Patch Management
The process of identifying, acquiring, installing, and verifying patches for software products and systems.
1 min read · Last reviewed May 23, 2026
At a glance
- Category
- Security
- Primary sources
- 1
- Workspace handoff
- compliance binder →
Where this comes up
This sits inside the security risk analysis under 45 CFR 164.308(a)(1)(ii)(A) — workstation controls, EHR access roles, ePHI transmission encryption, audit logging, vendor risk, and incident response. Reviewers expect dated evidence of the control, not a policy PDF that says it exists.
Full definition
What it is in practice
NIST SP 800-40 Rev. 4 describes enterprise patch management. Under HIPAA, unpatched systems with known critical vulnerabilities have featured in several large OCR settlements, where the failure to patch was treated as a Security Rule deficiency.
How it shows up in your practice
Maintain a patch policy with timelines tied to severity (e.g., critical within 30 days). Document exceptions and compensating controls when systems cannot be patched.
Sources
- NIST SP 800-66 Rev. 2 — HIPAA Security Rule Implementation Guidehttps://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/66/r2/final
Track your patch policy in the Compliance Binder
Open compliance binder →Related terms
- SecurityVulnerability AssessmentThe systematic examination of an information system to determine the adequacy of security measures, identify deficiencies, and provide data from which to predict the effectiveness of proposed security measures.
- SecurityTechnical SafeguardsTechnology and the policy and procedures for its use that protect ePHI and control access to it.
- SecuritySecurity Risk AnalysisThe accurate and thorough assessment of the potential risks and vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of ePHI required by the HIPAA Security Rule.
D3rx is a healthcare-billing and compliance research aid maintained by D3rx Inc. Articles are drafted by an LLM (Anthropic Claude) against primary HHS, OCR, CMS, eCFR, NIST, and state-regulator publications, and reviewed for restraint and source fidelity by the D3rx team.
Reviewer status: a named credentialed reviewer (CHC, CHPC, or healthcare attorney) is being engaged. Until that engagement is finalized, this page does not claim credentialed review.
Related across the archive
- GlossarySecurity Risk AnalysisThe accurate and thorough assessment of the potential risks and vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of ePHI required by the HIPAA Security Rule.
- GlossaryTechnical SafeguardsTechnology and the policy and procedures for its use that protect ePHI and control access to it.
- GlossaryVulnerability AssessmentThe systematic examination of an information system to determine the adequacy of security measures, identify deficiencies, and provide data from which to predict the effectiveness of proposed security measures.
- GlossaryAccess ControlsTechnical policies and procedures that allow only authorized persons or software programs to access ePHI.
- GlossaryAdministrative SafeguardsPolicies and procedures designed to manage the selection, development, implementation, and maintenance of security measures protecting ePHI.
- ComplianceAnnual HIPAA Training Curriculum (What to Cover + How to Document)A 2026 annual HIPAA training curriculum for small healthcare practices — eight required modules under 45 CFR 164.530(b) and 45 CFR 164.308(a)(5), with documentation templates.
- RegulationNIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0The 2024 update to the NIST CSF added the Govern function alongside Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover — providing a common language for organizational cybersecurity risk management.
- SRAHIPAA Contingency Plan for a Small PracticeWhat the Security Rule contingency plan standard at 45 CFR 164.308(a)(7) actually requires, including data backup, disaster recovery, emergency mode operation, and testing — for a small practice.
This glossary entry is a research aid for billing and compliance staff. It does not provide legal, medical, or financial advice and does not replace counsel. References cited link to primary sources at HHS, OCR, CMS, eCFR, NIST, and the relevant payer or industry body.