A HIPAA risk assessment is not optional — it's required by law and the #1 area cited in HIPAA enforcement actions. This step-by-step guide will help you complete a compliant risk assessment.
HIPAA's Security Rule requires covered entities and business associates to conduct a thorough and accurate assessment of the potential risks and vulnerabilities to ePHI. This requirement is not optional — it is the single most common deficiency cited in HIPAA enforcement actions.
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Who Needs a HIPAA Risk Assessment
Every covered entity (hospitals, physician practices, dentists, health plans, clearinghouses) and business associate (IT providers, billing companies, cloud storage providers handling ePHI) must conduct periodic risk assessments.
What Happens If You Skip It
Related Service
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Explore Compliance ServicesOCR has levied over $135 million in HIPAA fines since the program began. The absence of a risk assessment is the most frequently cited violation. Fines range from $100 per violation to $50,000+ per violation for willful neglect.
Key HIPAA Security Rule Controls to Assess
Administrative safeguards include workforce training, access management, and contingency plans. Physical safeguards cover facility access controls and device disposal. Technical safeguards require access controls, audit controls, data integrity measures, and encryption.
Primary reference and scope
HHS describes administrative, physical and technical safeguards for electronic protected health information. Applicability and implementation depend on the organization and its risks; a software purchase alone does not establish compliance. HHS summary of the HIPAA Security Rule. Reference checked 2026-09-24.
Updated . This update covers structure, reference context and company-claim corrections.
