Are we a business associate under HIPAA?▼
If you create, receive, maintain or transmit PHI on behalf of a covered entity such as a provider or health plan, you're generally a business associate and the HIPAA Security Rule applies to you directly. If you sell straight to consumers without a covered entity in the picture, the FTC Health Breach Notification Rule may apply instead. Which category fits depends on your business model and contracts, so confirm it with healthcare counsel. We then build the safeguards that match.
Which of our vendors need a BAA?▼
Any vendor that stores, processes or transmits PHI for you, which often includes your cloud host, email, file storage, ticketing, call recording, analytics and error tracking tools if PHI reaches them. Many major platforms offer BAAs, but sometimes only on certain plans or for certain services, and some require specific configuration. We inventory your tools, check BAA status and configuration, and either fix the gap or help you keep PHI out of that tool entirely.
Our engineers use production data to debug. Is that a problem?▼
It's one of the most common ways PHI ends up somewhere unprotected. A production copy on a laptop or a staging database is still PHI, with all the same obligations. We help your engineering lead set up de-identified or synthetic data for development and testing, a controlled and logged path for the rare cases that truly need production access, and device rules that block bulk downloads. Engineers keep the ability to fix bugs without the database leaving its protected home.
Can you help with hospital security questionnaires?▼
Yes. Health systems use their own questionnaires or standard formats, and they cover the same core ground: access control, encryption, logging, vendor management, incident response and business continuity. We help you answer accurately, prepare diagrams and policy excerpts as evidence and keep a library so the next one takes days instead of weeks. When the questionnaire exposes a real gap, we fix it rather than writing clever wording around it, because reviewers ask follow-up questions.
Do we need SOC 2 or HITRUST?▼
Neither is required by HIPAA, but customers often ask for one. SOC 2 is common for health tech vendors selling to a wide market, and some health systems prefer HITRUST. Both are performed by outside assessors, not by us. We help you get SOC 2 aligned or ready for an assessment by putting the controls, evidence and policies in place. Which framework makes sense depends on who your buyers are, so look at what your target customers actually request.
What happens if PHI ends up in the wrong tool?▼
First, contain it: remove the data, restrict access and preserve logs showing who could see it. Then involve your counsel quickly, because whether it's a reportable breach depends on a risk assessment under the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule and the terms of your BAAs with customers. We help with the technical investigation and documentation, and we fix the configuration that let it happen. Notification decisions belong to your counsel and leadership.
Do you provide Health Tech Startups IT Services in Houston and nearby areas?▼
Yes. LayerLogix is based in the Greater Houston area and delivers health tech startups IT services to businesses across Houston and the surrounding communities, including The Woodlands, Spring, Katy, Sugar Land, Conroe, Cypress, and Pearland. For most Houston-area clients we can be on-site the same day when something needs hands-on attention, and our help desk is available during business hours, with after-hours emergency support. Call 713-571-2390 to check coverage for your specific address.
What does Health Tech Startups IT Services cost for a Houston business?▼
Pricing depends on your size and what you need, so we do not publish a one-size-fits-all number — but Houston businesses generally pay a flat, predictable monthly fee rather than surprise hourly bills. We start with a free, no-obligation assessment of your current setup, then give you a clear quote in plain English with no hidden costs. That way you know exactly what you are getting and what it costs before you commit.