Interhack Simplifies Compliance with its HIPAA Security Solutions

Interhack's Experts Help Organizations Understand, Implement HIPAA Security Rule

Columbus, Ohio (December 3, 2003)---Interhack Corporation, a leading provider of information assurance research and solutions, today announced its ongoing commitment to assisting healthcare organizations and insurance companies comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule.

Interhack now offers organizations three cost-effective solutions to meet their HIPAA compliance needs, including HIPAA Kickstart, a package that combines a risk analysis assessment with a one-year subscription to Interhack's HIPAA Security Guidance Manual.

“Interhack has been helping people understand information security and computer systems since 1997,” said Pete Ware, a computer scientist for Interhack's information assurance practice. “Health care organizations have no need to guess when it comes to implementing the HIPAA Security Rule. With Interhack's depth of expertise, healthcare providers, plans and insurers can achieve regulatory compliance, mitigate risk and decrease costs by engaging in an effective information assurance program.”

The HIPAA Security Kickstart risk assessment helps organizations identify weaknesses in their information assurance programs. It is based on the recommendations of the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), which is considered the security standard in the HIPAA Security Rule. Notably, NIST cites Interhack's research in its recommendations.

The HIPAA Security Kickstart package also includes the HIPAA Security Guidance Manual, which provides detailed information on the HIPAA Security Rule and access to an online discussion group to learn and share HIPAA best practices.

In addition to HIPAA Kickstart, Interhack offers penetration testing and technical evaluations designed to meet HIPAA compliance requirements. An information security assessment based on the U.S. National Security Agency's Information Security Assessment Methodology also is available.

A key differentiator for Interhack is the organizational approach it takes to risk and ensuring that information systems work the way the rest of the business does.

“We help companies understand risk and manage it rationally and cost-effectively,” said Matt Curtin, Interhack founder and author of Developing Trust: Online Privacy and Security (Apress 2001). “The end result for organizations is the ability to effectively run their businesses without compromising the integrity of their customers' private information.”

About Interhack

Interhack was founded in 1997 as an information assurance research organization. Today, Interhack Corporation offers information assurance, forensic computing and IT services to companies throughout North America. Interhack helps its clients understand the nature of information security and to build and maintain trustworthy systems. Interhack's research is frequently cited by other organizations, most recently by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit to define how the Electronic Communications Act of 1986 applies to Web technology.

Interhack's health care practice provides technical support for O.H.I.O. for EDI a statewide collaborative effort HIPAA implementation and a regional affiliate of the Strategic National Implementation Process (SNIP).

Based in Columbus Ohio, Interhack is involved in the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) and InfraGard, an FBI-sponsored program to fight cyber crime. The company also is a supporting member of The Usenix Association and a charter sponsor of the Columbus INFOSEC Forum.

For more information go to web.interhack.com or call 614-545-HACK (4225).

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