ISO 27799:2016 – Health Informatics

Key Definitions in ISO 27799

• Health Informatics: The discipline that integrates IT into healthcare to collect, store, and manage patient data
• PHI (Personal Health Information): Any information related to health status, care provision, or payment that can identify an individual
• Access Control: A security measure ensuring that only authorized personnel can access specific health data
• Risk Assessment: The process of identifying threats, vulnerabilities, and potential impacts on health data systems
• Information Security Controls: Safeguards defined under ISO/IEC 27002, adapted for healthcare environments in this standard

Clause Structure and Link to ISO/IEC 27002

ISO 27799 maps ISO/IEC 27002 controls to healthcare-specific needs, ensuring appropriate implementation in health informatics systems. Below is a representative table showing core areas:

Need assistance building an ISO 27001 audit scope using ISO 27799 as a sector-specific control reference? Contact support@pacificcert.com.

What are the requirements of ISO 27799?

 ISO 27799 outlines the requirements for managing health information security in alignment with ISO/IEC 27002, specifically tailored to the healthcare sector. It requires healthcare organizations to implement controls that ensure the confidentiality and availability of personal health information. Key requirements include:

• Conduct a health-sector-specific risk assessment based on ISO/IEC 27005 or equivalent
• Apply ISO/IEC 27002 controls with healthcare-specific modifications as outlined in ISO 27799
• Establish a PHI protection policy that includes patient consent, anonymization, and data lifecycle management
• Implement role-based access controls for clinicians, support staff, and external vendors
• Maintain audit trails for all accesses, changes, and deletions of personal health records
• Encrypt sensitive clinical and administrative data, both in storage and during transmission
• Define and test incident response plans for health data breaches, ransomware, and unauthorized access
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations such as HIPAA, GDPR, or national health privacy regulations

Documentation Required

Organizations implementing ISO 27799 should maintain:

• Risk assessment specific to personal health data systems
• ISO/IEC 27001-aligned Information Security Management System (ISMS) documentation
• Role-based access control lists and authentication policies
• PHI encryption protocols and key management procedures
• Incident management logs and breach notification procedures
• Policies for patient consent, data sharing, and retention
• Audit logs, backup records, and system integrity checks

Want help aligning ISO 27799 with your ISMS or audit scope? Email support@pacificcert.com.

What are the benefits of ISO 27799?

ISO 27799 provides a structured approach to safeguarding personal health information, offering numerous benefits to healthcare organizations and stakeholders. By aligning with ISO/IEC 27002 and adapting it to the specific needs of healthcare, the standard ensures that sensitive health data is protected against breaches and unauthorized access, Below are the key benefits:

• Ensures confidentiality of personal health data by applying tailored security controls
• Enables compliance with national and international health data regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA
• Reduces risk of cyberattacks targeting EHR systems, telehealth platforms, and patient portals
• Aligns with ISO/IEC 27001, enabling integrated ISMS audits in the healthcare sector
• Promotes trust among patients, partners, and regulators through transparent security policies
• Improves incident response and breach handling readiness specific to medical and patient data
• Enhances interoperability and secure data sharing across hospitals, insurance, and diagnostics
• Supports cost-effective implementation by focusing only on controls relevant to health informatics
• Establishes a repeatable model for secure health IT system deployment
• Builds a resilient and compliant digital healthcare infrastructure across private and public sectors

The healthcare industry has become a prime target for cyber threats lately, with a significant rise in ransomware and system hijackings affecting hospitals and patient portals globally. The adoption of telemedicine, mobile health apps, and cloud-based EMR systems has further expanded the digital attack surface.

Future-ready health institutions are using ISO 27799 to align cybersecurity strategy with clinical, operational, and patient safety goals.

Need to future-proof your health information systems with ISO-based audits? Contact support@pacificcert.com.

How Pacific Certifications Can Help?

As a certification body, Pacific Certifications provides accredited audit and certification services for the following systems relevant to healthcare security:

• ISO/IEC 27001 – Information Security Management Systems
• ISO 9001 – Quality Management for health service providers
• ISO 22301 – Business Continuity Management for healthcare operations
• ISO 13485 – Medical Device Quality Systems
• ISO/IEC 27701 – Privacy Information Management (for GDPR alignment)

We can help your organization with:

• Independent ISMS certification audits aligned with ISO 27799
• Audit of health-specific access controls, breach responses, and encryption practices
• Verification of compliance with PHI-handling laws and sector-specific obligations
• Assessment of documentation, risk treatment, and security governance practices

To begin your ISO 27001 certification with ISO 27799 alignment, contact support@pacificcert.com.