How to Secure Devices and Endpoints for HIPAA Compliance (Step 5 of 17)

Because unsecured devices are the #1 way ePHI leaks out

Encryption and firewalls aren’t enough if the laptop on your front desk is unpatched, unmanaged, or can be lost without a trace. In this step, we focus on how to lock down every endpoint in your organization — desktops, tablets, phones, and more — before they become the weak link in your compliance chain.

Step 5: Harden Your Technology – Lock down every device, endpoint, and system to keep protected health information (PHI) secure across your practice.

1. Start With an Asset Inventory

Every device that touches ePHI must be tracked — even personal devices used for remote access or telehealth. This includes:

• Office workstations

• Laptops and tablets

• Smartphones (BYOD or company-issued)

• Scanners, printers, and fax machines

• Networked medical devices

• External storage drives
  

Use our built-in Device Manager in Patient Protect to log, label, and assess each device for HIPAA risk and encryption status.

2. Encrypt and Authenticate

HIPAA doesn’t require encryption — but OCR has made it clear: if an unencrypted device is breached, expect a violation.

• Encrypt everything: laptops, phones, backups

• Require authentication: strong passwords or biometrics

• Auto-lock idle devices: set short timeouts for inactivity
  

If your team can access ePHI from their phones, it needs mobile encryption — or mobile MDM controls at the very least.

3. Set Up Endpoint Management and Patching

Devices should be remotely manageable, monitored, and regularly updated.

• Install automatic updates and security patches

• Disable unused ports and services

• Use anti-malware and intrusion detection software

• Block untrusted USBs and external drives
  

Pro Tip: Use centralized endpoint management tools (or our compliance platform) to track software versions and audit usage across your org.

Use our Secure Infrastructure Checklist to audit devices, patch vulnerabilities, and lock down the systems that keep your ePHI safe.

Want a complete checklist to harden your infrastructure? Explore our Secure Infrastructure Checklist — it’s designed to help healthcare teams implement device-level and network safeguards that align with HIPAA and industry best practices.

4. Define BYOD and Remote Work Policies

If staff are accessing PHI from home or on their own devices, your policies must clearly address:

• Approved apps and access methods

• Required device configurations (e.g., encryption, lock screen)

• Prohibited activities (e.g., local file downloads, screenshots)

• Revocation protocols when employees leave or devices are lost
  

Don't treat remote work as an exception — it’s now a default. Your HIPAA strategy needs to reflect that.

Use Patient Protect to Lock Down Devices

Our platform was built for small practices to stay compliant without IT teams. With Patient Protect, you can:

• Log and classify every device

• Track risk levels and access history

• Enforce encryption and usage policies

• Stay audit-ready without extra software

Every session on Patient Protect is encrypted — from mobile to desktop, on any device.

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Next Up: Enforce Access Controls (Step 6 of 17)

Not everyone needs access to everything. In Step 6, we’ll show you how to apply the minimum necessary rule across systems, users, and workflows — so ePHI stays visible only to those who truly need it. Next up: Read Step 6: Enforce Access Controls → Check it out!