Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO) — Question 186

You have been hired as the CISO for a hospital. The hospital currently deploys a hybrid cloud model using a Software as a Service (SaaS) product for healthcare clearinghouse services. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) require an agreement between Cloud Service Providers (CSP) and the covered entity. Based on HIPAA, once the agreement between the covered entity and the CSP signed, the CSP is ____________?

Answer options

• A. Partially liable for compliance with the applicable requirements of the HIPAA Rules
• B. Directly liable for compliance with the applicable requirements of the HIPAA Rules
• C. Not liable for compliance with the applicable requirements of the HIPAA Rules
• D. Indirectly liable for compliance with the applicable requirements of the HIPAA Rules

Correct answer: A

Explanation

The correct answer is A because under HIPAA, once a Business Associate Agreement is in place, the CSP has shared responsibility for compliance with HIPAA requirements, but is not fully liable. Options B, C, and D are incorrect as they misrepresent the CSP's level of liability in relation to HIPAA compliance.