Which HIPAA security policies does a small practice need?
The Security Rule requires covered entities to "implement reasonable and appropriate policies and procedures" to comply with its standards, to keep them in writing, to retain them for six years, and to review and update them periodically (45 CFR 164.316).
A short binder that nobody reads does not meet that bar, and neither does a 200-page template that describes systems you don't have. The goal is a set of policies that match how your practice actually works.
The core policy set
| Area | Policies to have |
|---|---|
| Governance | Security management and risk analysis; assigned Security Official; sanctions; information system activity review |
| Workforce | Workforce security and clearance; termination procedures; security awareness training; acceptable use (including AI tools) |
| Access | Access authorization and review; unique user IDs; password and MFA; automatic logoff; remote access |
| Data protection | Encryption at rest and in transit; email and texting; mobile devices and BYOD; device and media disposal |
| Operations | Audit logging; patching and vulnerability management; malware protection; backup and restore |
| Resilience | Incident response and breach notification; contingency and disaster recovery; emergency mode operations |
| Third parties | Business associate agreements and vendor risk management |
| Physical | Facility access; workstation use and security |
Making policies stick
- Tailor every policy. Name your actual systems, roles and vendors.
- Adopt them formally. A dated adoption memo signed by leadership.
- Get workforce acknowledgment. Every staff member signs that they've read the policies relevant to them.
- Train on them. Annual training plus reminders when something changes.
- Review annually. Keep a revision history and keep old versions for six years.
Skip the blank page
HIPAA Security Policies & Procedures: 27 editable Word policies mapped to the Security Rule, with adoption memo and acknowledgment forms. $149, instant download.
Get the policiesThis guide is educational and is not legal advice. It reflects the HIPAA Security Rule in force as of October 2026. HHS proposed significant Security Rule changes in January 2025; they had not been finalized as of this update.