How to Secure Your BeyondTrust for HIPAA and Get the Compliance Seal

 

If you’re responsible for protecting electronic health records and patient information, you’ve probably heard about HIPAA—a law that sets the baseline for privacy and security of health information in the United States. When using tools like BeyondTrust, which provides privileged access management (PAM) and remote access, it’s critical to secure these systems to stay compliant. Let’s break down exactly how to secure BeyondTrust for HIPAA compliance, and how to work towards getting the official HIPAA badge or seal.

What Is HIPAA and Why Does BeyondTrust Need Special Security?

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a law to keep health information private, confidential, and secure. If your organization is a healthcare provider, insurer, or even a business associate handling patient data, you’re required to protect this information—called Protected Health Information (PHI). BeyondTrust, because it grants access to sensitive IT systems, can easily become a pathway for data breaches if not configured correctly.

Step-by-Step: How to Secure Your BeyondTrust for HIPAA

• Access Controls: Always use strong, unique, and regularly changed passwords. Apply the “least privilege” principle—only give users access to what’s truly needed for their work. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) everywhere possible for an extra layer of protection.
• Audit Trails: Enable logging across BeyondTrust so you can always see who accessed what, when, and what changes were made. Store these logs securely and review them regularly to catch suspicious activity quickly.
• Encryption: Make sure BeyondTrust uses strong encryption for PHI in transit (when moving between devices) and at rest (when stored on servers). HIPAA requires “reasonable and appropriate” encryption, but strong industry standards like TLS 1.2+ (for data in transit) and AES-256 (for data at rest) are best.
• Session Monitoring: Use BeyondTrust’s built-in tools to monitor and, if necessary, record remote access sessions. This makes it easier to review exactly what users are doing and spot any unauthorized activities.
• User Training: Regularly train everyone using BeyondTrust on security best practices and the importance of HIPAA compliance. Human error is often the weakest link.
• Patch Management: Keep BeyondTrust and all related systems up to date with the latest security patches. Outdated software is a major risk for breach.
• Vendor Risk Management: If BeyondTrust is managed by an external party, make sure you have a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) in place, as HIPAA requires this for vendors with access to PHI.
• Risk Assessment: Perform regular risk assessments (at least yearly) to verify your BeyondTrust setup remains secure as technology and threats evolve. Partnering with a specialist such as OCD Tech can be invaluable for this step, providing expert consulting and readiness assessments tailored to your situation.

How to Get the HIPAA Badge/Seal for Your BeyondTrust Environment

• HIPAA doesn’t provide a government-issued “badge.” Instead, you need to prove, through documentation and audit, that you meet all the requirements of the HIPAA Security and Privacy Rules in your BeyondTrust deployment.
• The process starts by doing an internal or third-party HIPAA risk analysis (required by law). Companies like OCD Tech can help you complete a readiness assessment or even a mock audit.
• You’ll need to close any “gaps” or risks identified—this means fixing policies, technical protections, or training issues found during assessment.
• After improvements, you can request a third-party (like OCD Tech) to review your controls for HIPAA compliance. Upon passing, they may provide a report or a “seal” to show your due diligence, which gives confidence to patients, partners, and stakeholders.

Key Requirements to Pass a HIPAA Audit with BeyondTrust

• Documented Policies and Procedures covering access controls, incident response, regular audits, and workforce security.
• Evidence of User Access Reviews (showing you regularly check who has access and why)
• Encryption proof (configurations or screenshots showing protection for PHI)
• Training records for staff who use BeyondTrust
• Vendor agreements (BAAs) if using third parties for management or support
• Ongoing risk assessment reports and records showing you fix any issues quickly

Most Important: Regular Review and Updates

• HIPAA is never “set and forget”—you must keep reviewing your security, updating systems, and training your people. The biggest cause of compliance failure is simply being unaware of a new risk or a misconfigured setting.

Summary: How to Get How to Secure Your BeyondTrust for HIPAA Badge/Seal

• Apply strong technical controls within BeyondTrust
• Train people and check them regularly
• Assess risks and fix weaknesses on an ongoing basis (ideally, with guidance from OCD Tech)
• Work with third-party examiners who can provide independent confirmation (“seal”) of your compliance efforts, giving reassurance to clients and auditors.