A login prompt waits on the screen. You need secure access. You need to know exactly who is coming through the gate.
HIPAA technical safeguards demand more than strong passwords. They require control over who can see electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI), how they access it, and what happens once they connect. The regulation’s technical safeguards section, 45 CFR §164.312, outlines access controls, audit controls, integrity protection, authentication, and transmission security.
An Identity-Aware Proxy (IAP) delivers these requirements at the network edge. It sits between users and applications, enforcing identity verification before any request reaches sensitive systems. This setup makes compliance easier by centralizing security policies and ensuring every connection is authenticated, authorized, and logged.
Access Control: HIPAA requires unique user identification and emergency access procedures. An IAP integrates with identity providers (IdPs) like Okta or Azure AD. It applies role-based access, ensuring only approved personnel reach apps handling ePHI.
Audit Control: Every request through an IAP is recorded. Logs capture who logged in, when, from where, and what they accessed. This satisfies HIPAA’s demand for tracking activity related to ePHI.