HIPAA Compliance
EXT-07Critical

Detect External Mail Forwarding for HIPAA Compliance

Learn how EXT-07 helps you meet HIPAA requirements for Microsoft 365 and Entra ID security.

Organizations pursuing HIPAA compliance need to address detect external mail forwarding as part of their security program. The EXT-07 control maps directly to HIPAA requirements, helping demonstrate compliance while strengthening your security posture.

How EXT-07 Addresses HIPAA Requirements

HIPAA requires organizations to implement controls around detect external mail forwarding. The EXT-07 control provides:

  • Mailbox forwarding rules to external addresses are identified
  • Inbox rules forwarding to external domains are flagged
  • No unexpected external forwarding rules exist

These measures directly support HIPAA compliance by ensuring proper external security in your Microsoft 365 environment.

Implementation for Compliance

To satisfy HIPAA requirements with this control:

  • **Enable the control** - Follow the manual configuration steps
  • **Document your implementation** - Record how the control was configured
  • **Maintain evidence** - TrueConfig automatically logs compliance status
  • **Monitor continuously** - Track any deviations from the expected state

Evidence Collection

For HIPAA audits, you'll need to demonstrate:

  • Current configuration state
  • Historical compliance data
  • Remediation actions taken
  • Continuous monitoring in place

TrueConfig provides all of this evidence through its audit trail and reporting features.

Why This Control Matters for HIPAA

Attackers commonly set up mail forwarding rules after compromising accounts. These rules silently copy all emails to external addresses, enabling ongoing data theft even after the initial compromise is remediated.

Implementing EXT-07 is an important step toward HIPAA compliance. Combined with TrueConfig's continuous monitoring, you can demonstrate ongoing adherence to HIPAA requirements.

Ready to achieve HIPAA compliance?

TrueConfig continuously monitors your Microsoft 365 tenant for compliance with HIPAA requirements, including this control.