How to Secure Your Qualys for HIPAA and Get the HIPAA Compliance Badge/Seal

 

If you use Qualys for vulnerability scanning or security compliance, and your organization is required to follow HIPAA rules (such as health clinics, hospitals, or vendors who handle medical data), it's crucial to secure your Qualys platform—and do it in a way that’s audit-ready. Here’s how to secure your Qualys for HIPAA, get the HIPAA badge or seal, and ensure you meet all requirements.

• Understand HIPAA & Security Rule Requirements. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) sets federal privacy and security standards for handling Protected Health Information (PHI). The HIPAA Security Rule specifically requires safeguards—like encryption, access controls, and audit logs—to keep electronic PHI safe.
• Secure Qualys Platform Access.
  • Enforce strong, unique passwords on all Qualys user accounts.
  • Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all users—it’s a must for HIPAA compliance.
  • Review and limit user roles to the minimum necessary; only give access to those who need it for their job.
• Encryption & Data Isolation.
  • Ensure that all communications with the Qualys portal use HTTPS/SSL encryption.
  • Turn on data-at-rest encryption if Qualys offers it for stored reports that may contain e-PHI.
• Audit Logging & Monitoring.
  • Qualys must have logging enabled to track user activity, such as logins, changes, or downloads.
  • Export logs regularly and store them securely for at least 6 years, as HIPAA requires.
• Vendor Management & Business Associate Agreement (BAA).
  • Sign a Business Associate Agreement with Qualys, since they’re a cloud provider that might touch your e-PHI.
  • Qualys should provide assurances (like on their website or in the service agreement) that they’ll comply with HIPAA requirements when handling your data.
• Configuration & Regular Vulnerability Scanning.
  • Only scan assets where you are sure e-PHI is properly protected; do not accidentally store sensitive scan results in insecure locations.
  • Continuously scan systems and promptly resolve vulnerabilities that Qualys finds; you must fix critical issues as soon as possible for HIPAA.
• Incident Response Plan. Document what you’ll do if a Qualys scan or platform is compromised—including immediate notification, forensics, and breach notification procedures.
• Risk Assessments & Documentation.
  • Perform and document a regular risk assessment of your Qualys setup as part of an overall HIPAA risk analysis.
  • Keep records showing that you’ve reviewed access, configurations, and secure practices regularly.
• Training & Policies. Train all Qualys users and IT staff on how to handle e-PHI and Qualys scan data appropriately; update policies to cover Qualys technology.
• If you need expert help, a consulting and readiness assessment partner like OCD Tech can review your Qualys setup, test your policies, and confirm if you’re HIPAA-ready.

 

How to Get the HIPAA Compliance Badge/Seal

 

• No official government HIPAA badge exists. The “HIPAA badge” or “seal” is awarded by third-party compliance firms when you pass a thorough HIPAA readiness review.
• To get the badge, you usually must:
  • Complete a HIPAA risk assessment (including covering Qualys and other tech tools)
  • Remediate any gaps (e.g., enforcing MFA, signing BAAs, correcting access controls)
  • Provide evidence to auditors (training logs, policies, scan reports)
  • Participate in an audit or readiness review, like those provided by OCD Tech
• After passing, your organization may get a “HIPAA Compliant” certificate or badge for your website or marketing materials.

 

Most Important Things for Passing HIPAA Audits

 

• Document EVERYTHING: Keep clear, up-to-date policies, access logs, scan results, and training records. Auditors want proof.
• Restrict access, enforce MFA, and have a signed BAA with Qualys.
• Regular risk assessments, incident response plans, and vulnerability management are non-negotiable.
• Have experts review your environment—firms like OCD Tech can validate your setup and help you prepare.

If you follow these steps for how to secure your Qualys for HIPAA badge/seal, you’ll be compliant, audit-ready, and able to display your HIPAA badge with confidence.