HIPAA Compliance

HIPAA Security Awareness Training

The HIPAA Security Rule requires covered entities to implement a security awareness and training program for all workforce members. PTG delivers comprehensive, role-based HIPAA training programs that exceed regulatory requirements and protect your organization from the human element of cybersecurity risk.

Schedule Training Call 919-348-4912

Why HIPAA Training Is Essential

Under 45 CFR 164.308(a)(5), the HIPAA Security Rule requires covered entities to implement a security awareness and training program for all members of the workforce, including management. This is not a one-time event -- it must be an ongoing, documented program that addresses the evolving threat landscape.

Regulatory Mandate

HIPAA requires training for all workforce members who handle PHI. The Security Rule specifies addressable implementation specifications for security reminders, malicious software protection, login monitoring, and password management.

Human Risk Factor

Workforce members are often the primary vector for security incidents. Phishing attacks, social engineering, and improper handling of PHI account for a significant portion of healthcare data breaches reported to OCR.

Enforcement Protection

Documented, ongoing training programs demonstrate your organization's commitment to compliance. In OCR investigations, the absence of training documentation is frequently cited as a compliance deficiency.

PTG Training Program Components

Security Awareness Fundamentals

Core training covering HIPAA Privacy Rule, Security Rule, and Breach Notification Rule requirements. Includes real-world examples of healthcare data breaches and lessons learned from OCR enforcement actions.

Phishing Simulation & Social Engineering

Simulated phishing campaigns that test workforce awareness and provide immediate feedback. Includes training on recognizing social engineering tactics commonly used against healthcare organizations.

Role-Based Training

Customized training modules tailored to different roles within your organization. Front desk staff, clinical staff, IT personnel, and leadership each receive training relevant to their specific PHI access and responsibilities.

Tabletop Exercises

Scenario-based exercises that walk your team through security incident response procedures. These exercises test your incident response plan and help identify gaps in procedures before a real incident occurs.

Compliance Testing & Certificates

Quizzes, scorecards, and assessments to verify comprehension. Employee certificates of completion and administrator reports provide the documentation required for HIPAA compliance audits.

New Hire & Ongoing Training

Initial training modules for new workforce members plus ongoing security reminders and annual refresher training to maintain awareness of evolving threats and updated policies.

Training Delivery Options

PTG offers flexible training delivery to accommodate the scheduling needs of busy healthcare practices in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area.

Live Webinar

Interactive online training sessions with live Q&A, conducted at a time convenient for your practice.

Video Training

On-demand video modules that workforce members can complete at their own pace, with tracking and completion verification.

Training Materials Kit

Comprehensive materials with presenter notes, checkpoints, quizzes, and post-assessments for self-directed training programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often must HIPAA training be conducted?
HIPAA requires training for new workforce members within a reasonable period after joining your organization, and periodic refresher training thereafter. While no specific frequency is mandated, annual training is the widely accepted standard. Security reminders should be provided on a more frequent basis.
Does training need to cover both Privacy and Security Rules?
Yes. The Privacy Rule (45 CFR 164.530(b)) requires training on policies and procedures related to PHI use and disclosure. The Security Rule (45 CFR 164.308(a)(5)) requires security awareness training. PTG's program covers both requirements in an integrated curriculum.
What documentation do we need to maintain?
You must document your training program, including training content, attendance records, completion dates, and assessment results. HIPAA requires this documentation to be retained for six years. PTG provides automated tracking and certificate generation to simplify this requirement.
Is the training included in PTG's compliance packages?
Yes, comprehensive security awareness training, including tabletop exercises and role-based modules, is included in all PTG HIPAA compliance packages for the duration of your membership. Training is also available as a standalone a la carte service.

Train Your Team on HIPAA Security

Reduce your organization's risk by ensuring every workforce member understands their role in protecting patient health information. PTG serves healthcare organizations across the Triangle.

Schedule Training Call 919-348-4912

Why Choose Petronella Technology Group

Petronella Technology Group has been a trusted IT and cybersecurity partner for businesses across Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex, and the Research Triangle since 2002. Led by CEO Craig Petronella, an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License# 604180-DFE), CMMC Certified Registered Practitioner, Cybersecurity Expert Witness, Hyperledger Certified, and MIT-certified professional in cybersecurity, AI, blockchain, and compliance, PTG brings deep expertise to every engagement.

With BBB accreditation since 2003 and more than 2,500 businesses served, PTG has the experience and track record to deliver results. Craig Petronella is an Amazon number-one best-selling author of books including "How HIPAA Can Crush Your Medical Practice," "How Hackers Can Crush Your Law Firm," and "The Ultimate Guide To CMMC." He has been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and WRAL, and serves as an expert witness for law firms in cybercrime and compliance cases.

PTG holds certifications including CCNA, MCNS, Microsoft Cloud Essentials, and specializes in CMMC 2.0, NIST 800-171/172/173, HIPAA, FTC Safeguards, SOC 2 Type II, PCI DSS, GDPR, CCPA, and ISO 27001 compliance. Our forensic specialties include endpoint and networking cybercrime investigation, data breach forensics, ransomware analysis, data exfiltration investigation, cryptocurrency and blockchain analysis, and SIM swap fraud investigation.

The PTG Compliance Process

Achieving and maintaining regulatory compliance requires a structured, repeatable process. PTG has developed a proven compliance methodology refined over more than two decades of helping businesses navigate complex regulatory requirements. Our process begins with a comprehensive gap assessment that evaluates your current policies, procedures, and technical controls against the specific requirements of your target framework. This assessment identifies exactly where your organization stands and what needs to be done to achieve compliance.

Following the gap assessment, PTG develops a prioritized remediation roadmap that outlines every action item needed to close identified gaps. We categorize items by risk level and effort required, allowing organizations to address the most critical deficiencies first while planning for longer-term improvements. Our consultants work alongside your team to implement technical controls, develop required policies and procedures, create employee training programs, and establish the documentation and evidence collection processes needed to demonstrate compliance during audits and assessments.

Compliance is not a one-time project but an ongoing commitment. Regulations evolve, threats change, and business environments shift. PTG provides continuous compliance monitoring services that track your compliance status in real time, alert you to emerging gaps, and ensure that your security controls remain effective. We conduct regular internal audits, update policies as regulations change, and prepare your organization for external audits or assessments. Our goal is to make compliance a natural part of your business operations rather than a periodic scramble to meet audit deadlines.

For organizations subject to multiple compliance frameworks, PTG takes a unified approach that maps overlapping requirements across frameworks. Rather than implementing separate programs for each regulation, we build a comprehensive security and compliance program that satisfies multiple requirements simultaneously. This integrated approach reduces costs, eliminates redundant processes, and provides a clearer picture of your overall security and compliance posture, making it easier to manage ongoing obligations and demonstrate compliance to auditors, clients, and business partners.

Our Approach to Cybersecurity

At Petronella Technology Group, cybersecurity is not just about installing antivirus software or setting up a firewall. We take a comprehensive, layered approach to security that addresses people, processes, and technology. Our methodology is built on industry-standard frameworks including NIST Cybersecurity Framework, CIS Controls, and MITRE ATT&CK, ensuring that your security program is aligned with the same standards used by Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Every engagement begins with a thorough assessment of your current security posture, followed by a prioritized remediation roadmap that addresses your most critical risks first.

Our security operations team provides continuous monitoring through our Security Information and Event Management platform, which correlates events across your entire environment to detect threats in real time. When a potential threat is identified, our analysts investigate and respond immediately, often containing threats before they can cause damage. This proactive approach dramatically reduces the risk of successful cyberattacks and provides the rapid response capability that is essential in today's threat landscape.

We believe that employee awareness is one of the most important layers of defense. Human error remains the leading cause of data breaches, and no amount of technology can fully compensate for untrained employees. PTG provides comprehensive security awareness training programs that educate your team about phishing, social engineering, password security, data handling, and incident reporting. Our training programs include simulated phishing campaigns that test employee readiness and identify areas where additional education is needed, helping organizations build a strong security culture from the ground up.

Beyond prevention, PTG prepares organizations for the reality that breaches can occur despite the best defenses. Our incident response planning services help businesses develop, document, and test response procedures so that when an incident does occur, your team knows exactly what to do. From tabletop exercises to full incident simulations, we ensure that your organization is prepared to respond quickly and effectively, minimizing damage, preserving evidence, and meeting all regulatory notification requirements within required timeframes.

Additional Questions and Answers

What compliance frameworks does PTG help businesses implement?
PTG helps businesses implement and maintain compliance with a wide range of frameworks including CMMC 2.0, NIST 800-171 and 800-172, HIPAA, FTC Safeguards Rule, SOC 2 Type II, PCI DSS, GDPR, CCPA, and ISO 27001. Our compliance consultants work with organizations in Raleigh, Durham, and the Research Triangle to assess current gaps, develop remediation roadmaps, implement required controls, create policy documentation, and prepare for third-party audits or assessments. We take a unified approach that addresses multiple frameworks simultaneously to reduce duplication of effort.
How long does it take to achieve compliance certification?
The timeline varies significantly depending on the framework, organization size, and current security maturity. HIPAA compliance can often be achieved in three to six months with dedicated effort. CMMC Level 2 certification typically requires six to twelve months of preparation. SOC 2 Type II requires a minimum audit observation period of six months. ISO 27001 implementation generally takes six to twelve months. PTG helps organizations develop realistic timelines and prioritize the most critical controls to achieve compliance as efficiently as possible while building a sustainable long-term security program.
What happens if a business fails a compliance audit?
Failing a compliance audit can result in financial penalties, loss of business contracts, reputational damage, and in some cases, legal liability. HIPAA violations can result in fines ranging from one hundred dollars to fifty thousand dollars per violation, up to one and a half million dollars annually per violation category. CMMC non-compliance means losing eligibility for Department of Defense contracts. PCI DSS non-compliance can result in increased transaction fees and loss of payment processing capabilities. PTG helps businesses avoid these consequences through thorough pre-audit preparation, gap assessments, and continuous compliance monitoring.
What is the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II?
SOC 2 Type I evaluates the design of your security controls at a specific point in time, providing a snapshot of your security posture. SOC 2 Type II evaluates both the design and operating effectiveness of your controls over a period of time, typically six to twelve months. Type II is considered more rigorous and valuable because it demonstrates that your controls consistently work as intended over an extended period. Most enterprise clients and partners require SOC 2 Type II reports when evaluating vendors. PTG helps organizations prepare for and maintain both types of SOC 2 compliance.
Can one compliance framework satisfy multiple regulatory requirements?
Yes, many compliance frameworks share overlapping controls and requirements. Implementing NIST 800-171 provides a strong foundation for CMMC 2.0 compliance. ISO 27001 maps to many SOC 2 and HIPAA requirements. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework aligns with virtually all other frameworks. PTG takes a unified compliance approach, helping organizations implement controls that satisfy multiple frameworks simultaneously. This integrated strategy reduces duplication of effort, lowers costs, and creates a more cohesive security program that addresses all applicable regulatory requirements without redundant processes or documentation.

Ready to Get Started?

Contact Petronella Technology Group today for a free consultation. Serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and the Research Triangle since 2002.

919-348-4912 Schedule a Free Consultation

5540 Centerview Dr., Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606