How to Navigate the 2025 Cybersecurity Changes

The landscape of healthcare compliance is shifting once again in 2025, with sweeping updates to HIPAA regulations, tighter cybersecurity requirements, and new rules addressing reproductive health privacy and substance use disorder data. These changes aren’t just regulatory checkboxes—they signal a more aggressive stance on data privacy and a higher expectation for security readiness from healthcare providers and their partners.

At DAS Health, we understand how overwhelming it can be to keep up with evolving healthcare regulations. That’s why we’ve outlined what these changes mean and how your organization can take proactive steps to stay compliant while improving your overall security posture.

Cybersecurity Is No Longer Optional—It’s Foundational

Cybersecurity threats continue to rise, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has responded by proposing major changes to the HIPAA Security Rule. These updates are designed to improve the protection of electronic protected health information (ePHI) and enforce best practices across the industry.

Key Security Rule Updates:

Mandatory encryption for all ePHI—no exceptions.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) to limit access to only authorized users.
Regular vulnerability scanning (every 6 months) and annual penetration testing.
Role-Based Access Controls (RBAC) and automated access revocation for terminated employees.
Documented incident response and recovery plans, tested regularly.

What You Can Do Now:

Start by assessing your current cybersecurity infrastructure. Do you have MFA in place across all systems? Are your encryption standards up to date? Are your Business Associates aligned with these requirements?

If you’re unsure where to start, watch our on-demand webinar where our VP of Cybersecurity, Mike Spurr, breaks down each change and the affects they have on your business.

Click here to view the webinar.

Faster, Simpler Patient Access Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule

In addition to security changes, the HIPAA Privacy Rule is being updated to improve patient access to their health records and reduce unnecessary barriers to information sharing.

What’s New:

Providers must respond to patient record requests more quickly.
Fee caps are now in place to limit what patients can be charged for copies of their data.

How to Prepare:

Update your policies and workflows to reflect the new response timelines. Train your staff on how to process patient requests quickly and accurately—while remaining compliant.

This is also a good time to review your patient communication practices. The easier it is for patients to access their data, the more trust and transparency your organization builds.

New Flexibility for Substance Use Disorder Data Sharing

Healthcare organizations that handle Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment data should pay close attention to the alignment between HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2. These updates simplify data sharing among healthcare providers while keeping patient privacy intact.

Your Next Steps:

Update consent forms to reflect the combined guidelines of HIPAA and Part 2.
Provide staff training on the new rules for accessing and disclosing SUD records.

This is a welcome change for care coordination, but it still requires diligence in how data is managed and shared.

Protecting Reproductive Health Information

A timely and highly sensitive topic, reproductive health data is now protected under new rules that respond to both technological and legal concerns. Tracking methods like geofencing are being scrutinized, and healthcare organizations are expected to adapt accordingly.

Action Items:

Audit how reproductive health data is collected, stored, and shared.
Avoid using or allowing geofencing around clinics or facilities tied to reproductive care.
Confirm that your systems and third-party tools do not unintentionally violate these restrictions.

These changes signal a growing expectation for proactive privacy, especially in areas that intersect with rapidly evolving laws and public policy.

Don’t Forget: State-Level Data Laws Are Also Expanding

Even if your organization is federally compliant, you may still fall short of new state-level health data laws. States are rolling out legislation that governs fitness trackers, mobile health apps, and consumer health data—often going beyond HIPAA requirements.

Best Practices:

Stay up to date on laws in the states where you operate.
Work with compliance partners to evaluate and adjust your data collection policies accordingly.

A Simple Way to Stay Compliant: Use Our Free HIPAA 2025 Guide

You don’t have to tackle all of these changes on your own. DAS Health has compiled everything you need to know in one helpful guide, along with a checklist to help you evaluate your current security posture and plan your next steps.

Click here to download the Full 2025 HIPAA Compliance Guide.

It’s a must-have resource for IT leaders, compliance officers, and healthcare executives who want to stay ahead of regulatory shifts and reduce risk.

Whether you’re a small practice or a large organization, the 2025 cybersecurity updates will affect how you manage data, deliver care, and interact with patients and residents. The changes are coming—and now’s the time to prepare.

At DAS Health, we help healthcare organizations navigate compliance with confidence. From cybersecurity assessments to training, technical implementation, and policy updates, we’re here to support your team every step of the way.