Microsoft Intune can support HIPAA compliance when it is used as part of a Microsoft 365 deployment that has Microsoft’s HIPAA Business Associate Agreement in place for in-scope services, is configured to meet HIPAA Security Rule administrative, physical, and technical safeguard requirements, and is governed by HIPAA Privacy Rule and HIPAA Minimum Necessary Rule policies that control access, use, and disclosure of electronic protected health information.
Microsoft Intune is a unified endpoint management service used to enroll, configure, and secure endpoints that access systems containing electronic protected health information. Intune’s compliance value is tied to device configuration enforcement, conditional access integration, application protection controls, and the ability to reduce the risk created by unmanaged or noncompliant devices. HIPAA compliance is not created by licensing Intune alone and is determined by the organization’s risk analysis, implemented controls, and operational processes.
Microsoft describes a shared responsibility approach for Intune, including the statement, “Microsoft ensures that Intune complies with various industry standards and regulatory frameworks.” That platform posture does not replace covered entity and business associate obligations to implement safeguards that are appropriate for their environment, workforce, and workflows. Technical implementation decisions determine whether access controls, audit controls, integrity controls, and transmission security are effective for devices used to access electronic protected health information.
A HIPAA Business Associate Agreement is required when a vendor creates, receives, maintains, or transmits protected health information on behalf of a HIPAA Covered Entity or Business Associate. Microsoft indicates that it offers a Business Associate Agreement for covered entities and business associates for in-scope services. Microsoft also states, “using Microsoft services doesn’t on its own achieve HIPAA compliance.” Microsoft is willing to sign a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement for eligible Microsoft online services under its contractual terms, and organizations should verify that all Microsoft 365 services connected to Intune workflows that store or process regulated data are within scope before use with electronic protected health information.
A compliant Intune deployment requires role-based access for administrators, multi-factor authentication, audit logging for administrative activity, and device compliance policies that enforce encryption, screen lock, operating system version baselines, and jailbreak or root detection where supported. Operational controls include workforce training, device use policies, incident response procedures, and governance for data export, reporting, and integration with identity and security services. Intune supports HIPAA compliance when these controls are implemented and maintained as part of a documented HIPAA Security Rule compliance program.