HIPAA-compliant cloud backup for healthcare professionals
Secure sensitive patient data with Synology’s cloud backup service
In 2014, 83% of healthcare industries were using cloud applications, according to Forbes. Today, cloud-based software is the most commonly used storage method for medical researchers to handle large amounts of data. Moreover, the healthcare cloud computing market is expected to grow by 19% by 2025.
However, not all cloud-based services are built the same, and not all of them cover all the corners when it comes to keeping data protected in accordance with industry standards. In this article, we will discuss this topic and introduce possible solutions.
Why are cloud services ideal for the healthcare industry?
When it comes to storing data, cloud applications simply make things easy. Not only that, but they’re praised by healthcare professionals and IT admins alike for their storage scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness.
Here are a few more reasons why more and more healthcare providers are relying on cloud computing in recent years:
- Constant syncing to the cloud allows you to keep data up-to-date.
- Lower start up costs allow you to focus resources in other areas.
- Quick backup and recovery options help keep your data safe at all times.
- Cloud storage helps save time and physical space when it comes to setup and hardware.
- Compliancy with government regulations (i.e., HIPAA) ensure data security when it comes to handling sensitive patient data.
HIPAA for cloud storage: Why is it important?
HIPAA is a United States legislation that stipulates how personally identifiable information is maintained and protected by healthcare and insurance providers. In general, healthcare practitioners and businesses are prohibited from revealing any patient information to anyone other than the patient and that patient’s designated representatives without their consent.
This not only protects the patient’s privacy, but it also improves the overall efficiency and quality of the U.S. healthcare system via the improved exchange of information. However, the issue is when it comes to how personal data is stored, since it must be kept in a way that ensures security and patient confidentiality. This is why cloud storage services like C2 Backup are designed to be HIPAA-compliant.
Your HIPAA-compliant cloud backup service
If you’re a healthcare professional looking to implement a cloud storage solution, you may not be sure where to start. With many options on the market, it can difficult to distinguish and compare specifications. We’d like to present C2 Backup, a one-stop cloud backup service that has everything you need to combat data privacy concerns in the healthcare industry (see C2 Backup’s HIPAA compliance strategy).
Securing sensitive data in the cloud
When it comes to your data, security and privacy are key. C2 Backup locks down saved data with a number of encryption techniques to ensure that it’s secure in the cloud. This ensures that only authorized personnel will be able to access electronic protected health information (ePHI) via an exclusive platform with different levels of permissions for service management.
These are some, to name a few, of the C2 Backup features that are designed to maximize healthcare data security and privacy:
- C2 Backup can be configured as a no-view service with zero read access, which eliminates the risk of uploaded patient data leaking into the wrong hands.
- C2 Backup uses end-to-end encryption to secure patient data and ensure that only those who are authorized can view or access them.
- Aside from end-to-end encryption, C2 Backup also utilizes military-grade AES encryption. Decryption is only possible via a C2 Encryption Key, which means that not even system developers can decrypt the data.
Keeping your data available at all times
Other than meeting standards for data privacy, it’s important to make sure that your data are constantly protected and always available in case of sudden server failure.
To do this, C2 Backup uses erasure coding during storage. This is a method of data protection that strips data into pieces and keeps them on different storage locations to ensure availability at all times. Since health data are stored in chunks on different server locations, it is less likely to be affected by hardware failure.
Also, unlike typical RAID configurations, which need time to rebuild following failure, recovery of files in C2 Backup’s erasure-coded setup is fast and painless.
Meeting strict security standards
Protecting your data involves more than just keeping a copy on hand; it should also be safe from any unauthorized access and threats. C2 Backup has obtained the following US third-party compliance certifications:
- For Synology C2’s US collocation of data center facilities: The SOC 2 Type II audit certification, which is a Service Organization Control (SOC) audit certification given to cloud-based service providers that effectively handle highly-sensitive data.
- For billing transactions made with Synology C2: PCI DSS compliance, which is a set of standards that ensure that all businesses processing billing data deliver and maintain a secure environment.
In addition to ensuring that its own internal data protection meets the toughest standards, C2 Backup’s data centers and billing data also follow suit. With Synology C2’s 360-degree data protection, you and your healthcare organization can rest assured that patient data is safe and secure.
Submit a BAA request to get started
When a cloud service provider performs a certain activity that involves the use of protected health information of a covered entity, it is considered as a “business associate” under HIPAA regulations.
HIPAA-covered organizations that use cloud services to keep confidential health information secure must have a business associate agreement (BAA) in place with each of their affiliates. This is to guarantee PHI security and overall HIPAA compliance.
Contact Synology for a BAA request. Once Synology C2 receives your request, a representative will contact you to confirm the details and supply a digital copy of the agreement for you to sign.
Get HIPAA-compliant storage with C2 Backup
Now, you can back up sensitive patient data to the cloud while adhering to HIPAA standards with C2 Backup. Visit us today to learn more about how to try 30 days for free.
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Written in collaboration with Arden Lim.
