The Security Rule primarily protects which of the following?

The Security Rule, established as part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), specifically targets the protection of electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI). This rule outlines the necessary safeguards that covered entities and their business associates must implement to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic communications containing sensitive patient information. The focus on electronic data acknowledges the growing reliance on technology in managing health information and aims to mitigate risks associated with unauthorized access, data breaches, and cyber threats. By prioritizing ePHI, the Security Rule ensures that appropriate measures, such as access controls, encryption, and audit controls, are in place to protect patient information in electronic formats. This differentiation is crucial because other forms of health information, like paper records or communications via fax, are addressed under different provisions of HIPAA, primarily the Privacy Rule and other statutes designed for non-electronic formats.