Overview
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations require that all systems storing or accessing electronic protected health information (ePHI) use operating systems that are actively maintained and updated by their software vendor. This ensures that any vulnerabilities that could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to patient data are addressed in a timely manner.
Microsoft’s support lifecycle directly affects the HIPAA compliance status of a Windows operating system. If Microsoft no longer provides security updates, bug fixes, or technical support, then that version of Windows is considered non-compliant under HIPAA standards.
This article outlines which Windows versions are currently HIPAA-compliant and provides guidance for upgrading your systems to maintain compliance.
HIPAA Compliance Requirements for Operating Systems
To be HIPAA compliant, an operating system must:
- Be actively supported by the manufacturer (i.e., Microsoft)
- Receive ongoing security updates and critical patches
- Be configured securely in accordance with industry best practices
Operating systems that are past their End of Support (EoS) date no longer receive updates and are therefore non-compliant, regardless of antivirus protection or firewall settings.
Non-Compliant Windows Versions (Unsupported by Microsoft)
The following Windows versions are no longer supported and not HIPAA compliant:
Operating System
| End of Support Date
| HIPAA Status
|
Windows XP
| April 8, 2014
| ❌ Not Compliant
|
Windows Vista
| April 11, 2017
| ❌ Not Compliant
|
Windows 7
| January 14, 2020
| ❌ Not Compliant
|
Windows 8
| January 12, 2016
| ❌ Not Compliant
|
Windows 8.1
| January 10, 2023
| ❌ Not Compliant
|
If you are still running any of these operating systems, you must upgrade your device to continue accessing ICANotes and remain HIPAA compliant.
Compliant Windows Versions
The following versions of Windows are currently supported and HIPAA-compliant (as of June 2025):
Operating System
| Support Status
| HIPAA Status
|
Windows 10 (Enterprise/Education)
| Supported until October 14, 2025
| ✅ Compliant
|
Windows 11
| Actively supported
| ✅ Compliant
|
Note: Microsoft will end support for most editions of Windows 10 in October 2025. Begin planning your upgrade to Windows 11 to avoid future compliance issues.
Recommendations
1. Upgrade to Windows 11
We strongly recommend upgrading to Windows 11 to ensure long-term security and compatibility with ICANotes and other healthcare applications.
2. Ensure Proper Configuration
- Apply security updates promptly
- Use full disk encryption (e.g., BitLocker)
- Create separate standard user and admin accounts
- Enable automatic updates
- Configure Windows Firewall and Defender or use enterprise-grade antivirus
3. Avoid Using Unsupported Devices for ICANotes
If any workstation still runs an unsupported OS, ICANotes functionality and support may be limited or denied until the system is brought up to a secure, compliant version.
How to Check Your Windows Version
- Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type winver and press Enter.
- A window will appear showing your Windows version and build number.
Summary
HIPAA compliance is not optional for any organization handling patient data. Using an outdated or unsupported version of Windows exposes your organization to risk and may result in violations.
Ensure that all devices used to access ICANotes are running Windows 10 (until October 2025) or Windows 11, and that they are receiving automatic updates. For questions about your ICANotes system compatibility or upgrade guidance, contact our Support Team at 443-569-8778.