Which type of safeguards are fundamental for protecting physical systems and data from environmental hazards?

The correct answer is the type of safeguards that focus on protecting physical systems and data from environmental hazards is physical safeguards. These safeguards are designed to protect the physical infrastructure of healthcare organizations, including facilities, equipment, and data, from potential environmental threats such as fire, flood, or unauthorized physical access.

Physical safeguards encompass measures like security guards, access controls, surveillance systems, and environmental controls (e.g., fire suppression systems and climate control). They are critical in ensuring that sensitive information and systems are not only secure from data breaches but also from physical damages that could compromise the integrity of the data.

While technical safeguards refer to tools and strategies employed to protect electronic data, and administrative safeguards pertain to organizational policies and procedures designed to manage the privacy and security functions, they do not specifically address the physical protection of systems and data from environmental hazards. Physical safeguards are essential in establishing a foundational layer of security within an organization that secures physical assets and prevents loss or damage, thereby serving as a critical component of an overall compliance strategy.