Protected Health Information (PHI) refers to any health-related data that can be linked to an individual and is governed by regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States. This includes obvious identifiers like names and Social Security numbers, as well as less direct data such as biometric records, lab results, insurance details, or device IDs, when associated with a medical context.
PHI exists across structured EHR systems and sprawling unstructured formats like emails, scanned forms, diagnostic images, and clinician notes. Its sensitivity makes it a prime target for cyber threats and regulatory scrutiny, especially as healthcare systems digitize and data flows across cloud, mobile, and AI platforms.
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