations are responsible for tailoring the assessment to their own environment—which can make it hard to know where to start.
According to the HIPAA Security Rule (45 CFR §164.308(a)(1)(ii)(A)), here’s what your SRA must include:
1. Identify All ePHI
Know where your electronic PHI lives. That includes:
It’s easy to miss a system or vendor, especially if you’ve had recent changes in your tech stack or workforce. Start with a full inventory.
2. Identify and Document Potential Threats and Vulnerabilities
Ask: What could go wrong?
This step is about brainstorming risks and being honest about weaknesses.
3. Assess Current Security Measures
What safeguards are already in place—technically, physically, and administratively?
Are you using:
You don’t need to have it all perfect. The point is to know where you stand.
4. Determine the Likelihood and Impact of Each Threat
Now that you’ve identified risks, it’s time to evaluate them. How likely is each threat to occur? And if it did, what would the impact be?
Think through scenarios:
Categorizing these risks helps you prioritize action.
5. Determine the Level of Risk
Combine likelihood and impact to rate each threat—low, medium, or high. This gives you a roadmap for addressing the most urgent vulnerabilities first.
6. Document Everything
This isn’t just about checking off a requirement. Documentation is essential if you’re ever audited or investigated. You’ll need to show:
Your SRA isn’t just a one-time project—it should be updated annually or whenever there are significant changes in your environment.
Let’s be real—completing an SRA manually takes a lot of time, and it’s easy to miss critical pieces. That’s where Medcurity comes in.
We’ve built our SRA platform to guide you step-by-step through the process, with:
Whether you’re leading a small practice or managing security for a large network, Medcurity makes the SRA not just doable—but useful. You’ll walk away with more than a report. You’ll have a plan.
The SRA is a powerful opportunity to protect your patients, strengthen your systems, and move forward with clarity. With the right tools and the right team, it’s absolutely manageable.
Let’s make HIPAA compliance one less thing to stress about.
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