Evaluating Voice AI Security and Compliance for Healthcare: What to Audit

Encrypted calls and storage: All audio, transcripts, and patient data must be encrypted in transit and at rest
No unsecured recording: Call recordings must not be stored on shared servers or accessible outside your practice
Staff access controls: Multi-factor authentication, role-based permissions, and audit logs for who accessed what data and when
BAA in place: Business Associate Agreement signed and reviewed by your legal counsel, not a generic template
Recent audit documentation: SOC 2 Type II report, penetration testing, and security assessment completed within 12 months
Breach notification protocol: Vendor must have a documented incident response plan and be willing to notify you within 24 hours of any breach

How it pays back

Avoid the audit surprise

Your practice remains liable for HIPAA violations even if a vendor caused them. Requesting compliance documentation upfront protects you from inheriting a vendor's security debt. Get it in writing.

Understand your BAA obligation

A Business Associate Agreement is a legal document that specifies how the vendor handles PHI (Protected Health Information), what happens in a breach, and how data is destroyed. Many vendors skip this or use weak templates. Negotiate; don't just sign.

Verify encryption, don't assume it

Encryption is common infrastructure language, but implementation varies widely. Ask the vendor: What encryption standard (TLS 1.2+)? Where are keys stored? Who has access? Weak answers indicate weak security.

Test incident response before you need it

Ask the vendor for their breach notification protocol and response time. In a pilot, request a security incident simulation to confirm they can notify you, preserve evidence, and support remediation.

HIPAA BAA included

Signed Business Associate Agreement specific to your practice and use case

Staff access logged

Audit trail records every user login, data access, and admin change with timestamp and role

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II compliance?

Type I is a point-in-time audit; Type II is ongoing monitoring over at least 6 months. For healthcare, Type II is more meaningful because it shows sustained compliance, not just a snapshot. Ask the vendor for Type II if available.

If the vendor signs a HIPAA BAA, am I covered if they have a breach?

The BAA holds the vendor responsible for notification and remediation, but your practice is still liable under HIPAA. The BAA protects you contractually and establishes consequences for the vendor, but it doesn't eliminate your obligation. Verify the vendor carries cyber liability insurance that covers healthcare breaches.

Should I ask the vendor to delete call recordings after a certain period?

Yes. Most voice AI systems should not retain raw recordings longer than is operationally necessary (typically 24–72 hours for quality assurance). Specify in your contract that recordings are deleted after review and that staff can request permanent deletion on demand.

What if the vendor won't provide a SOC 2 report or recent audit?

That's a red flag. Established healthcare vendors have these reports; they're standard in the industry. If a vendor can't produce recent security documentation, their platform is either immature or cutting corners on compliance. Move on.

Does HIPAA apply to the data the AI captures, or only to what we store?

HIPAA applies to all PHI, whether in motion, at rest, or in memory. Every step of data handling — the call, transcription, storage, staff access, and deletion — must be covered by your security infrastructure. The vendor is responsible for their part; you're responsible for integration with your practice's controls.

HIPAA, data security, and vendor compliance: How to audit a voice AI healthcare platform before deployment