About Health Data on Zoom
As a user of the University Zoom service for teleconferencing, and as someone handling health information, it’s critical that you play your part in ensuring the privacy and security of patient/client health information.
Some key points to keep in mind:
- Zoom can potentially be abused by hackers through a technique known as “Zoombombing”, which is possible if you run a public meeting and the meeting link becomes known to the attacker. Make sure to ensure that even if the attacker obtains a link, they cannot interfere with your meetings or observe client sessions.
- Those using Zoom may not store Personal Health Information (PHI) on the Zoom cloud storage system: you must store the videos in a secure University location. Please work with your technical staff to ensure proper file protections are in place. Note that some groups are handling health information that does not qualify as HIPAA PHI: those groups are still required to store their videos locally. Operate as if your data also qualify as PHI.
- By default, Zoom meeting hosts do not need to grant screen share access for another participant to share their screen. By default, any participant in a meeting can share their video, screen, and audio.
Required Accounts Settings
The key points above are present using the default settings in Zoom. Users who plan to discuss, provide, or interact with health data on Zoom are required to make the following account settings changes before using Zoom.
In your Zoom settings:
- Disable “Join Before Host” so people can’t cause trouble before you arrive. (Default Setting)
- Change screen sharing to “Host Only.”
- Enabling “Co-Host” so you can assign your TA or other trusted person to help moderate.
- Disable “File Transfer” so there’s no digital virus sharing.
- Disable “Allow Removed Participants to Rejoin” so booted attendees can’t slip back in. (Default Setting)
Zoom Support Documentation: Links, Resources, and FAQs
Support during the COVID-19 pandemic
Getting Help
For support on the information above, contact the ITS Help Desk by calling at 315.443.2677 or by emailing help@syr.edu.