Think You’re Compliant? Here’s What Most Small Teams Miss.

If your organization handles sensitive data — whether it's health records or student information — you're likely subject to HIPAA or FERPA. Knowing the difference is essential to staying compliant, protecting trust, and avoiding serious penalties.
HIPAA covers: Safeguarding Protected Health Information (PHI), Limiting unauthorized access or disclosure, Breach notification rules, Staff training and audit preparedness

• Penalties for non-compliance: Fines range from $100 to $50,000 per violation, with annual penalties up to $1.5 million — plus reputational damage.

FERPA covers: Protection of student education records, Rights of parents (or eligible students) to access and request corrections, Written consent required for most disclosures, Directory info vs. sensitive academic data

• Penalties for non-compliance:
  Loss of federal funding, reputational harm, and potential legal consequences.

HIPAA vs. FERPA — At a Glance

Don't forget: Both HIPAA and FERPA include rights for individuals to request access to their own records.

uRISQ helps track and respond to these privacy requests — automatically.

Dual Responsibility Zones

Some institutions — like universities with health centers or K-12 schools offering counseling or nursing services — may be subject to both HIPAA and FERPA. In these cases:

• FERPA generally takes precedence for student records
• HIPAA applies to healthcare data not tied to student education records

How uRISQ Helps With Both

uRISQ simplifies compliance for organizations navigating HIPAA, FERPA, or both:

• Pre-built templates for both regulations
• Staff training modules tailored to education and healthcare
• Breach prep and documentation logs
• Vendor oversight tools (important under both laws)

Bottom Line:

HIPAA ≠ FERPA — but both demand serious attention.
The key is knowing which law applies, where they overlap, and having the tools to stay compliant without legal teams or tech specialists.
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And see how easy it can be to protect students, patients, and your organization.