# HIPAA Enforcement Rule | Secureframe

> Understand the HIPAA Enforcement Rule, civil and criminal penalty tiers, investigation and hearing procedures, and how the Enforcement Rule is applied by HHS OCR.

canonical: https://secureframe.com/glossary/hipaa-enforcement-rule

The HIPAA Enforcement Rule governs violation investigations and penalties.

## What is the HIPAA Enforcement Rule?

Under the Enforcement Rule, the Office for Civil Rights investigates potential violations to determine whether the covered entity was in compliance with HIPAA rules.