HIPAA-compliant data backup solutions are an important aspect of any healthcare organization’s data security process. With cloud backup service, your data is protected from possible data loss brought about by cyberattacks, device theft, hardware failure, human error, natural disasters, and more.
Cloud backup services help you quickly recover data from any location remotely via the Internet. If it’s the best HIPAA cloud backup provider you want, consider choosing from the cloud solutions on this list.
Top 5 HIPAA-Compliant Cloud Backup Services:
The following cloud backup services are considered HIPAA-compliant. They all provide a Business Associate Agreement (BAA), a written contract required under HIPAA rules.
1. Acronis Advanced Backup
Acronis helps clients minimize data loss through a consumption-based or per-workload licensing model. Additionally, it includes anti-malware and anti-virus capabilities to protect your data. Using one console, you can safeguard over 20 platforms, including Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle DBMS Real Application clusters, and SAP HANA.
Key features:
- Real-time monitoring and backup
- One-click recovery
- Off-host data processing
- Adjustable backup frequency for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace (up to six times per day)
- Data protection status tracking and alerts
2. ArcServe
An industry leader in HIPAA data backup compliance, Arcserve secures your data assets, keeping them accessible and optimized continuously. The cloud backup service is trusted by businesses of all sizes, from startups to large-scale enterprises.
Key features:
- Ransomware resilient backup, secured by Sophos
- Uses deep learning and AI to protect data
- Clients access only one console, reducing IT complexity
- Reliable customer support
- User-friendly interface
3. CommVault
Commvault is a trusted comprehensive data protection platform that helps you recover data on SaaS, cloud, and on-premise platforms. With zero trust architecture, it prevents unwanted access to your data and ensures HIPAA compliance.
Key features:
- Streamlined, user-friendly interface
- Built-in ransomware protection
- End-to-end encryption
- Early warnings and live monitoring
- Identifies low-value data and tiers it to reduce storage consumption
- 30-day free trial
4. IDrive 360
IDrive 360 is a HIPAA-compliant cloud solution that helps you back up multiple devices in unlimited cloud storage. It uses 256-bit AES encryption and retains your data until you manually delete it or perform a cleanup. With user-friendly features, IDrive is a good choice for teams and businesses.
Key features:
- Multi-Device Backup
- Scalable to up to hundreds of devices
- Enable automatic backup for Google Workspace, Microsoft Office 365, Linux, and Mobile
- Backup an entire computer, including the OS and other software
- Offers free shipping for physical storage devices, enabling faster storage backups
- 24/7 live support
- Time stamps of data access
5. Microsoft Azure
A popular cloud solution, Microsoft Azure offers scalable one-click backup services. Your data is stored on Azure Virtual Machines, on-premise servers, SQL servers, and SAP HANA. Moreover, it provides an API to enable automated security configurations.
Key features:
- Pay-as-you go pricing
- Offers free services to new customers
- Backup reports to help you audit and analyze backup data
- Securely export cloud backup to your own monitoring systems
- Role-based access controls
- Customer-managed keys with 256-bit AES encryption
- Retain backups of deleted data for 14 days
Key Features of HIPAA-Compliant Cloud Backup Solutions
HIPAA-compliant cloud storage should provide the following features:
Business Associate Agreement (BAA): Avoid cloud backup services that claim HIPAA compliance but cannot offer a BAA. This legal document is required by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for cloud storage providers that handle electronic protected health information (ePHI).
Encryption: Data should be protected both at rest and in transit. Encryption is a basic line of defense considering escalating cyber threats.
Access controls: Check if the provider allows role-based access controls and multi-factor authentication. These features help restrict data viewing to only authorized individuals.
Data retention policy: Review the provider’s policy on how long it retains data and how it is disposed of. Its data deletion process should strictly follow HIPAA rules.
Disaster recovery: Does the cloud solution offer strong data recovery capabilities in case of disasters, system failures, and other unexpected incidents? It should have a stated Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO). Moreover, it should have data centers in multiple geographic locations.
Choose HIPAA-Compliant Cloud Backup
All the providers on this list offer HIPAA-compliant cloud storage to back up your data. When choosing a cloud backup solution, consider your budget and your needs. Furthermore, evaluate whether the provider can help you scale to handle high-volume data and how much it would cost.
Remember, HIPAA-compliant cloud backup storage is just one aspect of compliance. Your business should ensure that your software, security protocols, and staff training help you align with HIPAA. While there’s little that you can do to stop malicious cyberattacks, disasters, and human errors, you can efficiently mitigate the risks with a strong HIPAA program.
