Healthcare professionals share medical records and other documents for various reasons. Besides ensuring continuity of care, allowing access to specific patient files is also necessary for research, billing, and legal purposes.
Here’s the thing. Sharing these files requires strict compliance with the regulations set by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
The following HIPAA-compliant document sharing solutions can help streamline your file exchange process while ensuring compliance with relevant healthcare information privacy laws.
Top 6 HIPAA-Compliant Document Sharing Solutions:
1. Cerberus FTP Server
Cerberus FTP Server is a secure file transfer solution that provides complete logging and auditing of all file activity, access control, and robust encryption to ensure a HIPAA-compliant file transfer. It is an entirely secure file transfer solution that gives the essentials of access controls to prevent unauthorized access.
Its robust security, user-friendliness, and comprehensive features make it a preferred choice by many businesses. It supports protocols such as FTPS, SFTP, and HTTP/S. Plus, it can handle large file transfers efficiently, with detailed logging and user management.
Key features:
- Support for Multiple Protocols
- Logging and Auditing
- IP Whitelist/Blacklist
- File Retention Policies
2. Virtru
Virtru is a secure email and file-sharing platform. It gives end-to-cease encryption, granular access controls, key management, and persistent audit as data travels through email and file-sharing platforms, SaaS solutions, cloud environments, and across ecosystems to meet global privacy and compliance requirements.
The platform is designed to meet HIPAA guidelines to prevent unwanted breaches and unauthorized PHI access. With its comprehensive security features, businesses can never go wrong with choosing Virtru as their HIPAA-compliant document sharing service.
Key features:
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
- Audit and Compliance Reporting
- Email and File Encryption
- Access Control
3. Files.com
Files.com is a HIPAA-compliant cloud-based file-sharing and collaboration platform that lets businesses upload, store, share, and collaborate on documents from anywhere, on any device, and anytime. It supports automated workflows, report preview, editing, secure document sharing, and customizable branding.
Its file storage space is fully encrypted, assuring users that only the user with the credentials can be given access. Users can also instantly back up their folders and files. Lastly, it allows users to upload files and share links with recipients.
Key features:
- Cloud-based platform
- Custom branding
- Version control
- Store large files
4. ShareFile
Citrix’s ShareFile is a HIPAA-compliant secure content collaboration, file-sharing, and sync software that supports all document-centric tasks and workflow needs.
It is famous because of its efficiency in streamlining document workflow. ShareFile offers cloud-based or on-premises storage, making storing and sharing large files flexible. Like Files.com, users can upload files to its platform and send access links to its recipients to view or edit that document. They also integrate with popular workplace and third-party tools such as Google Workspace, Salesforce, and Outlook. They also use 256-bit AES encryption to strengthen their security. This makes them one of the best choices for HIPAA-compliant document sharing platforms.
Key features:
- Signed BAA
- Robust Encryption
- Integration with third-party services
- Large File Support
5. Tresorit
Tresorit is a HIPAA-compliant file-sharing cloud-based service provider. Their platform provides end-to-end encryption, ensuring that sensitive data remains secure throughout its lifecycle. They offer strong security and privacy for individuals and businesses to protect sensitive data and user accounts.
The service employs zero-knowledge encryption and adheres to strict privacy laws, ensuring that data remains secure and private. Lastly, users can still maintain control of their documents even after recipients have downloaded them through its Digital Rights Management (DRM).
Key features:
- Cloud-based
- Secure file sharing
- Digital Rights Management
- Two-factor authentication
6. Sharetru
Sharetru, formerly known as FTP Today, is a cloud-based file-sharing software program designed to serve startups and companies, imparting end-to-end solutions for web applications. The platform has a rich history, initially launched as the first SaaS FTP carrier issuer and later re-architected its infrastructure to be a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution.
The HIPAA-compliant document sharing service offers various industry-leading security features that can be customized to meet specific requirements. The platform’s intrusion detection system makes it more unique, blocking intruders from gaining access.
Users can also allow or block IP addresses per user level on an account to ensure that only authorized recipients can access those documents.
Key features:
- Multiple protocols
- Activity tracking and reporting
- IP Whitelisting and Blacklisting
- SSO Integration
Why HIPAA Compliance in Document Sharing Is a Must
Abiding by HIPAA rules and employing the necessary administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect PHI (protected health information) keep organizations safe from the risks of noncompliance.
Failing to safeguard PHI could lead to serious breach incidents wherein the patient’s data gets exposed to malicious actors. In document sharing, the files could get intercepted while in transit, potentially leading to more serious problems.
