COMPLIANCE & AUDIT READINESS
In 3 Weeks, Get a HIPAA Risk Assessment and Prioritized Readiness Roadmap.
A Business Associate Agreement is waiting. A customer asks for your security risk analysis. Your existing assessment leaves cloud systems or suppliers outside the picture. We help healthcare and healthtech teams define their ePHI environment, review safeguard evidence and prioritize HIPAA readiness gaps.
01
EXPERIENCE BEHIND THE ADVICE
Every HIPAA assessment is led by Temi, with over two decades of experience across technology, financial services, healthcare and media, including consulting engagements with several Fortune 100 companies, including Amazon, Walgreens and Humana. Temi has led over 100 assessments.
- CISA
- CISM
- CRISC
- CDPSE
- PCI-QSA
LinkedIn recommendations
Recommendations for Temi
Temi is an incredibly thorough GRC professional with an impressive command of PCI requirements. During our time working together, I was consistently impressed by her ability to navigate complex audit workflows and provide clear, actionable insights. She is a dedicated expert who brings high standards of professionalism to every project.
I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Temi, and I can confidently say she is one of the most reliable and technically proficient GRC and IT Security professionals I have partnered with. Her expertise spans SOX compliance, IT risk management, security controls, and governance frameworks, and she consistently brings clarity, structure, and rigor to every engagement.
Temi has a rare ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into practical, actionable controls that strengthen organizational resilience. Her attention to detail, strong analytical mindset, and commitment to high-quality execution make her an invaluable asset to any team. Beyond her technical strengths, she is collaborative, solutions-oriented, and trusted by stakeholders across the business.
Temi is GRC professional who has exhibited top level IT security risk and audit competence by leading high visibility, high impact projects building frameworks and implementation of systems that have improved the safety and reliability of business operations in global organizations. I have interacted with Temi on tangential projects and I can attest to her professionalism, commitment and leadership.
I had the privilege of being mentored by Temi during my transition from a general tech role into the security field, and I can confidently say her guidance made a significant difference in my journey.
Temi has a rare ability to support and uplift others in whatever capacity she can. She helped me not only understand complex security concepts and frameworks, but also gain practical, real-world exposure to the role. She taught me how to think like a security professional - from communicating security concepts to cross-functional teams with varying levels of understanding, to reviewing and analyzing security documentation for accuracy and completeness.
What stood out most was her genuine investment in my growth. Whether it was recommending resources, connecting me with a trainer to deepen my knowledge, reviewing my learning path, or sharing valuable industry insights, she was always generous with her time and expertise.
If you’re looking for a mentor or security leader who truly empowers others, I highly recommend Temi. I’m incredibly grateful for her support and the lasting impact she has had on my career.
Recommendations as published on LinkedIn, shown with the recommender's name and headline at the time of writing.
02
Agree the work and responsibilities
The proposal identifies the assessment and governance work included in your engagement, the deliverables and review points, and the responsibilities of your team and Cyvelle. The full readiness program includes the agreed policy development, implementation guidance, evidence review and training support. The roadmap connects any further technical, legal or independent-assurance requirements to the responsible parties.
03
When a HIPAA readiness review helps
Start with the request that is holding up a decision: a healthcare customer's security review, a BAA discussion, an outdated risk analysis, or a change to the systems that hold ePHI. Clinics and other providers, healthtech suppliers, telehealth platforms and medical-device businesses may need different assessment boundaries. Their role and actual information flows come first.
If there is an active incident, suspected breach or regulatory inquiry, tell us at the start. The responsible incident team and counsel need to address immediate obligations; a readiness engagement needs a separately agreed scope for any support around that event.
04
Know who owns the work
Discuss the healthcare requirement with Temi. Before work begins, the proposal identifies the review lead, the evidence owners on your side, the systems we can inspect and the decisions that need management or counsel. The readout connects each material gap to an owner and the evidence needed to demonstrate progress.
05
Start by establishing your role and information flows
HIPAA applicability depends on the organization's role and activities. Covered entities and business associates have obligations under the relevant rules. The Security Rule protects electronic protected health information; a security review does not replace separate Privacy Rule or Breach Notification analysis.
We review the activities, clients, systems and supplier relationships in scope. The engagement confirms the information boundary and records issues needing counsel's interpretation before presenting controls as universally applicable.
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Covered entity, business associate or a different role?
| Question | Covered entity | Business associate |
|---|---|---|
| What makes the role relevant? | A health plan, clearinghouse, or healthcare provider that conducts covered electronic transactions | A person or organization performing specified functions or services involving PHI on behalf of a covered entity; qualifying subcontractors are included |
| What should we examine? | The organization's regulated activities, information flows and supplier relationships | The service delivered, PHI handled, customer commitments and downstream subcontractors |
| How do agreements enter the review? | Identify relationships that require a BAA or other permitted written arrangement | Identify applicable agreements with covered-entity customers and qualifying subcontractors |
| What evidence should be organized? | Relevant policies, operating records, safeguard evidence and unresolved risks | Evidence for the services and responsibilities actually assumed, with gaps made explicit |
A provider is not automatically a covered entity merely because it provides healthcare. A supplier is not automatically a business associate merely because it works with a healthcare customer. HHS defines the qualifying activities and identifies exceptions to BAA requirements. An organization can also have more than one role. We record the facts and refer uncertain legal classifications to counsel.
07
Risk analysis needs a complete evidence base
HHS describes risk analysis as a foundational Security Rule activity. It must consider potential risks and vulnerabilities affecting ePHI confidentiality, integrity and availability. A specific methodology is not prescribed; the organization's environment matters.
Our proposed review connects ePHI flows, threats, vulnerabilities, safeguards and resulting risks. Missing evidence and unavailable systems are visible limitations. A completed questionnaire alone is not presented as proof of effective safeguards.
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What we assess
| Area | Evidence focus |
|---|---|
| ePHI boundary | Systems, interfaces, locations and supplier access to ePHI |
| Administrative safeguards | Risk management, responsibilities, workforce access, training and incident procedures |
| Physical safeguards | Facility, device and media procedures within the agreed scope |
| Technical safeguards | Access, authentication, activity review, integrity and transmission protections |
| Suppliers and continuity | Agreements, responsibilities, contingency plans and relevant recovery evidence |
| Policies and records | Whether documented processes match the reviewed operating evidence |
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Turn safeguard categories into reviewable evidence
Administrative review follows responsibility and day-to-day practice: risk management, security ownership, workforce authorization, training records, incident procedures and contingency arrangements. Physical review follows the facilities, workstations, devices and media that support ePHI. Technical review follows access, identity, activity records, integrity and transmission protection.
For each area, the gap register distinguishes a documented process from evidence of its operation. An access policy might exist while a leaver's account remains enabled; a backup schedule might exist without a recorded recovery exercise. Those examples explain the evidence questions, not findings from a Cyvelle customer engagement.
The Security Rule concerns ePHI. Paper and verbal PHI may raise Privacy or Breach Notification issues and should be identified when agreeing the wider review boundary. Security Rule implementation choices must be evaluated against the applicable requirements and risks; an addressable specification still needs a documented decision.
WHAT YOU GET
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What you get
| Deliverable | Contents | Decision supported |
|---|---|---|
| ePHI scope and data-flow record | In-scope sources, storage, transfer and responsible parties | What the assessment covers and which gaps remain |
| Security risk analysis report | Methods, reviewed evidence, threats, vulnerabilities, existing safeguards and risk evaluation | Which risks require treatment or further review |
| Safeguard/evidence gap register | Requirement references, current status and supporting records | What needs improvement and who owns it |
| Risk treatment roadmap | Priorities, proposed owners, dependencies and closure evidence | What to fund and implement first |
| Management readout | Material risks, limitations and unresolved decisions | What leadership and counsel need to decide |
11
See how assessment findings become an action plan
Fictional sample — no customer information
Review a fictional Governance Blueprint assessment to see how scope, findings, evidence references and a prioritized roadmap can be organized. It illustrates the presentation of assessment work; it is not a HIPAA risk analysis or evidence from a Cyvelle client. Your proposal defines the HIPAA deliverables for your organization.
The sample illustrates presentation. Your engagement scope defines the work.
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How the review proceeds
Scope the role and ePHI environment; request documents and operating evidence; interview owners and review safeguards; evaluate risks and document limitations; present the risk treatment plan. The schedule is agreed after scope and access are known.
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Agree a work plan with clear handoffs
| Stage | Readiness work | What determines progress |
|---|---|---|
| Establish the boundary | Record role, ePHI flows, systems, locations and suppliers | Available inventories, access and decisions about scope |
| Review risk and safeguards | Examine evidence, interview owners and record risks and limitations | Evidence quality and availability of responsible staff |
| Plan treatment | Prioritize gaps and identify owners, dependencies and closure evidence | Management's risk decisions, resources and technical change windows |
| Organize supporting records | Connect policies, BAA status, training and response documentation to the issues found | Approved policies, counsel's contract review and the relevant operational owners |
| Read out and hand over | Present the risk analysis, gap register and treatment roadmap | Agreement on unresolved decisions and the next review point |
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Plan the assessment and readiness milestones
The risk analysis establishes the evidence and priorities. The full program adds policy development, implementation guidance and review of supporting records. Agree the assessed environment and delivery milestones before work starts, with remediation responsibilities assigned alongside the schedule.
| Milestone | Assessment | Full Readiness |
|---|---|---|
| Scope and evidence request | Week 1 | Week 1 |
| Risk analysis and roadmap | Weeks 1–3 | Weeks 1–3 |
| Policy and implementation support | Treatment plan delivered with the assessment | Weeks 3–10 |
| Management readout | By the end of week 3 | Final readiness review by the end of week 12 |
These delivery milestones concern our agreed readiness work. Your treatment plan identifies technical changes, operational records and any external review needed beyond the engagement.
15
Set fees against the work you need
A written scoped proposal confirms the fee and deliverables. It identifies the ePHI environments, entities and locations covered; evidence access; interviews; reports; readout; and any follow-up. Where additional work is needed, ask for its owner, cost basis and dependencies to be stated separately before it starts. Technical fixes are assigned to your designated owners, with us providing implementation guidance.
| Criteria | Security risk analysis and readiness review | Most Popular Full HIPAA Readiness Program |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From $3,500 | From $10,000 |
| Included | Includes ePHI scope and data-flow review, security risk analysis, evidence gaps, a prioritized remediation roadmap and management readout. | Everything in Security risk analysis and readiness review, plus tailored Security, Privacy and Breach Notification policies; implementation guidance and evidence review; training support and breach-response planning; BAA coordination; and a final readiness review. |
| Delivery | 3 weeks for the scoped assessment and roadmap | 12 weeks for the scoped readiness program |
| Follow-up access | 30 days for questions about agreed deliverables | 30 days for questions about agreed deliverables |
| Customer-requested assurance | The exact report the buyer requires, the eligible provider and any separate assessment fee |
|---|
Free 30-minute HIPAA readiness strategy call. No obligation.
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HIPAA and HITRUST answer different questions
HIPAA is a legal regime. HITRUST is an assessment and assurance approach with its own scope and requirements. A HITRUST route requested by a customer is discussed separately; it does not remove HIPAA duties. We do not offer an official HIPAA certificate or guarantee compliance in a fixed number of days.
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Give the buyer evidence they can evaluate
Ask the healthcare customer what they need to review: a security risk analysis, specific safeguard records, a BAA, a questionnaire response or an independently issued report. Match the evidence to the request and its scope. A package should make clear what was reviewed, when, which services it covers and what remains unresolved.
HHS does not recognize private certifications as proof that an organization has met the Security Rule. An external review does not remove the organization's duties or prevent a later finding of a violation. Any third-party attestation requested by a buyer needs its own scope, issuing authority and acceptance criteria. Our readiness deliverables do not promise such an attestation.
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Compare proposals on the decisions they let you make
| Ask the provider | What a useful answer should establish |
|---|---|
| Who will perform the review? | Named responsibility, relevant experience and any use of other delivery staff |
| What does the timeline cover? | Assessment, implementation and external assurance as distinct activities, with dependencies |
| What is included in the fee? | Deliverables, review points, payment terms, follow-up and change control |
| What evidence supports the analysis? | The assessed ePHI boundary, methods, evidence, risk reasoning and limitations |
| Who implements improvements? | Responsibility for each technical, operational and policy change |
| Are tools or suppliers recommended? | Selection criteria, costs and any commercial relationships to disclose |
| What happens after the report? | Named action owners, closure evidence and an agreed review point |
19
Reuse evidence carefully across healthcare requirements
If a buyer asks for SOC 2 or HITRUST as well as HIPAA readiness, identify the common evidence and the distinct assessment requirements at the start. Evidence can be organized around shared controls while retaining each framework's scope, criteria and reporting route. The proposal must state any combined work; a single review does not automatically satisfy every buyer.
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Questions before an assessment
Is this only for hospitals?
No. The scope review examines covered-entity and business-associate activities, including applicable healthtech and service-provider relationships.
Does every addressable specification become optional?
No. HHS explains the need to evaluate appropriateness and document the decision and equivalent measure where required. The review records reasoning rather than treating addressable items as automatic exclusions.
Will this include a certificate?
The deliverable is a scoped assessment and plan. Certification or statutory-compliance guarantees are not part of this service.
Are the proposed Security Rule changes already required?
The assessment uses adopted applicable requirements. Proposed rules are tracked separately and do not enter the current obligation list as final law.
How much does it cost?
HIPAA security risk and readiness assessments start at $3,500. A written scoped proposal confirms the fee and deliverables.
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More questions about HIPAA readiness
What does a HIPAA readiness consultant do?
The agreed review identifies the information boundary, evaluates risk and safeguard evidence, records gaps and prepares a treatment plan. The full readiness program adds policy development, implementation guidance, evidence review and training support within its agreed scope.
How long does the work take?
The assessment and roadmap take 3 weeks; the scoped Full Readiness program takes 12 weeks, subject to evidence and stakeholder availability. The proposal states the review milestones. Technical changes and any buyer or assessor review can extend beyond the readiness delivery date.
Does HIPAA apply to my SaaS product or app?
What if an incident or possible breach has occurred?
What are the consequences of a HIPAA violation?
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Keep the program moving after handoff
We hand over the risk analysis, evidence index and treatment schedule for your selected scope, together with policy documents included in your program. Responsibilities and next review dates are recorded. You receive 30 days of follow-up access for questions about the agreed deliverables.
For ongoing oversight, discuss Virtual CISO support to track the treatment plan, prepare leadership updates and maintain your governance review schedule. The continuing scope is agreed separately from follow-up access.
23
Establish the evidence your healthcare buyer needs
Share the request, your role and your ePHI environment. We will discuss an appropriate assessment boundary and next steps.
Free 30-minute HIPAA readiness strategy call. No obligation.
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Book a healthcare readiness discussion
Choose a time to discuss your role, the buyer's request and the systems in scope. Bring the request and deadline; do not put patient records or other ePHI into the booking form.
Free 30-minute HIPAA readiness strategy call. No obligation.