Which categories describe risks for PHI transmission?

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PHI transmission carries risk from three broad areas: technical, physical, and administrative/human factors. Technical risks cover cybersecurity and vulnerabilities in electronic systems—unencrypted channels, insecure file transfers, malware, or exploits that could intercept, alter, or disclose PHI during electronic transmission. Physical risks involve the tangible side, such as lost or stolen devices, media (like USB drives or printed records), or misdelivered mail that can expose PHI. Administrative/human error risks arise from policy gaps and human practices—improper access controls, insufficient staff training, weak authentication, or mistakes in routing or handling PHI.

Because PHI can be compromised through any of these avenues, the most comprehensive and accurate view is that all three categories describe risks for PHI transmission.