HIPAA News

California Department of Health Care Services Selects GuardianEdge Hard Disk Encryption Products

(Sept 11, 2007)-- GuardianEdge, provider of endpoint data protection, announced that the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has deployed GuardianEdge hard disk encryption solutions, a critical component of the complete GuardianEdge Data Protection Platform. The selection of GuardianEdge's hard disk encryption solution demonstrates DHCS' proactive approach to information technology security. It also underscores DHCS' commitment to complying with federal mandates, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and protecting the health information of Californians by safeguarding all information stored on DHCS, California Department of Public Health and California Health and Human Services Agency laptops and desktop personal computers.

HIPAA, enacted by Congress in 1996, established national standards for electronic health care transactions as well as national identifiers for providers, health insurance plans and employers. HIPAA also addresses the security and privacy of health data. HIPAA standards are designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the nation's health care system by encouraging the widespread use of electronic data interchange.

GuardianEdge protects all classified health information data on laptops and desktop personal computers and helps DHCS ensure that information is not compromised in the event that a computer is lost or stolen. GuardianEdge's compatibility with DHCS' existing information technology environment and ease of testing and deployment were also major determinants in selection. DHCS was able to leverage existing software to deploy the GuardianEdge hard disk encryption solution among all laptop and desktop personal computers within a self-imposed 30-day timeframe to ensure personal health and confidential information was protected from unauthorized access, thereby taking a leadership position in guiding the security procedures for other state agencies.

"Residents hold government agencies to a higher level of responsibility in securing their sensitive information, and there is an expectation that personal information will remain uncompromised," said Alan Fudge, president and CEO of GuardianEdge. "Increasing mobile workforces, combined with federal mandates like HIPAA, make the encryption of sensitive data even more paramount. The GuardianEdge Data Protection Platform secures sensitive or proprietary information and provides peace of mind and greater security to all government program recipients."

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