TS-3.1: Mechanism to Authenticate ePHI Integrity
HIPAA's TS-3.1 requires you to implement electronic controls that verify ePHI hasn't been altered or destroyed without authorization. This control is critical for demonstrating data integrity to auditors and protecting patient information from tampering. GRCWatch helps you document and monitor these authentication mechanisms across your systems.
What this means
Your organization must deploy technical safeguards that corroborate the authenticity and integrity of electronic protected health information. This means using cryptographic mechanisms, checksums, digital signatures, or other electronic tools to detect unauthorized modifications or destruction. The control applies to ePHI at rest and in transit, ensuring that any tampering is detectable and traceable.
How to comply
- 1.Select and implement integrity verification mechanisms such as HMAC, digital signatures, or cryptographic checksums
- 2.Apply mechanisms to all ePHI storage locations, databases, and file systems
- 3.Document which systems and data types are protected by each mechanism
- 4.Configure alerts or logging to detect integrity check failures
- 5.Test integrity mechanisms during disaster recovery and business continuity exercises
- 6.Establish a process to respond to and investigate integrity violations
- 7.Review and update mechanisms when systems, applications, or storage platforms change
Evidence auditors look for
- System configuration documentation showing enabled file integrity monitoring (FIM) tools
- Cryptographic hash values or digital signature implementations in application code
- Database audit logs showing integrity check results and timestamps
- Change detection alerts or reports from monitoring systems
- Signed documentation of integrity test results and validation procedures
- Disaster recovery test reports confirming integrity mechanisms function after restoration
- Incident response logs documenting detection and investigation of integrity violations
Frequently asked questions
When will FAQs be available?
The FAQ for this control is currently being prepared.
GRCWatch automatically catalogs your integrity mechanisms across systems, tracks verification results, and alerts you to failed checks—eliminating manual log review and ensuring continuous compliance with TS-3.1.
See how GRCWatch handles this control automatically
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