What security mechanism should have been used to prevent unauthorized access to PHI on a computer system?

Access controls are essential for protecting protected health information (PHI) within a computer system by ensuring that only authorized individuals can view or handle sensitive data. These controls include mechanisms such as user authentication, role-based access privileges, password protections, and data encryption. By implementing robust access controls, healthcare organizations can significantly mitigate the risk of unauthorized access, thereby maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of PHI.

The importance of access controls lies in their ability to restrict data access based on user roles and responsibilities. This ensures that employees only have access to information necessary for their job functions, further safeguarding sensitive data against potential breaches or misuse.

While contingency controls focus on preparing for and responding to unexpected events, security incident controls address the management of security breaches, and audit controls involve monitoring and reviewing access and usage logs, access controls are the first line of defense in preventing unauthorized access in the first place.