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<p>With the release of Windows 11, many computer owners might be wondering what is in store for Windows 11<br>and HIPAA – and where that leaves Windows 10 users. People are often wary when it comes to upgrading their<br>operating system, and rightly so!</p>
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<p><br>Not every new Windows operating system has been successful or has been praise-worthy. Many were slow, full<br>of bugs, and sluggish. One recognizable example is Windows Vista, released in 2006. This OS was the first to<br>use the design that we're still familiar with today. However, it was slow, leading many users to revert to<br>Windows XP. Windows 8 saw a similar response from users. At its release in 2012, Windows 7 was only three<br>years old, and most people still liked it. However, many people didn't like the changes to the interface. The start<br>menu had disappeared, for example.</p>
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<p><br><strong>The Release of Windows 11</strong></p>
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<p><br>So what about Windows 11? Are we ready for a new OS after Windows 10? Probably, most of us would say<br>yes. It's been six years since Windows 10 was released, and many things have changed with technology and<br>security since then. We’re ready for a new operating system, even though many will likely be wary. But where<br>does it leave us with regards to Windows 11 and HIPAA compliance?</p>
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<p><br><strong>What is HIPAA?</strong></p>
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<p><br>Firstly, let's look at what HIPAA is. For those not in the know, HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability<br>and Accountability Act. It became a law in 1996, and it covers a wide range of healthcare-related issues.<br>However, another aspect of HIPAA relates to privacy, which is our focus when thinking about Windows 11 and<br>HIPAA.</p>
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<p><br>Essentially, by law, healthcare providers at every level must do everything reasonably possible to keep patient<br>information secure. For example, you can't call a hospital and ask for information about a person’s medical<br>history because of HIPAA guidelines. On the surface, this is entirely reasonable and taken for granted.<br>However, it can be quite burdensome to stay compliant in terms of the administrative workload required. In<br>addition, failure to comply with HIPAA rules in any way can lead to harsh fines and the loss of licenses. For<br>these reasons, we can understand why organizations are overly cautious when it comes to being HIPAA<br>compliant.</p>
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<p><br><strong>Where Do Windows 11 and HIPAA fit in?</strong></p>
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<p><br>Whenever patient data gets recorded and stored as a file, extra care must be taken to safeguard it. For example,<br>printed files and forms containing medical conditions and records must be shredded. In terms of IT, any<br>hardware that holds sensitive information must be HIPAA compliant. Yet, what can<br>sometimes get overlooked are the operating systems the data storage systems use.</p>
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<p><strong><br>Windows 11 and HIPAA Compliance—<br>Should you upgrade?</strong><br><br>While previous versions of Windows were HIPAA compliant, Windows 10 wasn't — at least not out of the box.<br>Microsoft went out of their way not to answer directly about Windows 10's compliance like they had done with<br>other products —like Office 365 — where they made a point to advertise the compliance. It appeared that even<br>when customers wanted more information about this on their online forums, administrators would delete the<br>threads.</p>
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<p><strong><br>What’s the Bottom Line?</strong></p>
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<p><br>While many might be wary about what Windows 11 has to offer and whether it will flop as previous Windows<br>versions have in the past, the truth is that Windows 10 is now six years old, and it is time that we get offered<br>more protection. Windows 11 is undoubtedly the answer for many who are interested in security. However,<br>there is no rush to upgrade just yet as Windows 10 will continue to be supported for a few years yet!<br>If you’re considering upgrading to Windows 11 but don’t know where to start, <a href="http://magnitech.com/contact">give us a call</a>. We’re here to help<br>with all your technology needs!</p>
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