Encryption
It is common in today’s environment for healthcare providers and patients to use email or texting to communicate with each other. Prepare a procedure on secure messaging. What are the key components of the federal regulation 45 CFR Part 170.314(e) (3) Secure messaging? Include a summary of what information between provider and patient must be encrypted. Where is the certification criterion from for encryption? How would you test for intrusion of the messaging system? What requirements would you require for password management?
The Encryption assignment
- Must be four to five double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Writing Center Links to an external site..
- Must include a separate title page with the following:
- Must use at least three sources in addition to the course text.
- Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Writing Center.
- Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Writing Center.
Carefully review the Grading Rubric Links to an external site.for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
With the advancement of technology, healthcare providers and patients are using email and texting as a means of communication. However, it is essential to ensure that the information exchanged between them is kept secure to comply with the regulatory requirements. This assignment aims to prepare a procedure on secure messaging, keeping in mind the components of the federal regulation, certification criteria, intrusion testing, and password management requirements.
Answer:
The key components of the federal regulation 45 CFR Part 170.314(e) (3) Secure messaging include ensuring that the secure messaging module enables a user to electronically send a message to, and receive a message from, a patient. The module must also incorporate encryption and decryption of data from sender to receiver to ensure that the communication remains confidential. Moreover, the module must ensure that only authenticated users can access the secure messaging function.
In terms of the information that must be encrypted between a healthcare provider and a patient, it includes any protected health information (PHI) or electronic PHI (ePHI) of the patient. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, information such as the patient’s medical history, medications, allergies, or any other information required for the provision of care.
The certification criterion for encryption is CRYPTO (§170.314(d)(3)) under test procedure 170.302(o) – Encryption and decryption. This certification criterion ensures that electronic health information is secure and confidential when transmitted between authorized providers. It further ensures that eligible providers who deploy the encryption technology have the ability to decrypt and provide access to healthcare information when needed.
Testing for intrusion of the messaging system can be conducted using various methods, including performance testing, vulnerability scanning, and penetration testing. Performance testing assesses the response time, scalability, and stability of the messaging system under varying load conditions. Vulnerability scanning is used to identify and flag any security gaps in the messaging system. Penetration testing is the most detailed testing method as it simulates a real-world cyber-attack scenario.
For password management, several requirements must be met, such as ensuring the password contains a specific combination of characters, ensuring frequent password rotation, implementing multi-factor authentication, and ensuring that password files are encrypted and secured.
In conclusion, a secure messaging system is an essential component of healthcare communication. It is vital to adhere to regulatory requirements such as the federal regulation 45 CFR Part 170.314(e) (3) Secure messaging and certification criterion CRYPTO to ensure that electronic health information remains confidential and secure. Testing for intrusion of the messaging system and password management requirements must also be strictly adhered to.
