What are considered administrative safeguards under HIPAA?

Administrative safeguards under HIPAA encompass the policies and procedures that organizations implement to manage and protect the privacy and security of protected health information (PHI). This includes a wide range of organizational policies that dictate how data access is granted, how risk assessments are conducted, and how incident responses are managed. By establishing effective administrative safeguards, organizations ensure that they have a structured and compliant approach to handling PHI, thereby reducing the likelihood of security breaches and enhancing overall patient privacy.

The other options represent different types of safeguards. Physical security measures primarily refer to the physical protection of facilities and devices where PHI is stored, while software encryption pertains to technology-based security measures. Employee training programs are important but are considered part of the broader administrative safeguard category instead of the core policies and procedures that define the organization's approach to privacy and security.