10 Best HIPAA-Compliant Cloud Storage Providers in 2024

Cloud Computing and the Healthcare Industry

Healthcare professionals and IT executives are quick to praise cloud computing for its scalability, cost-efficiency, and flexibility, all while ensuring HIPAA compliance. In addition to these benefits, healthcare leaders who must remain HIPAA compliant are increasingly relying on the cloud for the following reasons:

• Option of integrated business continuity: IT professionals can worry less about physical security and disaster recovery when everything is stored on HIPAA-compliant cloud services.
• Secure exchange of electronic data: As healthcare systems across the United States rely more heavily on cloud applications and telehealth platforms, handling patient data in compliance with HIPAA regulations becomes simpler on the cloud.
• Low cost to entry: Organizations benefit from lower startup costs and savings on HIPAA-compliant hardware and infrastructure purchases and maintenance.
• Continual updates: Cloud hosting and storage enable updates to be centrally made and distributed to users in a controlled manner from a test site.
• Savings: Most health organizations see savings on valuable resources such as physical space and employee time, since on-premises server rooms and larger IT departments aren't needed.

HIPAA-Compliance for Cloud Storage Is Essential

As more healthcare industry organizations and their business associates move their data to the cloud, ensuring HIPAA compliance for cloud storage has become essential. Cloud storage allows care providers to easily access medical records from anywhere at any time. It also allows for real-time collaboration between providers, which can lead to better patient care.

But cloud storage HIPAA compliance isn't something to take lightly. A HIPAA-covered entity (CE) is any person or organization that handles patient data. HIPAA rules apply to health providers such as doctors, hospitals, and clinics as well as health plans, health insurance companies, clearinghouses, and pharmacies. HIPAA-covered entities are required to comply with all HIPAA regulations in order to protect PHI.

The Danger to Data

The convenience and cost savings of cloud storage can come at a cost to patient privacy if proper security measures are not taken. The HIPAA Security Rule requires covered entities and their business associates to implement physical, administrative, and technical safeguards to protect PHI.

HIPAA Security Rule safeguards include, but are not limited to, encryption, access controls, and audit logs. Being HIPAA compliant also requires covered entities and every business associate to have a disaster recovery plan in place in case of a data breach or other emergency.

How to Secure Protected Health Information

HIPAA data storage providers that offer compliant cloud computing services must meet these same standards. A CE and their business associate must implement the same physical, administrative, and safeguards to protect PHI and undergo regular audits to ensure compliance with HIPAA regulations.

HIPAA-compliant data storage providers must also sign a business associate agreement (BAA) with covered entities, which outlines each party's responsibilities for protecting PHI. Finding a cloud storage storage with enough robust security features so that a company will sign a business associate agreement can be difficult.

Respecting Your Patients

Ensuring HIPAA cloud storage is not only a legal requirement but also a moral obligation to patients. Patients trust healthcare organizations with their most sensitive information, and it is the responsibility of healthcare organizations to protect that information.

A data breach can not only damage a patient's trust but also result in significant financial penalties for the healthcare organization.

Better Patient Outcomes

In addition to protecting patient privacy, HIPAA-compliant online storage can also improve patient outcomes. When care providers have easier access to patient data, they can provide more accurate diagnoses and better treatment plans. Real-time collaboration between those who provide healthcare can also improve patient care and lead to better outcomes.

Top HIPAA-Compliant Cloud Storage Services for 2024

So which are the most popular cloud storage solutions? Here are some HIPAA cloud storage options to consider and the essential security features they should have.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is an excellent cloud-based solution that can offer storage that meets HIPAA compliance standards. It provides a secure platform with many features designed to ensure data is kept safe and encrypted at the highest levels.

With its use of server-side data encryption keys and other safeguards, companies can be sure that they are compliant with all state and federal regulations related to HIPAA-compliant hosting and storage.

AWS also offers access control capabilities that give users the ability to limit who can view or access sensitive health care related data. This helps add an extra layer of security and control over data related to healthcare. Cost-effective compared to other options, AWS provides a reliable and secure solution for businesses seeking compliant storage solutions.

Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure is a cloud-based service that provides a secure, HIPAA-compliant Azure platform for storing data. It offers built-in security features such as disk data encryption, network isolation, and role-based authentication to protect data at rest. Azure also provides audit logging so administrators can keep track of all activities in the cloud environment.

Azure has the capability to set up multiple access levels for different users and enable real-time monitoring of user activity. This helps ensure only authorized people can access sensitive healthcare-related cloud services. By utilizing Microsoft Azure HIPAA compliance offerings, companies can be sure they are compliant with relevant regulations for a cloud storage service that meets HIPAA server requirements and have peace of mind knowing their data is secure.

Google Cloud

Google Cloud is a comprehensive cloud-based platform for adhering to HIPAA rules. It offers features such as encryption of data at rest and access control that ensure data is kept secure and only accessed by authorized personnel.

Google cloud also provides audit logging to trace user activity and detect suspicious behavior if necessary. It offers a powerful set of tools to manage storage compliance with relevant regulations related to compliant storage.

As an added benefit, Google cloud can help reduce costs associated with deploying on-premise solutions due to its cost effectiveness compared to other options. With its reliable security features, businesses can be sure they meet website HIPAA compliance with all the relevant regulations when using Google cloud for HIPAA rules.

Box

Box is a cloud-based service devoted to providing a secure and HIPAA-compliant platform for storing data. Box offers features such as encryption of data at rest and access control, which helps ensure only authorized personnel can access the data in cloud services.

Box Cloud Storage provides audit logging to trace user activity and detect any suspicious behavior. It also has powerful tools that help businesses with their storage compliance needs related to HIPAA regulations. Also, Box offers increased scalability and cost savings advantages over on-premises solutions due to its cost effectiveness compared to other options.

Dropbox Business

Dropbox Business is a cloud-based service dedicated to providing a secure and HIPAA-compliant platform for storing data. It offers features such as encryption of data at rest and access control, which helps ensure only authorized personnel can access the data stored in the cloud.

Dropbox Business provides audit logging to trace user activity and detect any suspicious behavior if necessary. Furthermore, Dropbox has powerful tools that help companies with their storage compliance needs related to HIPAA regulations. Dropbox also offers increased scalability and cost savings advantages over on-premises solutions due to its cost effectiveness compared to other options.

Sync

Sync is a cloud-based service offering a secure and HIPAA-compliant platform for storing data. It provides features such as encryption of data at rest and access control, which helps ensure only authorized personnel can access the stored data. Sync offers audit logging to trace user activity and detect any suspicious behavior if needed. Furthermore, Sync has powerful tools that help businesses with their storage compliance needs related to HIPAA regulations.

Sync allows for increased scalability and cost savings advantages over on-premises solutions due to its cost-effectiveness compared to other options.

Egnyte

Egnyte is a cloud-based service offering a secure and HIPAA-compliant platform for storing data. It has features such as encryption of data at rest and access control, which helps ensure only authorized personnel can access the stored data.

Egnyte provides audit logging to trace user activity and detect any suspicious behavior if necessary. Moreover, Egnyte has powerful tools that help businesses with their storage compliance needs related to HIPAA regulations.

Egnyte also offers increased scalability and cost savings advantages over on-premises solutions due to its cost-effectiveness compared to other options.

iDrive

iDrive is a cloud-based service offering a secure and HIPAA-compliant platform for storing data. It has features such as encryption of data at rest, access control, and audit logging, which helps ensure only authorized personnel can access the stored data, while also tracing user activity to detect any suspicious behavior if needed.

In addition, iDrive has powerful tools that help businesses with their storage compliance needs related to HIPAA regulations. IDrive also allows for increased scalability and cost savings advantages over on-premises solutions due to its cost effectiveness compared to other options.

Backblaze

Backblaze is a cloud-based service offering an easy and HIPAA-compliant platform for storing data. It has features such as 256-bit AES encryption at rest and access control, which helps ensure only authorized personnel can access the stored data.

Backblaze provides audit logging to trace user activity and detect any suspicious behavior if necessary. In addition, Backblaze has powerful tools that make it simple for businesses to comply with all HIPAA regulations regarding secure storage. Backblaze also offers increased scalability and cost savings advantages over on-premises solutions due to its cost effectiveness compared to other options.

Carbonite

Carbonite is a cloud-based service offering a secure and HIPAA-compliant platform for storing data. It has features such as zero knowledge encryption of data at rest, access control, and audit logging, which helps ensure only authorized personnel can access the stored data, while also tracing user activity to detect any suspicious behavior if needed.

Carbonite has powerful tools that help businesses with their storage compliance needs related to HIPAA regulations. Carbonite also allows for increased scalability and cost savings advantages over on-premises solutions due to its cost effectiveness compared to other options. With its secure security features, companies can be sure they are compliant with all the necessary requirements when using Carbonite for HIPAA-compliant storage.

The Importance of a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)

Business Associate Agreements (BAA) are legal agreements between two parties, usually one being a CE and the other a business associate (BA). The agreement stipulates that the BA agrees to perform services for the CE related to ePHI, and is responsible for ensuring any activities performed on behalf of the CE are compliant with both HIPAA regulations and the terms outlined in the agreement.

It also details what specific duties and obligations the BA must adhere to, such as maintaining security and privacy protocols, training staff on HIPAA policies, responding to requests from CEs, reporting breaches/violations immediately, and following up with corrective measures. By signing a BAA with an entity in possession of PHI, businesses are legally obligated to protect their clients’ data under HIPAA standards.

Bringing You HIPAA Compliance

Care providers need to choose a HIPAA-compliant cloud storage service that ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of patient information. The options we've listed today are all trusted HIPAA-compliant cloud storage services that providers can rely on.

Clarity can help you create your HIPAA-compliant website and accompanying apps, then help you find the right cloud storage provider that perfectly matches the needs of your healthcare organization. We offer a complimentary discovery process, five hours of free consultation where we'll help you create a plan for your business and help you find the best HIPAA-compliant cloud services for you.

Get in touch to schedule a no-pressure meeting about how to make your cloud storage HIPAA compliant!