Which of the following terms refers to the specific safeguards or controls that are put in place to ensure the confidentiality of patient data?

• A. Privacy
• B. Confidentiality
• C. Integrity
• D. Security

Answer: (D)

Security is about the safeguards and controls used to protect patient data from unauthorized access. It encompasses technical measures like access controls, authentication, encryption, audit logging, as well as administrative and physical protections. These controls are put in place to maintain confidentiality, ensuring that information is not disclosed to unauthorized individuals. Privacy is about individuals’ rights and how their information is used, not the concrete safeguards. Confidentiality is the outcome—the state of data being kept secret—achieved through those security measures. Integrity focuses on data accuracy and trustworthiness, not secrecy. So the safeguards themselves are described by security.