What security mechanism could help prevent unauthorized access to PHI?

Access controls are critical for protecting personal health information (PHI) because they define who can access certain data and how they can interact with it. They ensure that only authorized individuals can view or modify sensitive information, thereby reducing the risk of unauthorized access. This typically involves implementing user authentication measures such as passwords, two-factor authentication, and role-based access privileges. This ensures that healthcare providers and administrative staff only have access to the PHI necessary for their job functions, which is essential for maintaining patient confidentiality and complying with regulations such as HIPAA.

While physical barriers, employee training programs, and data encryption are also important components of an overall information security strategy, access controls specifically address the need for permission-based access to electronic records, making them the most direct and effective mechanism for preventing unauthorized access to PHI. Physical barriers may prevent unauthorized individuals from entering a facility, training programs may educate staff on security practices, and encryption protects data at rest or in transit, but access controls are fundamental to actively managing user permissions and safeguarding sensitive information from internal and external threats.